Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

Sitting in malls during a recent trip to a warmer place,

I was asking the Lord to send people my way who were open to Him,

with whom I could share the Gospel.

So, I sat there mall after mall and smiled,

hoping someone would come up and ask me,

"Why are you so happy?" or say, "I want what you have!"

Well, it didn't happen.

Maybe I need to practise my smiling.

One interesting thing I did note is that young children are the most receptive.

They smile back, sometimes.

In this day and age when we teach them,

rightfully so, don't talk to strangers,

it's still a shame that we are limited in our communication with them.

They're so neat and unihibited.

You can learn a lot from watching a child.

I did get to talk with guys who sat down next to me, fellow "mall widowers".

But the conversations never advanced past the "Where you from" stage.

OK, so let's turn to what happened at the Hour of Power prayer time last night.

People who have been hurt by the church were prayed for.

Those who are believing the lie that the church is full of hypocrites.

(It's not full, just 50%, or 60%?)

Show us how to love them.

Help us die to our own agendas.

How desperately we need You, Lord!

We declare freedom to people loooking for You.

Forgive us for hiding our light.

Break off what's holding us back, like distractions, fears.

Bring release!

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. Psalm 68:1

Where's the sense of need?

Where's the desire to seek Your face?

We've hewn out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13

We're so utterly, utterly dependent on You.

Break off the old things.

Do a new thing in us, Lord.

As for the beginning confession?

Maybe it could happen, people coming up and saying,

"What's different about you?"

I believe that COULD happen as we let the love of the Lord ooze from us.

But what does scripture say?

It says, "Go!" "Tell the good things the Lord has done for you!"

Lord, help me, help us, be sensitive.

You are bringing people daily across our path.

Help us to know what to say/when to say.

We are depending on You.