I have only been on the World Race for a little over a week now. I am quickly finding out that God delights in providing unexpected opportunities to learn, grow, and pray. He has a standing invitation to abandon your own ways and thoughts and push forward into the realm of faith and be led by His Spirit.
If you are paying attention, every day has hundreds of chances to pray. Whether it’s passing people in the street, or doing home visits, or taking a moment to lift up the person squished next to you on the bus, they are all answered prayers waiting to be prayed.
One of my favorite phrases is said by an interpreter before we pray over a family, “They (meaning us Gringos) are going to pray in English but it doesn’t matter because God understands all.” This is so true! We serve an amazing God who doesn’t have a language barrier. He wants His people to pray in faith and have expectation to our prayers. That is why I feel confident in praying for my new friend Jeremias. (Actually I have no idea what his real name is so I gave him this one.)
He was brought to my attention in a very…unique way. There is no way I could have possibly dreamed up such a meeting or anticipated the heart I have for this man. Yesterday I was skyping my family and decided to show them all around the 6:8 Ministries Team House. For some silly reason I decided that it would be ok to take them (my laptop) out on the street so they could see the front of the building. It was broad daylight and other team members were in and out the door so I never really considered that it might not be a wise decision.
I had made it a little bit out the door and was suddenly stuck by an intense feeling of needing to go back inside. (My sister later told me that she heard me say, “This is a bad idea!”) As I turned back a tall slender man ran at me and forcibly took my laptop from me and ran away. (I struggled with him a little bit but was unharmed. GOD IS FAITHFUL to His promises! Psalm 91)
To say I was shaken up at first would be a big understatement. Nothing like this had ever happened to me. After many hugs and some intense prayers my heart was at peace. Even before the police arrived I knew I wanted to continue to pray for this man and ask others to do so also. (Totally God in me because this wouldn’t be my natural reaction) I also soon knew that I wanted to give him a name, “Guy who took my computer” didn’t seem to be very edifying or uplifting. 🙂
The name Jeremias (Jeremy) means God will raise up; God will set free. I feel like the name is a prayer in and of itself. Ultimately my heart’s cry for him is that he will come to know the full depth of God’s love and stand up as a mighty man of God. Know we serve an Almighty God that redeems what is meant for evil! If nothing else though this I have learned, grown, and prayed!
I don’t know what the next days and weeks will hold but I have an expectant heart. Please join with me in praying for Jeremias. I truly believe that God has great plans for him.
