*This blog post was written in hopes to glorify the Father for the ways He chooses to work through us when we say “yes” to the leading of His Spirit! Such a cool story of His goodness!
I have been home in Japan for 50 days now, and many days it’s hard to believe that the World Race actually happened. It feels like a day dream. My friends are all so far away and all I have are pictures to remind me of the experiences we went through together. However, God is still the same and there is no doubt that I have changed and am no longer the same Cindy who left 10 months ago.
Since being home, I got a part time job teaching english twice a week, but other than that I have had a lot of free time at home. Some things have been good, like having quiet time, worshipping with my sister, having a Bible study with my mom and sister, and serving my family. But after a good FaceTime call with my best friend from the Race (shoutout to Abby Thomas), the Lord convicted me of being too self-centered since being home. Each day when I wake up I wonder what I want to do, what sounds fun to me, or how I can have a good day that day. I spend each day praying that the Lord will lead me in my future, but I forget to pray that His Spirit will lead me TODAY. The Holy Spirit used Abby to remind me that my life is not my own, and there are so many people all around me who are looking for a Savior, and it is my privilege to share Jesus with them.
So, the next day I woke up and surrendered my day to the Lord. I prayed “Lord, I don’t know what good works You have prepared for me to walk in today, but I thank you that you do and you will lead me. Now please make my eyes wide, my ears open, my faith strong, and my fear gone. Spirit, interrupt me!“
I decided to take the train into the city where there is a nice, big park that is very famous with tourists and nationals alike. I had no plans and no expectations. All I wanted to do was meet people, make some friends, pray for some people, and share the love of Christ.
When I got there and started walking around I asked God to highlight any people He wanted me talk to. As I was climbing a long staircase, I noticed an old man running up the stairs next to me, then resting at the top. I stopped and said hello.
What started as a smile and a quiet greeting, turned into a 4 hour walk around the park together and an opportunity to share the love of Christ with a very lonely man.
I learned that this man was 68 years old and lives all alone. Everyday he comes to the park to walk and get some exercise. After resting at the top of the staircase together for awhile, he invited me to join him on his walk. He was a very sweet old man and took me all around the park, showing me places I had never been to before and explaining a lot of the history of the park. I could tell that he was very lonely, so I let him talk and listened, and I just spent time with him. That’s it.
He kept telling me over and over again just how thankful he was that I would choose to spend time with him. He told me that he’s been walking in the park for 3 years now, and this was the first time that he had walked side by side with someone and just talked together. He told me that this was a wonderful, great day and he will never forget this memory. He thanked me again and again. He even took me out to lunch to express his gratitude to me.
I was taken aback, because all that I had done was spend time with him. I showed that I cared, and let the love of Jesus flow through me into this man’s heart. I didn’t even DO that much, but it still meant so much to him.
God gave me many opportunities during our talks to tell him about my faith, talk about Jesus and the Bible, and even pray for him. He doesn’t believe in God, but when I told him that I had prayed for the Lord to guide me that morning, he later asked,
“Do you think God led us to meet each other like this today?”
“Yes. Yes He did!”
I went to the park that day in hopes of blessing some people, but this man blessed me. He told me that when he first saw me, he knew that there was something different about me. Praise God that the work of His Holy Spirit is evident in my life and through my love.
Like John 13:35 says,
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
By our love they will know. They will see us and instantly realise that we are different.
I am completely in awe of how the Lord can move when we give Him the space to. I don’t have to be on the World Race or have the title of “missionary” to get out and just bless some people. The Lord is at work in the lives of so many people right around us, and we can choose to be a part of the work that He is doing all around the world.
God is so good, and I just wanted to share this story to encourage you to pray for the Lord to move through you each day, then get out of the way and let Him do just that. Ah, God is so cool!
In Christ,
Cindy
