A tentmaker shared with me this story which illustrates how God works in calling people to himself.

Talking about what God is doing in parts of Asia can be a sensitive topic which can lead to increased persecution if it comes to the attention of authorities. Due to the sensitive nature of the details the name of the person in this story has been changed to Timothy (see 2 Tim 2.2), but the events of the story are true.

I was recently with our team and Timothy shared an amazing story of Father at work, which I would like to share with you.

Timothy met a neighbor in front of his home and got to talking about his relationship with Jesus.  A few days later during another conversation with his neighbor he was interrupted by a call to come and pray for someone.  His neighbor asked if he could tag along. On returning, the neighbor asked him, “How much do you charge for doing prayers?”  Timothy said, “I don’t charge anything, that’s not how Jesus works in our lives” and proceeded to share further about his relationship with Jesus.

A month or two later he got a call from the neighbor.  A friend of the neighbors had a son who had been in the Army and had suffered a severe fall breaking his back which resulted in paralysis from the waist down.  Doctors told him he would never walk again.  This family wanted to know if Timothy would pray for them. He, of course, agreed.

As Timothy was praying for the young man, he started to feel warmth in his legs, where before he only felt cold.  He was also able to start moving them some. He is now in the process of regaining mobility in his legs and learning to walk again. 

As a result, his entire family and two other families that are part of his extended family decided to follow Jesus.  Timothy has been following up with them and walking them through the beginnings of their journey with Jesus. To Timothy’s surprise, on his first call with them, he found out that they had already, on their own initiative, gotten rid of all their idols and firmly committed to follow only Jesus. They continue to grow in their journey as he continues to meet with them and pray with them.

Please pray for Jesus followers on our team as they share their relationships to Jesus with others.  It is getting harder and harder in our country for Jesus’s children, but He is at work! ALSO, please pray for these families that are just starting their journey.

Lessons to take away:

• Live an engaged life.
• Be ready for when the Spirit presents an opportunity – not always at the most convenient moment.
• Utilize daily events as a teaching moment for how God works in your life.
• Discipleship is a relational lifestyle.
• Invite others to come with you and see Jesus work.

As told to Phill Sandahl by an anonymous tentmaker