Praying for and speaking to strangers always seems to involve a certain degree of uncomfortability. That’s not even a word but it seems to fit so I’ll leave it.
Ministering to strangers can certainly involve a degree of uncertainty. It can for me anyway and I’d venture to guess that it does, or would, for you too.
“God, is that really you?”
“That’s got to be my own imagination because God would never put something so crazy in my head.”
“What if I’m wrong? What are they going to think?”
“Oh, this guys going to punch me in the face.”
These are all strains of thought flowing through my head every now and then…even that last one. There have been times these uncertainties have won and I passed the person without a word. But if we are looking for that 100% guarantee that God is specifically saying so and so for so and so specific person we are going to miss out on a lot of opportunities.
God does sometimes speaking to us in dreams with specific directions for specific people but it’s not always like that. In fact, with most people that is a rarity. So for the majority of us ministering to strangers is always going to involve some form of risk…and that’s scary.
But if we’re not willing to risk ourselves it’s going to be very difficult to be used by God to breathe life into others. The following is a testimony from a friend of mine in her own words who overcame uncertainty:
At the second church Saturday morning, I received the impression that a woman was concerned about a blonde boy who stood about a meter tall. I saw the top of the boy's head and felt her anxiety. When asked to give words of knowledge, I did not volunteer this because I feared a mistake.
In my spirit, I wrestled with it. I tried to make the hair brown because there was almost no likelihood that in this group someone's child might be blonde. I doubted that this was really from God. Finally I said, “God, if is really from you, bring the woman to me.”
The leader called people up for prayer. We each only prayed for one person that morning. I stood in front of a woman motioning that she had abdominal pain in two places. I prayed. The leader said to stop praying. He asked those 100% healed to raise hands. Her hands went up. It seemed too easy. Too simple. I started to walk back to my seat.
Suddenly, with my back to her, I saw her in my spirit. I turned back and grabbed a translator to ask if she was worried about a son who stood about so tall, indicating with my hand. She doubled over in sobs. Yes, he was four, and she was worried because she has to leave him home alone when she went to work. Yes, he was blonde.
God poured Psalm 116:1 through me for her. “I love The Lord because He has heard my voice. He has heard my cry for mercy. And because He inclines his ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” I told her that I didn't know what God was going to do about the problem, but we know He has heard because He showed me her son and caused me to feel her worry.
I encourage you to error on the side of blessing. There will be times when you step out and miss it. The enemy will tell you that’s reason enough to stay right where you are. But in those times God will lovingly correct you and show you how to do better then next time. It’s how we grow. It’s how we are transformed even more into His image.
People out there need Jesus and He wants to move and flow through you to reach them. Don’t let the uncertainty hold you in place. Take a risk. Take a leap. You might be surprised what’ll happen.
Blessings,
Jesse and Kara Birkey
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Jesse and Kara Birkey are committed lovers of Jesus who seek to show others the extraordinary life of Jesus is available for everyone. They have authored two books, been featured in films and seek to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can. Follow their blog here.
Bring Jesse and Kara to your venue. Find more information here.
Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People has been endorsed by Sid Roth and Mark Virkler and is a collection of inspiring stories making it clear that the extraordinary life of Jesus is available to all who love Him. It’s also the testimony of Jesse’s life, the road he travelled bringing him into the arms of Jesus. Get it on Amazon here. View the trailer here.
Marriage What’s the Point? One couple finds meaning in a crazy mess is the story of their marriage—The tragedy and the restoration. They bear their hearts in an attempt to get others to bear theirs and finally receive the freedom they’ve longed for. Get it on Amazon here.
Jesse is also featured in the film DeadRaiser, a movie shining the spotlight on resurrection testimonies across the nation. Find more information here.
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