I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 NLT

I lay semi-awake toward dawn, musing about a trip we had just booked for May. All of a sudden, I pictured the “Wise” debit card I had ordered online. The last two times we have driven in Italy, we have struggled to pay for gas outside of cities. Our credit cards and U.S. debit cards haven’t worked, and we’ve had to rely on cash.

But someone had recommended Wise as a mode of international payment, so I had applied. The card had not yet arrived, though it should have. Truth is, I had forgotten about it.

Then I remembered, with a sinking heart, that two nights earlier I had tossed a long green envelope addressed to me. I hadn’t even opened it because it looked like junk mail. Into the kitchen garbage it went.

Yet Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit successfully broke through my half-asleep state to alert me to the possibility that I had thrown away what I needed. I earnestly started praying to recover the envelope, picturing what I had inadvertently done. As soon as the alarm went off, I sprang from bed and hurriedly fed the cats.

Sure enough, as the cats were eating their breakfast, I picked my way through the top of the white kitchen trash bag and found it! Inside was the Wise debit card, which I activated. Whew—the Lord has saved my derrière!

As I sat down to read my Bible, joyful praise poured out of my mouth. “Thank you, good Father, You really do counsel me in the night!” All day long, I overflowed with amazement and thanksgiving.

I also learned a lesson—don’t judge a piece of mail by its envelope!

Feed on Him – the book A collection of 365 daily devotions to make God’s Word yours. Available on Amazon in paper or kindle.