As You Pour Out…

Sometimes when talking and pouring out to people special things happen. I’m naturally very shy, so going up to complete strangers and talking to them has never been easy. Just yesterday though, I got to go witnessing at the university. I hadn’t been out personal witnessing in a long time and I felt a bit nervous about how I would do. This time was different; okay I did feel a little shy, but it wasn’t that paralyzing and nerve-racking fear. Usually my stomach gets in knots, my heart races, and my hands tremble. None of that this time, I felt perfect peace and I didn’t even have second thoughts about approaching people.
It was almost time to go home when I starting talking to this one guy. I gave him a tract and told him about our work and a bit about my life and background. He in turn told me about how he discovered Jesus and what he was now doing. We talked about the country and the economic and political situations in the world. He told me how he loves to teach and was just getting ready to give a Bible class to his students that evening.
Just when I thought it was about time to leave he offered to pray for me. I was a little surprised as I had been offering to pray for the different people I had met and now someone wanted to pray for me! I said sure, we sat down and he took my hand and started praying for me. It’s nice to have people pray for you, but it’s even more special when it’s a complete stranger. He prayed an amazing prayer—amazing because mentioned things in his prayer that I had not even told him, he must have gotten it in the spirit. I think that to know things and to pray prayers like that you have to be really close to Jesus. It felt like there was an angel telling him what to say and what I needed prayer for.

Something similar actually happened to me earlier this year. I never got to write it down but I never forgot it and never will. A few of us had attended a wedding party/event being organized by our friend. She had wanted us to help at the event and witness to the people. We agreed to be there and we helped as waiters. We were also all dressed up as people from Bible times. Imagine a headdress and long robes and you’ve got the picture. It was fun serving drinks, talking to people, and making sure there was enough food and snacks. People were really intrigued by our strange dress and were very eager to talk. We got to witness to a good number of people that day.
Later in the evening we were supposed to keep the coffee table running. I remember thinking that there were so many people. Between Joy, Gina, and myself we barely managed to keep the table going. Just as we’d put down new coffee cups and saucers they’d be gone! But it was fun and people were so appreciative and sweet, they kept on thanking us.
A little later I was putting out new dishes, things had calmed down and the girls went to take care of the food. A lady came up to get coffee and her and I started talking. She inquired about our dress and nationalities. Most people that day thought Joy, Gina, and I were triplets and possibly from the Middle East. I explained that our parents are French and Filipino and that we were all full-time missionaries. She was so impressed when I told her about our work and she shared what she was doing as well.
I don’t really remember how it happened, she came around the table and we kept talking. Then it was almost like she started prophesying, she starting asking personal questions and saying things that she couldn’t have known. She held my hands and told me how precious I was and kept blessing me for serving the Lord. Then she started praying for me holding my hands all the while. I felt like it was Jesus right there, someone knew everything about me, my faults and weaknesses, my doubts and fears, and was praying for me and strengthening and encouraging my spirit. It was so powerful I had tingles all over my body and I started crying.
I was going through a really difficult time spiritually and emotionally and was tired of fighting the battles. I would never have told a complete stranger all these things, but she already knew! It’s hard to find words to describe the whole thing. In her prayer she said, “She loves you so much Jesus and she just wants to serve You with her whole heart. You bless her Jesus, You give her the desires of her heart. Help her not to get discouraged, strengthen her faith. Bless her for giving to others every day even when she gets nothing in return. Bless her for the little things she does every day, the things that nobody knows about but You know Jesus. You see her heart and You know she loves you more that anything.”
I cried and cried, how could she know what I felt, how did she know what I was thinking? Jesus was the only person I had really told about the little things and the struggles I faced each day. I just felt His love so strongly as the spirit spoke through this woman. It was truly amazing!
When she finished praying she squeezed my hands. I wanted to hug her and thank her for her prayer. She reached out saying, “we can hug we’re sisters”. I thanked her and we hugged, I was still in awe at what just transpired. She squeezed me tight then we both acknowledged our need to be elsewhere. She went to get coffee and she was gone. It was like the Lord anointed her for something special, to pour out to someone else but now it was done and she was back to her normal self. I went back to serving and I didn’t get to see her again, or say goodbye. I haven’t seen her since but I know that Jesus sent her to touch my life in a special way, and to let me know His love for me. I won’t forget that lady and I will always be grateful to her and to her willingness to obey the Lord even in the little things like: praying for a stranger.