My husband and I have been on a journey since being married. One of the greatest privileges we have shared together is seeing God work through us and move as we pray for people and specific things. I keep a prayer journal of my own to write down the things I pray for. I do this so I can look back to see what prayers have been answered and the day and time I prayed them. We have had the joy several times while we've been married to look back through my journal and to see what God has done. I wanted to share with you just one of these answers to prayer. This past August I had a job at a deli here in New Phili. It was not a very environment to be in and I very possibly was the only believer there. I was not sure what I should do, whether I should stay and build relationships, or to go back to the coffee shop I loved. After a lot of prayer with my husband, I ended up leaving my job.
on Sept 1, 2013 I wrote:
"Lord, I want to continue in prayer for my boss and all of those I worked with. First I pray though, that You will bring in a strong believer who loves people and who will enjoy the workers and connect with them. God, I pray they will love their work at the Deli and will see it as a way to make disciples. Until these believers come, and after do they come, open all of the workers eyes and hearts of those working there to You. Awaken them to their desperate need of You. Do whatever it takes in their life to get them and to bring them home to You."
A few weeks ago two of the students from Off the Wall got hired at the deli. One was hired first for a week. For the first week, she would come home drained because of the environment. A week or so later, the other girl got hired. Since then, they have been working together and already changing the environment. They are bringing the joy of Christ in with them and it is contageous.
I just wanted to point out a couple of things first. Without realizing this while I was actually writing the prayer above, notice that I said "that You will bring A strong believer in.." I made it singular. One strong believer to come in. I didn't notice until today that when I continued, I made my plea plural. "I pray THEY will love THEIR work...until THESE BELIEVERS come..." I prayed for multiple believers to come. First one, and then others to follow.
God completely answered my prayer. I have been so encouraged that God has answered my prayer and is really intentionally putting believers in this environment all for His glory. This Sunday morning, I was so excited and proud to hear that these two girls that got hired have become the bosses favorite. He loves when they come in because of their joy and encouragement. Also, one shared with me this morning that they got to have a great conversation with a coworker which lead into really getting to share their hearts for Jesus.
Last night one of the students took my husband and I out for dinner. Our waitress happened to be one of the girls who was working with me before I quit the deli. My husband and I knew God was at work when this specific waitress happend to be the one to take care of us while there were over 20 waitresses working that night, and 50 people on the waiting list, in a completely full restraunt. We just happened to come at the perfect time to be seated in her section. We recognized eachother immediately. We both were eachothers favorites at the deli and actually quit at the same time. I have a had a few conversations with her about my faith and how I even ended up in Ohio, but I could tell she did not know Jesus. So last night, I wanted to take up the opportunity to share with her. Sadly, I did not get to talk to her. She was very busy and only stopped at our table for a few short and quiet moments to clear off the table, but I left a note to her and left it ontop of our tip sharing the gospel. I am sad that I didn't get to share with her in conversation, and maybe I should have tried harder to engage in a conversation, but I am so glad that I still had the opportunity to share with her in some small way after not seeing her for about 6 months. I want to try to come more often and see if I may get so lucky to have her as a waitress again.
So, I believe God is on the move in this deli. I can't help but get so excited that I know that people coming in are going to hear the gospel. I love how God answers prayers and how we get the joy of seeing our prayers answered. I know I did not share any names of the workplace or the people's names, but I do ask that you will be praying. Lift up the off the wall girls in your prayers, that they will be bold and courageous for Jesus. That they will share the gospel without shame. Pray for their coworkers and the relationships they are building. Pray that they will continue to have favor in their workplace and that you will soften their coworkers hearts to recieve Jesus into their hearts as their Savior. Also, pray for the waitress. That she will recieve Jesus Christ as Lord, and become a disciple of Him. Lastly, please continue to be in prayer for Josh and I as we hope to grow in obedience and passion to share the gospel with all we encounter without fear but in great boldness and love.
WN
