This blog is long, but well worth the read…gauranteed !
Below is a testimony of how GOD opened up the door for me to share with Stuart about the void that he had in his heart, how it could be filled and how he could find true meaning and fulfillment in his life:
I was just finishing up from a time of meeting with our P-squad team and squad leaders for a time of worship, praying and debrief at Green Isle Hotel in Ireland. As a result, I left feeling pretty encouraged and went to a quieter location in the hotel to try to skype-call my girlfriend Rachel and check my personal e-mail. So, as I sat down and settled myself in the Leisure Club area, I tried to skype-call Rachel and got no answer, therefore, left a message. I then checked my e-mail, etc. After I checked my e-mail, I attempted to skype-call Rachel again. But I didn’t because GOD prompted and lead me, through HIS Holy Spirit, to walk over to this guy that I didn’t even know to tell him about JESUS, who was around the corner from where I was sitting. At first, I ignored GOD’s prompting and asked HIM… “GOD do you really want me to go over there and talk to this guy that I don’t even know?” And HE responded to me in my spirit… “Yes, get up and go talk to him.” So, I stopped what I was doing, put down my head-set, got up and started walking slowly over to this guy who was working and stocking vending machines. I slowly made my way over to him after looking at the vending machines to see what selection of items they had to offer. Then I greeted this guy by saying “hi” and introduced myself to him. In return, he introduced himself as Stuart and we started talking.
I shared with him why I was at the hotel, along with 300 plus Christians, to attend the “Awakening”- a worship & teaching conference. He shared with me that he and his wife actually stepped inside one of our sessions and was blown away and touched by the atmosphere of peace, love, and the presence of GOD in the room! We continued to talk about how he had this void in his heart and how he tried to fill it with the things of this world…money, material things, status, sex, drugs, etc. And how empty they were and that they didn’t satisfy him. I shared with Stuart that JESUS filled that void that I once had, in my heart and life completely, resulting in giving me complete peace and fulfillment in my own life. I asked him if he was a Christian? He responded by telling me he was a Catholic. I then asked him if he had a personal relationship with GOD and if he had ever asked JESUS into his heart and life to fulfill that void in his heart and life? He said “No.” In response, I asked him if he would like to ask and accept JESUS as his LORD and SAVIOR to fill that void in his heart and life? He said “Yes.” So, I shared intentionally and briefly that there was nothing magical or special about the prayer that I was going to lead him in. But it was by grace through faith alone confessing with his mouth and believing in his heart that JESUS died for his sins and is forgiven through HIS bloodshed. And as a result, he is forgiven and no longer separated from GOD because of his sins, but brought back into a personal relationship with GOD. Once Stuart understood this, I lead him through a prayer to ask JESUS into his heart and life as his loving LORD and SAVIOR! After we finished praying, I congratulated and welcomed him into GOD’s family and gave Stuart a BIG hug!
We continued to talk for awhile, I gave him a pamphlet to help him understand more about how to grow in his new-found relationship with GOD, and we exchanged e-mail addresses so we could keep in touch. We met up at the hotel again an hour later so I could answer any other questions that he had, to give him some discipleship material, to give him a Purpose Driven Life booklet and most importantly, to give him a Bible. I ended our time together praying with him and for him in his new-found relationship with GOD!
Please keep Stuart and his beautiful family (wife & 3 kids) in your prayers as he seeks after and grows in his walk, relationship and love for GOD- thanks!
What a testimony huh? I take no credit for it and am humbled, but thankful that GOD would give me this opportunity to listen and obey HIM!
