Pray and say

I’ve lived by the adage ‘pray more than you say’, but what happens when you ‘pray and don’t say’? What happens when your faith is ineffective?

I’ve often wished I could go up to a person and talk to them about Jesus, or offer to pray for them. But I am not one of those people, never have been, never will be—or so I thought.

Recently, I was on a flight—minding my own business. I was sitting next to a lovely young woman and, as the flight progressed, I became aware she was struggling to stay still. Her muscles were contracting and she looked uncomfortable. I thought how sad for such a young person. I went back to reading.

I then became aware of aches on the side of my body next to hers—it got worse and worse. Soon the muscles on my hand were contracting. I tried to hide my discomfort and hoped she wouldn’t notice. I prayed and said, ‘Lord what’s going on!’ I felt the inner witness of the Holy Spirit impressing me to pray.

‘No, I can’t pray for her, I don’t know her!’ I said. ‘Pray for her.’

‘But what if she tells me to mind my own business?’ ‘I want you to pray for her healing.’

‘She will think I’m a looney tune!’ ‘Vivienne, pray for her.’

This internal dialogue continued for the flight.

I told myself God was not really speaking to me. He doesn’t really want me to pray. The internal, gentle pressure persisted.

I made a deal with God that if this woman disembarked and went straight to the bathroom, I would pray for her. Sure enough, she got off the plane and headed for the bathroom. I now knew God was asking me to talk to her.

I knew that he had asked me many times to talk to people, but I was afraid. I suddenly realised I didn’t want to let God down.

I followed her into the bathroom … feeling like a stalker. I then followed her out the airport door. I tapped her on the shoulder: ‘Hello, I know it’s weird … I don’t normally do this, but I am a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ and he wants me to pray for you.’

She looked at me: ‘Really? Does He? I’m a Hindu, I don’t know your God. He really wants you to pray for me?’

‘Yes he does, and he wants me to tell you he sees you, loves you and has a purpose and destiny for your life.’ I felt God’s overwhelming love for this precious woman.

After our short ‘conversation’, she hugged me and told me how grateful she was that I had prayed for her.

I was so nervous, I didn’t ask her name. I may never see her again, or know the result of my fumbled prayer, but I felt overjoyed. I had been obedient to God’s promptings. I had stepped out of fear, and I am no longer afraid to go up to people and speak to them.

It says in Romans 10:14 (AMP):
But how will people call on him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?

I no longer live by the adage: ‘pray more than you say’; I now ‘pray and say’.

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by Vivienne Hill (c) 'War Cry' magazine, 10 March 2018, pp3- You can read 'War Cry' at your nearest Salvation Army church or centre, or subscribe through Salvationist Resources.