So, I love to pray for people. It is an absolute privilege to be allowed into someone’s life, to walk with them in prayer, in some cases for just a few minutes, others in an ongoing relationship. And something I find happening more and more is receiving words for people from God.
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, โCome, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?โ They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
John 4:28-30
He told her everything she ever did and he had just met her…
So as I said this is happening more and more to me, and I find it so rewarding. One particular example happened when we were on holiday in France this summer. As a family we were eating outside in a restaurant when I felt drawn to a man sitting near us. Although there was nothing that really stood out about him I just had a sense of deep sadness over him and that was was in the military. I saw a brightly coloured band on the floor which was so bright it really stood out against the dark ground even though it was tiny, and God gave me the the actual word I had for him through that, which was was: that God had made him to be someone who stands out, who people look to for guidance. Often that is the way God speaks to me, through circumstantial things. So I told my husband I was going to talk to him (he’s quite used to me doing this now so it wasn’t strange that I was going to speak to another man!) and approached him. Now of course this isn’t always easy, how do you tell someone you feel God has given you a message for them without sounding totally bonkers? and of course we were in France and I had no idea if he even spoke any english (and my French is pretty basic to say the least!). But in my experience, if God sends you to speak to someone then he will find a way… in this case the man was english so I needn’t have worried!
So I went over and just said (this is my usual staring point) ‘Hi, I wonder if I could talk to you for a minute, I know this sounds crazy but I am a Christian and so I believe in God and sometimes I feel that he gives me a word for people and I think I have something to share with you’ – usually this is enough for people to at least hear me out! and as yet no one has told me to get lost… (famous last words!).
He was looking at me like I was a bit bonkers I have got to admit, so I very quickly gabbled off what I felt and was about to retreat, saying, ‘if it doesn’t mean anything to you, that’s fine just forget I was here’, but as I went to stand up he suddenly opened up, telling me that he was blown away. I am not going to go into all the details, but the short of it is that everything I said to him during that conversation was spot on and apparently absolutely perfect timing (funny that). We ended up chatting for some time (by which stage my husband had paid our bill and him and the kids were ready to go!) and I prayed with him before we left.
I haven’t seen him since and I don’t know anything more than his first name, and I don’t know how what we talked about has impacted him or the decisions he had to make, but the thing I am absolutely certain of is that God sent me to talk to him that day. Not only that but he gave me exactly the right words, and I do mean exactly, he gave me enough detail to start the conversation but also guided me through it, revealing more to me as we chatted.
4 Comments
Natalie Bea
November 20, 2014 at 11:59 pmWow, wow, wow! This post is so encouraging Julie. God is so awesome and if we allow ourselves to be used by Him, He will use is mightily for His glory!! Hallelujah! Praise God for your boldness and your obedience to His still small voice. I'm encouraged!!
Jules
November 21, 2014 at 8:27 amah thanks so much Natalie! God is good ๐
Good to hear from you as haven't seen you on Social media for a while! Hope all is good with you?
Blessings
jules x
Natalie Bea
December 6, 2014 at 10:08 pmHi Jules, been battling through some things, but pressing into The King who gives me strength. I'm blogging here now: http://www.mybeautifulashes.wordpress.com pop on over when you can. Much love and God bless x
Jules
December 12, 2014 at 6:16 pmsorry to hear that, but yes best course of action, press into him ๐
love the blog ๐
x