Yesterday was gorgeous. The sun was shining brightly, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and there was a subtle breeze to help keep us cool. We used that opportunity to go to the park to build relationships with people. The people of India are very relational and will halt their busy lives just to have a conversation. If there is one thing I want to take from this culture, it is the importance they place on relationships. Stephanie, Elizabeth, Anil (our contact), and I went walking through the park, allowing the Lord to lead us where we should go. A man sitting cross-legged on a bench with a map in front of him snapped our photo (I do have to admit, we stick out like sore thumbs in a place like India, especially with Stephanie’s guitar strapped to her back). He then proceeded to ask us what we were doing in India. One thing led to another and we ended up singing a few worship songs. The first one included the chorus “Oh, Jesus” so after only a moment’s hesitation and a look at one another with a questioning brow, we continued to sing despite the danger that could come from singing to Jesus in a public place. As we sat there singing, a small crowd began to gather. We began to ask questions about the happiest moments in each of their lives. Everyone had tales of good things they had experienced. When it came time for the four of us to share, we talked about the most important person in our lives and what He’s done for us. The men listened with rapt attention as we told stories of the greatness of God in our lives.
After sharing, we asked if we could pray for them for anything specific. The men each had different requests from a desire to be a better cricket player to a daughter who was struggling in school to a need for healing in one man’s back. Elizabeth and I went over to the man with pain in his back and neck. As we prayed, God revealed Himself and the man told us he felt no more pain in his back. He moved his neck up and down and side to side without the slightest hint of pain. He bent over and again had no pain in his back.
He was healed right then and there!
I love in Mark 16:20 where it says, “And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.” We can share our stories of the greatness of God in our own lives to point people to Jesus, but when He comes in and does the miraculous for people, it becomes indisputable evidence that the God who created this universe loves them enough to heal their pain.
