As the week is drawing to a close, reflect back over Sunday’s closing prayer:
“Holy Spirit, we ask that you would come right now in a very real way. Literally give us a picture of those folks who we’ve had a difficult time with, who are resistant to You, that at times we may have even been angry with. Help us to see them as You see them. Help us to see past the wall, the veneer, that the enemy has put up to keep the reality of who they are and who You created them to be from us. Help us to see them as You see them. Give us Your heart.
“Lord, would You give us the circumstances and the words to minister authentically and sincerely and genuinely out of a heart of brokenness and humility? Take from us, Lord, any anger or judgmental spirit. Help us, Lord, to have a deep desire to see them come to know You. We ask Lord that you would give us the words. …
“Help us, Lord, so that we don’t rehearse and try to figure it all out but rely on You in those moments of divine appointments where we bump into folks. Whether it be through email or by telephone or just in person, we ask that You would give us the heart to speak and the words to say. Break our hearts for a broken world that we might be agents of change in a very real way. We commit this to You, God. We ask your anointing over this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Here are some questions for today’s discussion:
1) What has happened in your life this week in the way of your relationships with non-believers?
2) How has God answered this prayer in your life?
- Tri
6 responses so far ↓
Anonymous // December 11, 2008 at 10:32 am
I had this incounter with a girl in her early 20s at the airport yeasterday that i am still dazed and confuzed about. I was having not the greatest day of my life standing there next to her minding my own, she turned to me and said “smile it will not kill you” and out or NOWHERE without even a second between the words, “Jesus loves you”, came out of my mouth. Her expression completely changed looked back at me and said “no not me” ….and she walked away. An emotional bomb went off in me! I had no idea what to say,what to think,or even what to feel! I wanted to run after her! Tackle her and say to YES even YOU!Jesus LOVES YOU GET IT IN YOUR HEAD! ; in that, where is the love?cause after all its for her own good right?would that have done a thing? I could not move.i stood there for awhile thinking,and thought all day even fell asleep thinking about it? And just now writing that i just relized this was/could not have been about her at all? This was God saying to me …..ACT not speak, LOVE speak little. I WILL,for I AM.
D // December 11, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I know I struggle in sharing in my day to day life. It is one thing to share or lead in a Bible study environment, share at work with people we have built at least some kind of relationship with, work at The Mission etc. I mean, those things are challenging for sure but for me where it is brutal is where Anon is talking about. The casual people we cross paths with who are broken, lost, rebellious, arrogant, sick, hurting, deceived and all kinds of combos of those things and more. I am not a good small talk, strike up casual conversation kind of person. How many times I have stood in line with someone behind me who looked lost and I cared and prayed silently for them but I didn’t speak, I just bought my Twinkies and went home. This blog has really got me thinking about how to do better in the area of the random everyday.
Gwyneth // December 13, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Naturally, I am not a very outgoing person, so on the spot evangelism has always been a struggle for me. I prefer to stay in my comfort zone. I have to say that becoming a greeter at church and wearing the official “uniform” has clothed me with a new boldness and given me a license to speak to everyone who comes through the door. It has been a pleasure to welcome people and receive a thousand smiles back. I have been blessed by their warmth and responsiveness and it has shown me that most people actually do want to connect and engage. Now I am learning to follow those inner Holy Spirit promptings to act and do those random acts of kindness that I know He would want me to do, regardless of the reaction of others. It has opened the eyes of my heart to see when others are struggling with inner turmoil, and made me realize that most people’s facades carry behind them wounds of some kind that ache to be understood and heard. I have a lot of room for growth in opening up my own life to others, but it’s not as threatening as it used to seem.
Grace Gambrell // December 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
Gwyneth,
I know we all have areas in which to grow… but your warmth, kindness and sincere concern have ministered to me on countless occasions, including when I’m rushing in and out of the door. You have a love and a depth which is healing.
Grace
Grace Gambrell // December 14, 2008 at 11:29 am
So, what I meant to say is that being who you are and giving of who God made you to be is a great gift to anyone… The same goes for any of us, I think.
Gwyneth // December 14, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thank you for your kind words, Grace. You are well named!
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