I Will Pray For You

Matthew 5:14-16a – You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others. (NRSV)

It is nothing short of a miracle when a Christian has an open opportunity to say, "I will pray for you! Do you know Jesus loves you?"

One day, I was sitting on a park bench when two young men stopped to share a weed. I got up and went the step or two to them and asked, "What is your first name? I will pray for you." One of the youngsters, smoking and laughing to my face, said that his grandmother prays for him, too. I continued a little longer talking to them.

Some time had passed after that, when I heard someone say a loud "Hello!" Running towards me was one of those youngsters saying that he wanted to thank me for praying for him. He looked handsome, cleaned up, neatly dressed, hair trimmed. He said that he had found a job. He looked quite different from the one I had met before. My heart leaped with joy. Such a transformation was hard to believe, and I told him so. He said that he is blessed to have people praying for him. I thanked God for his grandmother.

On another occasion, I was visiting in my birth country, travelling on a train, sitting alone with only a few passengers on board.

A young woman was sitting with a young man, who apparently had been drinking. Their conversation could be heard by all in that car. My own ears soon picked up an effort by the woman to witness to the man, who must have been a brother or a cousin. She was not moved by her companion's persistent backtalk, but had something from the Word of God to counter the young man's unbelieving sentences. His head down, he had more to refute her words, and found all sorts of reasons to doubt. The other passengers drew to themselves, but could not avoid overhearing what was happening. I prayed for the Spirit of God to bless the young woman, and that the same Spirit would bless the young man to sober up from his failing to trust God.

I sensed the Spirit of God present, and as time passed, my heart leaped for joy as he seemed to be listening.

The train approached the station at which I was to get off. I stood up looking at the man, and said, "You know, she is right in everything she told you. There is a God who longs to save. I pray you will seek Him."

The man stood up as if he had sobered up in an instant. We looked at each other in the eye as the train was coming to a stop, and as I hurried out, I said, "God bless you."

I will not forget his eyes looking at me as if something had struck him the first time. I read into his silence volumes: he had his head up as if waking up to digest for himself a new hope and a future.

It was the right time in the right train to meet in passing the deep questions of life. For some in the train, it was uncomfortable timing for the subject; for others, it was an eternity moment for the salvation of a soul.

Even if we are not able to go where unbelievers are or meet them where they are, we all can pray for salvation in Jesus Christ for all who are on a train heading for destruction.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for those Your servants who knowingly and unknowingly witness the good news of salvation to the lost who are on a train heading for destruction. Keep strong the faithful ones in Your service, to be unafraid to step on the train and strong to change the destination for some. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

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