I was heading to dinner at a friend’s house—members of my small group. As a group, we had committed to praying for the people God placed in our paths. That evening, just as I arrived, their Schwan man pulled into the driveway. We had been praying for him for weeks. We met in the entryway, and I introduced myself.
He looked at me and asked, “Are you the one with the triplets?”
When I said yes, his face softened. He told me his wife was at home in tears; they had learned earlier that afternoon that another round of fertility treatment had failed.
I listened, then gently asked, “Can I pray for you?”
He said yes immediately, folded his hands in prayer and came close.
As I prayed, the presence of God settled over us. When I opened my eyes, tears were streaming down his face. I invited him and his wife to join us at our small group that week. They later told me they drove around the block several times before finally getting the courage to come in. But they came—and they kept coming.
A few months later, sitting at my dinner table, both of them accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Our group prayed over them for a baby that year, and God answered! Their daughter was born nine months later.
A prayer in a hallway. A chance meeting. A welcoming group. A miracle.
Every moment was woven together by God.
A simple invitation to pray with someone can change everything. In this case it led to meeting Jesus at the dinner table.
As Christians, we believe that the Holy Spirit of the living God comes to dwell in us upon our confession of faith in Christ making us the living body of Christ on earth. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity who leads us into all truth (John 16:13), comforts us (John 14:16), gives us power (2 Timothy 1:7), affirms our place in the family of God (Romans 8:16) and lovingly convicts us of the places in our life that need change (John 16:8).
God is always moving in the lives of people, everyday seeking to draw people to himself so none should be spiritually estranged from Him. As a believer, you have the opportunity to join the Holy Spirit of God in that work. Most of the time it requires moving past your comfort zone and into a space that may cause you to be rejected or ridiculed. Join Him anyway! People are hungry for the truth and searching for peace in all the wrong places. We were once far from God too and someone shared the truth and love of Jesus with us. Like a series of dominoes, God uses His people to bless others and draw them to Himself. Be a domino in the life of another to the throne of God!
Pam Washburn is interim lead pastor at New Hope Community Church in Walton.
