The setting: A tourist-attraction-looking Buddhist temple, with trinket shops and vendors of all sorts.
The Mission: Pray for the spiritually-lost and have an eye-opening experience
Some members of our team and I had the chance to visit this location, not knowing what to expect. When we arrived, we walked the hundreds of stairs it took to get to the temple area.
We took our time individually to look around. I felt my mission for God was to do a prayer walk around the area, where I prayed out-loud (a little louder than a whisper-like I was talking to myself) as I walked through the different areas. I prayed for God's compassion on the people worshiping Buddha "as they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34
As I walked around, I saw a young girl, possibly early-20's, who was "learning the ways" of Buddhism (as I can only guess) from what it seemed, bent over and lighting candles while watching a local lady next to her showing her how to do it. I felt I needed to pray for her. As I walked by her and out of the temple, I said a prayer for the "lady with the pink sunglasses" to come to know Jesus, and for God to forgive her for she "knows not what she is doing." This is her on the left in the picture.
A few minutes later, I felt a strong conviction from God to know her by name. If for anything else, to pray for her by name. By this time I had left the temple and walked out to an area filled with hundreds of tourists. I asked the Lord to show her to me again if it was His will I talk to her. No more than a couple of minutes went by when I turned around and saw her again.
I walked up to her, shaking visibly, nervous with a choked-up voice. This was out of my comfort zone.
"Excuse me ma'am, what is your name?" "Jess," she said politely. "My name is Kevin, and I saw you in the temple." I continued, "I felt a strong conviction that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wanted me to know your name so I could pray for you by name. I don't know if you have any issues or concerns that I need to pray for you, but I just needed to come and tell you that. Thank you." She smiled politely and said thanks.
I got the feeling that she was humoring me and doesn't know Jesus, otherwise I think it would've been a stronger conversation. She may be in a position that I and others who've come to Christ have been in; experimentation...trying to find something to fill the void, the hole in her life and heart. Christian rock group Plumb says it this way-- "There's a God-shaped hole, and it's a void only He can fill." Click here to hear a preview of "God-shaped hole" (track 11 on the "Best of Plumb" album).
Maybe you're in that position now. Let Jesus come into your life and fill your world with His mighty wonders!
No comments:
Post a Comment