Last Christmas Eve, I preached at five services at Shepherd’s Grove, and during the first one, I had an encounter that I’ll never forget. Sitting on the front row was a Muslim woman, wearing a hijab, holding a Quran and looking very upset. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find her presence there unusual, and I paid close attention to her downcast countenance the whole time. After the service was over, when she got up to leave, I ran to her and thanked her for coming. She looked up at me with a big smile and told me that she really enjoyed being there. Then, she opened up her Quran and showed me a picture of her son, whom she said was very sick. She asked me if I would please pray for him, because she felt that God could heal him. I prayed right then and there that he would be restored, and then she vowed to bring him back later so I could lay hands on him (which unfortunately never happened). Although her religion was steeped in its own tradition of prayer, she was so desperate to see God move tangibly that she was willing to seek Him in a totally different way. Of course, when she did, He was ready, willing, and able to give ear to her requests, and I was blessed to be just a small part of His work.

My friend, the Maker of Heaven and earth lives inside of you, and through the power of Jesus, He has afforded you the amazing opportunity to be a conduit of His healing and life-changing power to others. All around you, people are hurting and souls are searching, and you have the honor of putting skin on your Savior and bringing His transforming strength to their midst. The Lord goes to great lengths to reveal Himself to the lost, and He wants to use you to give life to His priorities whenever you give Him the chance.