As prayer center ministers, and as Christians, one aspect of our job is to offer encouragement to those suffering during difficult times. For me, it is easy to write a simple prayer message, to tell someone I will be praying for them, or to share an encouraging Bible verse. Human contact and empathy may even encourage people for a short time. But this passage from AW Tozer convicted me:
“For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
People who need encouragement do not need us, they do not need kind words or concerned smiles. They need God. David described this need eloquently, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42: 1-2) This cry is true of every human—and especially true of those who are enduring hardship and suffering. Although the caring prayer messages are an important part of what we do, the most important part is leading people to Christ. Often, there is little we can say/do towards someone to directly impact this. But there is always one thing we can do—pray. Pray, not just for someone’s request, but pray that they will experience God like never before. This prayer, offered on behalf of the souls of others, is what will make the difference between a “nice ministry” and a powerful one.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your thought in response to this post!