A Servant And A Server

I always ask God to send the people that my children need. My daughter came home after work and shared with us that a very nice couple had come in and sat at the bar. They were asking questions about the hurricane and damage. My daughter shared information with them about her housing having water damage and mold. After a while the lady asked if there was anything else they could pray for while they said grace. My daughter said she started crying. She knew God was working on her and has been. I do not know who that couple was but I thanked God for them and asked Him to let them know there is an appreciative mother. And an appreciative bartender. Thank you to Ivey for saying, "of course you can share that" when I asked her about a blog. She thought this was cool also and we both would like to talk to that lady!

About a month later my daughter answered the phone at work and a lady asked if my daughter was working. My daughter told her it was her. The lady told her she had had her heavy on her heart and was still praying for her. She asked if she could have her cell number to send her encouragement and my daughter said yes. Well, I was so impressed that I have continued to thank God for this servant. I also continued to thank God for bringing people to my loved ones. This past week another older couple came in and sat at the bar. After visiting with my daughter for a while the man asked if he could pray with her before they left! She has had prayers from strangers for her living situation (which changed) and for her schooling. This was something we had been praying for a while.

Many lessons were learned from this. First of all, I have been asking for years for God to bring the right people in my family's path. Mark 11: 24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Because I believe that God will bring the right people to their paths I started thanking God, in advance, for sending His people. Faith is thanking God in advance. If you wait til after you have your answered prayer that is gratitude....and important! Matthew 9: 29, "Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith let it be done to you'; " God has and continues to bring people.

Second lesson is the obedience from God's servants. I do not think they sat down at the bar thinking they were going to pray with the bartender. I think they were "in tune" to the Holy Spirit who nudged them to pray. They had their ears open to hear what God whispered to them. Both of these prayer warriors did not miss out on being God's hands and feet. They were obedient. Colossians 3: 23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Another lesson is their boldness in sharing their faith. While neither of them "preached a sermon" they were people who cared and who made a difference. They were bold in sharing their faith. Philemon 1: 6, "I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ." Paul was praying that his friend, Philemon, would be a witness and share his faith with others. I am praying this for my family, friends and these two prayer warriors. I pray that our faith may become increasingly effective as we all grow in grace. The more we get to know Jesus the more blessings we receive from Him. Then the more we desire to share those blessings with others. I need to pray for God to decrease me and increase Thee.

Yet, another lesson learned, is that while we are praying for others we get to know our Savior better. Effective prayer is based on a knowledge of God's will. 1 John 5: 14, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." It will also bring us closer to others.

We are to pray for all people. 1 Timothy 2: 1-5, " I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,"

I thank God for these prayer warriors and ask Him to bless them. Colossians 3: 23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

When we pray for others we are acknowledging that God is also responsible for that person's soul. He is also letting us be part of His plan. When we pray something always happens whether it is a direct answer or not. And like this situation it can have a ripple effect flowing into many lives.