Let me tell you a story.

Many years ago, I wondered what I should do in life. A friend suggested I ask for an Evangelist Blessing, a special prayer of blessing that gives insight and direction for a person's journey in life. So I called an Evangelist named Harold Velt, who gave me some scriptures to read in preparation. Two weeks later, he and his wife met me at church one evening. While he placed his hands on my head and prayed for the Lord's guidance, his wife recorded the prayer on tape. 

When he started to pray, I felt the warm, comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit remained with me throughout the prayer. Two weeks later I received a printed copy of the prayer in the mail. That's been over 40 years ago and I still have it in my library at home. I take it out periodically and read it. That same Spirit is still present with me when I do. Because it has helped me so much in my life, let me share part of it with you. 

"Gene, the Lord is aware of the difficulties and concerns in your past, but you have done well to ask for his counsel at this time. You have been blessed with certain gifts, which God would have you use in his service. So in your planning for the future, seek not so much for personal gain, but prepare yourself in your studies and in your work to be of service to others. For when you are in the service of others, you are in the service of your God." 

As I continued my education in college, I selected psychology as my major, specifically in the area of counseling. Later on, through much prayer and preparation, the Lord helped me find a career as a financial advisor. This provided not only adequate income for my family, but more importantly the opportunity "to be of service to others."

I thank God for his direction and wise counsel early in my life. And the words of the Evangelist Blessing have continued to help me in my second career, as an author of Christian books and articles--one of the "certain gifts" that were mentioned in my blessing. Thanks be to God. 

For more information on the Evangelist Blessing, go to the website https://www.cofchrist.org/personal-blessing