A Story from the Field

From a church planter in a key area:

I am busy working on a newsletter, but I thought I’d tell you this story - as this has made my day last week!

In the clinic we started praying with patients as we are able, often asking God for a Word of knowledge or picture or scripture that He wants us to share with them. Several weeks ago we prayed with a family — especially for the one lady (lets call her Zite) who has been married for 3 years and can’t get pregnant. Her husband often talks of getting a 2nd wife. We have also prayed and shared with their extended family on another occasion. Last week it worked out that the girls who assisted me the 2 months that Lindsey is away, couldn’t come to work. So I decided to ask Zite to assist me. She and her husband were fine with it, even though I can’t pay her for her help. She understood the work quickly, and is quick to see the needs around her in the clinic.

Last week Wednesday before we started to work, I shared with her about what God is showing me the past few days- especially about hope and faith.

We read together from Rom 8: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

I continued by sharing about Abraham’s life, and we spoke about what she learned about God through this story.

Suddenly she asked me - can you pray for me! I said ‘yes - for what?’ She said her back was aching. I thought - wow! This is the 1st time here where someone asked me out of her own for prayer. Immediately she asked if Sarah could also come and pray with us - I guess because the previous time we were 3 people praying for them. Sarah had just left the centre, but I still prayed with her. After I prayed, she asked me: ‘What did you see?’ I said: ‘Nothing’. I asked her - what did you feel? She said: ’ I felt so much peace/ was relaxed’ I asked whether she usually feels this way, and she said: ‘No, I just felt this way when you prayed for me’. Wow!!! Jesus is just so real! Again she asked me -’ what did you see?’ I then realized she thinks I see pictures every time I pray with people!! :) So I explained that I don’t always see pictures - sometimes, but not always - and just as people often communicate in different ways to each other- whether it is eye to eye, or on a phone, or with a text message, God doesn’t communicate with us every time in the same way. Then she said ( which was where I just wanted to laugh - and will for sure be always one of my highlights) ‘So what hour/time do you usually see these pictures?’ Hahahaha! This was so sweet.

I explained further about how God walked with Adam and Eve, how there was relationship, and not religion. I continued sharing a bit about the fall, and then what Jesus came to do, and how He then poured out His Spirit on those who believe. And that God didn’t stop talking- He desires to communicate with us - and we can learn how to hear His voice.

We also read John 6:44-51 - where Jesus says He is the Bread of life, and how God is the one who draws all men unto Him, and teaches them.

I can just sense her hunger and brokenness, and that she has really been touched by God. But so often I have seen where it is like the seeds that fell on the rocks, and just as quick as it grows, so quickly it withers away.

Please pray with me for Zite and her family - that God will be the protector of every seed. And that I will not pressure any conversation, but will just be listening to God’s Spirit. That I will be quiet when I need to be, and be talking to her when I should. I trust God for opportunities that she can get more exposed to His Word - as I obviously don’t want to be the one to whom she will look for answers - that she will not see me as some sort of ‘medium’, but be looking to God as her source, and be spending time in His Word.

I just realized again last night - I am just here, witnessing what God is doing, and seeing how He is using others’ prayers to prepare the ground. So keep on praying, it is not in vain - God is busy! He never disappoints!