Is there anything more amazing than receiving God’s call to partner with Him in His work? One Sunday, many years ago, the Lord laid someone I’d never met on my heart. Her parents had asked me to pray for her more than a year earlier. I couldn’t understand or escape the sudden burden pressing on me. I could think of nothing else.
“What do I do?” I asked my husband.
“Pray. There’s nothing else you can do,” he said.
Monday morning, Larry called after retrieving the weekend calls from our counseling office. “Guess who called Sunday and wants an appointment with you?”
I recall at least five other occasions when the Lord unexpectedly dropped a specific person on my heart and soon afterward brought that person to my door or had them call or mention their interest in God. In every case the Lord was working in that person’s life. My burden to pray was my invitation to join Him.
Trusting God’s Mysterious Call
When we worked with high school students in Southern California, I witnessed a spectacular example of God burdening one heart to move another. God prompted a teen in my Bible study, I’ll call Terri, to fast and pray for a jock at her school. Mac (not his real name) mocked her faith.
When we worked with high school students in Southern California, I witnessed a spectacular example of God burdening one heart to move another. #Prayer #BigGod Click To Tweet“You’re in bondage. You can’t give up alcohol for even one week,” she said.
“You’re on,” he said.
That week God prompted Terri to pray and fast for Mac. At three fifteen Saturday afternoon the desire to fast left her.
That evening Mac called Terri. “You’ll never believe what happened today.”
“You became a Christian today at 3:15.”
“How did you know?” Mac stammered.
“I’ve been praying and fasting for you all week, and the urge left at 3:15 today. Tell me what happened.”
Mac told Terri she’d been right. He’d been unable to go a week without alcohol. During that week his dog leaped out in front of a passing car and was killed before his eyes.
Saturday, he wiped his nose while surfing and saw blood. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. He paddled to shore and sat on the beach thinking about his dog’s sudden ending and his inability to stop drinking or stop his nose bleed. Terri had told him he needed a Savior. He bowed his head and invited Jesus into his heart. His watch read 3:15.
Terri and her unlikely convert, Mac, became leaders in our youth ministry and in their school.
Ananias Obeyed God’s Call
“Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’
And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’
And the Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.’
But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.’
But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel’” (Acts 9:10-15 NASB 1995)
Did you notice how God initiated each of these assignments? God sees into the desperate hearts around us and at the right time grabs their attention. Our role is to be available.
God sees into the desperate hearts around us and at the right time grabs their attention. Our role is to be available. #BigGod #Trust Click To TweetI’ve lost touch with some of those God brought into my life. I know one gave her life to Christ and serves in full-time Christian work. Another turned to God for a short while and returned to sinful patterns. We may never see the reason for or long-term result of His prompting in this life, but we can trust His leading.
Blessings,
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InspireMeMonday, #InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory and here , #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Recharge Wednesday, #Grace&Truth,
So encouraging Debbie! That was a beautiful example of how God works. I have shared my faith as often as God prompts me and I know of a few for sure who turned to the Lord. Some I don’t know for sure but He does and that’s what matters. Our role is, as you say, to be available and obedient.
Ann, isn’t is amazing that the God of the universe chooses to use us in His story? I know your obedience pleased Him.
May we see people as God sees them. We never know whether someone is God’s chosen instrument. Wonderful post, Debbie. Thanks and God bless!
Yes. Thank you, Nancy.
Amen Ms. Debbie. I often think of people God has brought into my life for one reason for another. I wonder too how many God brought by that I failed to act upon the opportunity He gave me. What an inspiring post ma’am. God’s blessings.
I love it when God gives us peeks into His workings! Thanks, J.D.
“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” I wonder if some of our time in heaven will be spent learning some of these behind-the-scenes connections and leadings.
Barbara, I hope so!! I’m sure there will be many happy tears as we see how God worked behind the scenes of our lives.
Amen-Lord give us ears to hear!
Yes, Lord!
These are three excellent examples of God working through his people. Thank you for sharing them.
Thank you, Janet!
These examples show us how important it is to listen and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, Barbara! How wonderful to know the Holy Spirit leads us in our role.
Debbie, these testimonies are so encouraging. What a privilege it is to partner with God. I wonder how much more we’ll see in heaven. I’m sure it will be glorious!
Annie, I’m sure it will be better than we can imagine!
I have often wondered about random encounters and conversations which occur as we go about our ordinary days. May I be attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and join Him as He calls.
Yes, Joanne. I want to be sensitive to His workings.
I have been greatly inspired by all the testimonials. May Go help me to be intentional in doing his will.
Please keep in touch Debbie. I love your passion in ministry.
Thank you, Sherryll!
Love those stories of God at work in another’s life, yet using us in ways only He can. What an encouraging post. Thankful again for the reminder that when God lays someone on my heart my response needs to be prayer first. Thanks!
Recalling these lifted my spirit, Sylvia. Thanks so much for reading.
I love hearing these kind of stories because they contain so much encouragement for me to continue sharing the good news of Christ. As an added blessing, we will see the results in heaven one day.
Won’t that be amazing? Thanks, Yvonne.
Wow! What amazing examples. I pray that I am receptive when he initiates new assignments in my life. I’m available Lord. Visiting today from Grace & Truth.
Paula, thanks so much for reading. Have a great weekend!