“I’m so anxious I can’t calm down…I’m having trouble breathing,” a beautiful, 20 something young lady said to me in desperation. I did not know her, but I could see that she was miserable and scared. She and I were in the middle of a busy store. At first I wasn’t sure what to do, so I simply asked her, “Can I help you?” She shook her head “No.” My heart started pounding because I knew what I needed to do, but I was so afraid of offending her or being regarded as crazy…but I knew this sweet girl needed prayer! It’s embarrassing for me to admit my fear because God has shown me multiple times that praying for people (when He prompts me to) is powerful and effective. Not because of me…but because of Him!! But it’s amazing how the world’s influence of being “PC” and “non offensive” tries to stop such a good and beneficial thing!
I resolved to say to her, “May I pray for you?” (It kinda came out before I knew it) and she looked at me questioningly and said, “Pray?” I thought, “Oh no…what have I gone and done?” But to my surprise, she said, “Yes.” So I did, and afterward she took a deep breath and started spilling part of her story to me. It took about 5 minutes, and then she said, “I feel much better!” I could see peace wash over her. Praise God!!
Listen…who am I to pray for people like this??? I’m not a pastor or anything like that…but you know what? God CAN and WILL use you and me to do His good work!! It doesn’t matter who we are…its who’s we are!! We belong to Him…the Most High…The King of Kings and He tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace! He is our Daddy and wants to help us. So I encourage you: do it afraid! Let The Holy Spirit have His way and taste and see how good our Heavenly Father is! He will do good things through you!!
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”For more about prayer, consider these popular articles:
http://www.carolynhill.net/prayer-get-totally-dont-get/