One of the amazing mysteries about Jesus is the way he sometimes uses people who we interact with on a regular basis, such as the work environment, to shape our future – sometimes dramatically!
In 2005, I was doing some contract work. One of my work colleagues was an effervescent, bubbly young woman whose out-going personality made the work environment a more enjoyable place. As I started to get to know this woman I was struck by her almost hidden sparkle of compassion and warmth for others. This woman, with ‘alight inside‘, was unexpectedly used by Jesus to change the direction of my spiritual life.
My contract finished at the end of October 2005, and on the Saturday I went back into the empty office building with the intention of leaving some farewell gifts on the desks of some of the people I had closely worked with over the previous nine months.
I had spent some time the night before looking through various shops seeking something, which would be appropriate for ‘a light inside’; and finally, as time was quickly running out, I saw a little crystal sunflower in a jewellery shop that just jumped out as the right candidate, an ‘eternally picked’ flower. It was very cute and it reminded me of her sparkling laugh. Everything was going smoothly, I had finished my round of placing gifts on each persons desk, and after placing the crystal sunflower on the woman’s desk I started to bask in my self-satisfaction that everything had worked out so well. The crystal flower was tenaciously sparkling in the soft filtered light of the office. It symbolised for me a type of innocence lost, like when we change from being a child to an adult but there is a remnant remaining, a rainbow of colours waiting and wanting to be rescued and released.
The sparkling coloured flower was in its place - I sat back in her chair, content with the feeling that I had accomplished everything I had wanted to do that morning. I was on track for the three-hour drive back home and was looking forward to slipping back into semi-retirement and spending time with my wife, enjoying the twilight years of our lives. While relaxing at her desk, I prayed for the other people I had worked with and for a safe trip home. Then in a very casual way, I said a very simple prayer for the young woman, “Lord, please look after this young woman.”
The next moment, my quiet composure was shattered by the distinct voice of my Lord, asking me, ‘what was I doing with my life?’
This statement reverberated through my being for the next four or so weeks. Now, when reflecting back to that period during November 2005, the following analogy is the best I can do to describe my feelings. It was like I was a football player and I was given a break from the game and told to rest for a few minutes on the bench, while there I became too comfortable and fell into a deep sleep. I’m awoken by the coach roughly shaking me out of my deadly sleep with the words “I’ve been calling you for awhile, you are needed.”
The second and perhaps bigger earthquake was after shaking me awake, He then said, “this is my concern and love for this woman.” An immense wave of an incredible and beautiful emotion travelled throughout my body, something I’ve only experienced once before. That was in March 1991 when I first met my Lord and my God – Jesus. For many months later, I could not recall this moment without tears. I immediately felt that my prayer was superficial in comparison to the level of concern Jesus demonstrated for her. It was as if I was holding a little birthday candle and He bought along the largest sun in the universe. The comparison made me realise just how little I actually loved anyone – in terms of my involvement and concern for them, as measured by my actions.
One major change is that my love for others was previously driven by my mind, my response to a situation of need was usually to write out a cheque, send it off, and that was the end of my concern. Now, one effect of that wave of love passing through me has been to set my heart on fire, albeit in a small way. For the first time I can love others with my heart as well as my mind, strength and spirit. He has placed a deposit in my heart to enable me to see and love others, as He loves them.
Since then, I’ve added this young woman to my prayer list, and each morning (up to the birth of her children), I’ve prayed for her. From the very first day, I was prompted to pray for specific areas of this young woman’s life.
[I think it important to understand that God is sovereign and prayer is not an attempt to force God's hand. Why then, would a person be prompted to pray about a particular issue? Surely, some may say, Jesus knows all about every issue and knows when and how his 'will', will be done. I believe the answer is found in God's desire to have a relationship with us and he involves us in his work to strengthen and deepen this relationship. A relationship, built on a foundation of love and trust. Looked at from another angle, I believe God is saying, pray for this person and watch and learn how my love works to bring about a perfect response to imperfect prayers.]
A few weeks later while praying for her, I had a very clear and detailed vision of her nursing a baby, it was like one of those first baby photos taken within hospital, the detail was striking; the way she had her hair cut (different to how she wore it while I was working with her), and the colour and texture of the robe she was wearing. There were two people standing next to her; a young man on her left; and to her right, was an older woman – people, I did not know.
[The way I was prompted to pray for her to have a child; had me, in one sense, rolling around the floor laughing - I had a dream in which I placed my hands on her and prayed for her to have a child. To lay hands on someone during a charismatic service is one thing but even in most traditional churches - it is usually frowned upon. Just imagine the reaction you would get if you approach a young woman outside a church environment and prayed for her in this way!]
The second prayer point, and the most important, is for her to develop an eternal relationship with our amazing God – Jesus.
I’m not sure where this young woman is – in terms of her accepting Jesus as saviour and Lord of her life. I’ve struggled with the question of how do you tell someone about this type of experience and vision when they may not have the same beliefs as you.
A few months later I renewed my contract on a part-time basis and worked in the same office up to the end of March 2006.
I used the opportunity of her birthday to give her (in a diplomatic way) an unique bottle of wine that was very difficult to obtain. I prayed about it a lot and the whole process went very smoothly, except I never clearly explained the significance behind my reason for the gift – the ‘right’ time never seemed to happen while I was there. What I was going to say was something like this: any sort of human gift will always fade away. Wine is drunk and the bottle is emptied or if you keep the wine for too long you often end up with nice vinegar. Whereas, the gift Jesus offers you will last forever, his gift is free but you must reach out to take it – it is not forced on you.
Overall, upon reflection, I think I made a real mess of things. I tried too hard to manipulate events into creating opportunities for me to talk about these issues. I became too impatient and did not allow God to fully direct me in a more orderly fashion, in accordance with his timetable – but, I trust He will pick up the pieces and put everything right. I often pray for this young woman.
Update: On 6 September 2007, this lovely young woman gave birth to beautiful, healthy babies; please praise God for answered prayer – this is a truly great day. He is our God who eternally loves us and has laid down His life for us.
A light inside
One of the amazing mysteries about Jesus is the way he sometimes uses people who we interact with on a regular basis, such as the work environment, to shape our future – sometimes dramatically!
In 2005, I was doing some contract work. One of my work colleagues was an effervescent, bubbly young woman whose out-going personality made the work environment a more enjoyable place. As I started to get to know this woman I was struck by her almost hidden sparkle of compassion and warmth for others. This woman, with ‘a light inside‘, was unexpectedly used by Jesus to change the direction of my spiritual life.
My contract finished at the end of October 2005, and on the Saturday I went back into the empty office building with the intention of leaving some farewell gifts on the desks of some of the people I had closely worked with over the previous nine months.
I had spent some time the night before looking through various shops seeking something, which would be appropriate for ‘a light inside’; and finally, as time was quickly running out, I saw a little crystal sunflower in a jewellery shop that just jumped out as the right candidate, an ‘eternally picked’ flower. It was very cute and it reminded me of her sparkling laugh. Everything was going smoothly, I had finished my round of placing gifts on each persons desk, and after placing the crystal sunflower on the woman’s desk I started to bask in my self-satisfaction that everything had worked out so well. The crystal flower was tenaciously sparkling in the soft filtered light of the office. It symbolised for me a type of innocence lost, like when we change from being a child to an adult but there is a remnant remaining, a rainbow of colours waiting and wanting to be rescued and released.
The sparkling coloured flower was in its place - I sat back in her chair, content with the feeling that I had accomplished everything I had wanted to do that morning. I was on track for the three-hour drive back home and was looking forward to slipping back into semi-retirement and spending time with my wife, enjoying the twilight years of our lives. While relaxing at her desk, I prayed for the other people I had worked with and for a safe trip home. Then in a very casual way, I said a very simple prayer for the young woman, “Lord, please look after this young woman.”
The next moment, my quiet composure was shattered by the distinct voice of my Lord, asking me, ‘what was I doing with my life?’
This statement reverberated through my being for the next four or so weeks. Now, when reflecting back to that period during November 2005, the following analogy is the best I can do to describe my feelings. It was like I was a football player and I was given a break from the game and told to rest for a few minutes on the bench, while there I became too comfortable and fell into a deep sleep. I’m awoken by the coach roughly shaking me out of my deadly sleep with the words “I’ve been calling you for awhile, you are needed.”
The second and perhaps bigger earthquake was after shaking me awake, He then said, “this is my concern and love for this woman.” An immense wave of an incredible and beautiful emotion travelled throughout my body, something I’ve only experienced once before. That was in March 1991 when I first met my Lord and my God – Jesus. For many months later, I could not recall this moment without tears. I immediately felt that my prayer was superficial in comparison to the level of concern Jesus demonstrated for her. It was as if I was holding a little birthday candle and He bought along the largest sun in the universe. The comparison made me realise just how little I actually loved anyone – in terms of my involvement and concern for them, as measured by my actions.
One major change is that my love for others was previously driven by my mind, my response to a situation of need was usually to write out a cheque, send it off, and that was the end of my concern. Now, one effect of that wave of love passing through me has been to set my heart on fire, albeit in a small way. For the first time I can love others with my heart as well as my mind, strength and spirit. He has placed a deposit in my heart to enable me to see and love others, as He loves them.
Since then, I’ve added this young woman to my prayer list, and each morning (up to the birth of her children), I’ve prayed for her. From the very first day, I was prompted to pray for specific areas of this young woman’s life.
[I think it important to understand that God is sovereign and prayer is not an attempt to force God's hand. Why then, would a person be prompted to pray about a particular issue? Surely, some may say, Jesus knows all about every issue and knows when and how his 'will', will be done. I believe the answer is found in God's desire to have a relationship with us and he involves us in his work to strengthen and deepen this relationship. A relationship, built on a foundation of love and trust. Looked at from another angle, I believe God is saying, pray for this person and watch and learn how my love works to bring about a perfect response to imperfect prayers.]
A few weeks later while praying for her, I had a very clear and detailed vision of her nursing a baby, it was like one of those first baby photos taken within hospital, the detail was striking; the way she had her hair cut (different to how she wore it while I was working with her), and the colour and texture of the robe she was wearing. There were two people standing next to her; a young man on her left; and to her right, was an older woman – people, I did not know.
[The way I was prompted to pray for her to have a child; had me, in one sense, rolling around the floor laughing - I had a dream in which I placed my hands on her and prayed for her to have a child. To lay hands on someone during a charismatic service is one thing but even in most traditional churches - it is usually frowned upon. Just imagine the reaction you would get if you approach a young woman outside a church environment and prayed for her in this way!]
The second prayer point, and the most important, is for her to develop an eternal relationship with our amazing God – Jesus.
I’m not sure where this young woman is – in terms of her accepting Jesus as saviour and Lord of her life. I’ve struggled with the question of how do you tell someone about this type of experience and vision when they may not have the same beliefs as you.
A few months later I renewed my contract on a part-time basis and worked in the same office up to the end of March 2006.
I used the opportunity of her birthday to give her (in a diplomatic way) an unique bottle of wine that was very difficult to obtain. I prayed about it a lot and the whole process went very smoothly, except I never clearly explained the significance behind my reason for the gift – the ‘right’ time never seemed to happen while I was there. What I was going to say was something like this: any sort of human gift will always fade away. Wine is drunk and the bottle is emptied or if you keep the wine for too long you often end up with nice vinegar. Whereas, the gift Jesus offers you will last forever, his gift is free but you must reach out to take it – it is not forced on you.
Overall, upon reflection, I think I made a real mess of things. I tried too hard to manipulate events into creating opportunities for me to talk about these issues. I became too impatient and did not allow God to fully direct me in a more orderly fashion, in accordance with his timetable – but, I trust He will pick up the pieces and put everything right. I often pray for this young woman.
Update: On 6 September 2007, this lovely young woman gave birth to beautiful, healthy babies; please praise God for answered prayer – this is a truly great day. He is our God who eternally loves us and has laid down His life for us.