Across The Street: Making A Global Impact In Your NeighborhoodExemplo

Almost any interaction with someone can lead to prayer. We offer Jesus in a compelling way when we take every opportunity to pray to God for them in Jesus’ name. . . . In many cultures where Jesus is not known, the spiritual world is more integrated and real than in everyday Western culture. So offering prayer for someone from another faith or country is often honorable and desired. It also softens hearts and allows God to interact in a way that is unique to the needs of people’s souls. . . .

When we pray with people, it establishes us as spiritual people right from the beginning. People are drawn to Jesus Christ in us. The name of Jesus has spiritual authority and power from God. When we are clothed with all of the prayer tools in Ephesians 6, we can lift up the shield of faith for someone else, wielding the sword of the Spirit, while walking in the sandals of peace…and people respond.

One woman, Maryam, asked me to pray often, for her mother, or her family, or some illness. One day, Maryam called me, crying, and said, “My son was beat up on the playground today because he is Muslim! We came to America to flee war and beatings and kidnappings, and here we are, still not safe! I do not know what to do. Please, will you pray for me? God always seems to listen to you!” I prayed with her right then, over the phone, and also gave some advice about how to bring these situations to the school principal’s attention.

An hour later, she called me back, elated. “God heard your prayers, even before I could talk to the principal!” She sounded incredulous. “The school called me and moved my son to another class right away. They put the other child on suspension. I feel safe now. How do you have this kind of faith? How does God always listen to you like this? I wish that I knew.”

It’s easy to tell someone, “I’ll pray for you,” and then not really pray for that hurting person. If I had not prayed for Maryam right in the moment, I would have missed out on the chance to enter into a deep heart experience with her . . . and God.

Also, we don’t have to wait until someone asks us to pray. We can initiate prayer in the moment by asking, “How can I pray for you and for your family?” Prayer times are moments when God breaks through from heaven to earth, speaking into someone’s life, turning his or her face toward him. These moments can also lead to something more—like friendship or healing, listening to stories, reading scripture together, or even someone walking into the kingdom of God in full faith.