A friend sent me a text message as an encouragement for praying for a loved one's salvation. She told me that yesterday, she had walked into a shop to buy gifts and she struck up a conversation with the shopkeeper. At God's prompting, my friend asked if she could pray for the shopkeeper's business. The shopkeeper, though she was a Buddhist, agreed. My friend prays right there and then and after she was done, she said goodbye.
At the close of business, the shopkeeper counted by the day's takings and realised with a start that the it was the largest amount ever. She was stunned and informed her business partner what had happened. Her business partner, who is a Christian, explained things and led the shopkeeper to pray and become a believer that very night.
My friend, by God's grace, realised she actually needed one more gift and went back to the shop today. She was told the amazing news by the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper revealed that friends had been praying for her salvation for over three months and finally God had answered those prayers. My friend was used by God in a tipping point moment when she interacted with the shopkeeper. That interaction was the finally nudge, the final step if you will, in a long series of events, to lead the shopkeeper to believe and put her trust in Jesus.
My friend could only praise God and be thankful she was there to be part of the miracle of someone putting their trust in Jesus. God is amazing in how he chooses to use people to expand his kingdom. One lesson here is to always be available to God and he will use you in mighty ways. Praise the Lord indeed for this miracle.
Postscript: A good friend was concerned when she read this account that the shopkeeper might have believed because of the money she earned in the miracle. Did the shopkeeper believed only because she was given wealth? I don't think so. To me, it was really more like a series of events, culminating in my friend praying for the shopkeeper. God is not in the habit of supplying unlimited wealth. It's not something he promises to those who trust him. He promises to supply all our needs. That's not the same as giving us rich, comfortable lifes. In fact, Jesus often told his followers to expect a tough time. As it says in Luke 9:57,58—"As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” The cost of following Jesus is that you leave everything behind: money, job, reputation, security, friendships, even family if needed. And in return, you get the greatest treasure of all: Jesus himself!
