Talk about standing out and up (literally) in your faith.
I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have the guts to do something like this.
The road isn’t always easy, nor does it even sometimes make sense at the time; but if He tells me to walk down it, then I go.
This was the true culmination of where I’ve been/ just how far I have come on this race as well as a continuation of where God has been leading me as of late.
I stood in the middle of the square; I’m talking in the dead center, beside the blaringly gorgeous fountain, making sure that my presence would be known to any and all passerby’s.
Today the Lord had asked me to boldly stand by myself, in the middle of a crowded area, holding a sign that advertised, FREE PRAYER in Romanian and English.
So I did what any follower would do, I said yes. Deuteronomy 28:1-2
As I stood there, I prayed for confidence.
I asked God to make me unoffendable (a World Race word that doesn’t even exist I have recently discovered. But basically means to remove myself from the equation, so I wouldn’t, or couldn’t, get my feelings hurt) to the variety of looks I would surely receive.
I asked that I would not be the thing that people noticed or remembered; but instead, that the few, but significant, words on my sign would be engraved on the hearts of all who read them. You are desired.
Lastly, I asked passionately that ever person who truly needed it, would muster the courage to come and ask for prayer.
And so I stood.
Amongst the looks.
In spite of, or maybe BECAUSE OF, the random photos taken.
Some secretively, some not.
I stood some more.
And as every unsuspecting person passed, making certain to read the sign, some in an attempt to hide their interest and others unapologetically bold, I thought to myself: every person who past me today thought of God, even if it was only for a few seconds. But most likely, at least for a few minutes.
Trying to process the undeniable discontent going on in their hearts, I imagined the number of things these people could have been thinking…
"Ok so that was weird. What would make that girl want to stand out in the middle of the day holding that sign? Isn’t she afraid of what people will think? What is all this talk about prayer really about? What does she know that I don't? What could cause such a thing?"
Jesus!
As per usual, he orchestrated it all.
One day, one of my teammates mentioned the free hugs ministry that had swept the country a few years ago and how she'd like to do something like that.
Instantly, I felt this jitter in my heart that only comes from one place, what if you offered free prayer?
I took a minute to consider the proposal.
To be fair, God had been faithful in giving me the spiritual gift of intercession after I began praying for it in Haiti, Month 2.
But was I really ready to do something like this?
Apparently God thought yes.
What was the purpose?
I still wasn’t quite sure.
We decided the time and the day amongst our team.
The morning of that waited event, a girl on my squad sees a vision. She sees three people standing in the middle of the Brasov square holding signs that read Free Prayer.
There was our confirmation!
She knew nothing of our plan.
She simply listened to God.
So back to me standing in the square.
The first thirty minutes passed with no customers.
But the longer I stood there, the greater my passion grew to pray for the country of Romania.
I prayed that corruption within the church would end.
That faith would not be about rites and rituals commonly seen in the Orthodox Church; but instead, about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and what it looks like to truly love Him.
That the masses of dedicated followers would rise up and assume leadership.
That the people of Romania would not feel the need to hide or fear religion, but run shamelessly towards it.
I prayed for every person who passed, stealing a glance at my sign.
And that’s when I finally got my answer.
The WHY to why I was there.
People saw and/or felt Jesus in the square that day.
There is no denying that!
Amongst the busyness.
Alongside the chaos.
Jesus was there.
He was telling His children, I want to hear your troubles.
I know you.
I see you.
I care about you.
I am here for you.
And how often can we say that we know even nonbelievers feel that?
Yes, I mean of course I pray that we are The Light.
And I know for a fact that something about us looks different.
But with this, we were literally putting the name of the Lord on people’s tongue.
And the impact of that is unmistakable! Romans 10:11-13
More time passed
I kept holding my sign
A few unforgettable people came and asked for prayer
I was amazed!
One man didn’t even speak English, talk about supernatural communication
(This was the man who didn't speak any English, but he wrote some verses for me to read in Romanian on my cardboard)
However, it was what happened next that really blew my mind…
