Partners With God

I was recently reminded of the story of Lydia. Many of you will remember that she was a business woman who sold purple fabrics. She was also a Jewess. While visiting Philippi, where there was no synagogue, on the Sabbath she joined a group of other Jews who gathered for worship along the riverbank just outside the city. The Apostle Paul was also visiting that city. He knew of the Jews who met at the river so he went to seize the opportunity to share the Good News. Now we come to the really the interesting part. We read of Lydia in Acts 16:14, As she listened, the Lord opened her heart and she accepted what Paul was saying (NLT). It was this verse that grabbed my attention concerning our partnership with God.

Prayer is an amazing tool available to us. We use this to call for help when we need it. We use it to ask direction for our lives, to receive comfort when we hurt. Prayer is the link that brings our concerns to the throne room of God. We are to pray for our own needs, but we have the joy and privilege of praying for the needs of others, too. Our prayers are especially important in regard to those we know and love who do not yet know Jesus personally. They haven’t received His free gift of salvation that will guarantee a place in the splendor of Heaven for eternity.

I will share something that I experienced when I was a new Christian, just fifteen years old. I was sitting in church with my parents and sister. The sermon had ended. The pastor stood at the front issuing an invitation for anyone who didn’t know Jesus to come forward and he would happily explain and pray with them to receive Jesus’ gift of salvation. A hymn was being sung as the pastor stood waiting. Suddenly my eyes fell on the back of a woman several pews in front of me. She was a visitor. My heart began to pound hard as I felt the strong urge to pray for this woman to come to know Jesus. Having never met her, and knowing she was a first-time visitor, I could not know if she was a Christian or not, but I felt this strong prompting to pray. I couldn’t have explained it at the time, but we know this was the Holy Spirit urging me to be a partner in this woman’s salvation. So I began to pray.

I clearly remember the words I prayed, “Holy Spirit, please sweep over this woman and help her to not be afraid. Let her not think about others watching her. Help her to see her need for Jesus.” I prayed these words fervently over and over. Then, to my astonishment and great joy, she stepped out into the aisle and made her way to the pastor. When the song was finished, the pastor asked we all sit. He then introduced the woman as one who had just received Jesus as her Savior. Everyone was filled with joy. I was nearly stupefied, no words to describe what I felt at that moment.

When I had prayed, “Holy Spirit, please sweep over this woman,” it was the same as Acts 16:14. I was actually asking that the Lord open her heart. There must be people in your lives that you know have not yet received the free gift of salvation through Jesus. You are concerned for them. You have spoken to them about Jesus but they have not made that decision to receive Him. You feel helpless. You so want this person or persons to come to know Jesus. As days pass you almost feel desperate.. Let me remind us all — we are partners with God. When we have done all, continue in much prayer. Pray everyday into the person’s life, situations, and meeting of others, that something or someone would be used of God to open that person’s heart.

Pray daily and pray fervently. Prayers are powerful tools; our most powerful tool, to usher our concerns to the throne room, where our Father listens in love. This Christmas season, as the story of Jesus’ birth is told over and again — use your tool. Pray and do so fervently.

Blessings of great joy be with you all.