Praying and Watching
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. - Colossians 4:2-4
Evangelism. A word that stirs up different emotions and memories. Visions of people going door to door, people handing out tracts, and others who scream with bullhorns and signs. Because of seemingly negative connotations, people seem to shy away from active evangelism for fear of hurting people or causing further damage to an already damaged christian image.
I’ve been using a different approach which isn’t anything new, but it is radical. At our church we call it Pray and Watch. Rather than going door to door or memorizing a tract, we simply engage in life with the people around us. Here is how it works: Simply pray for your neighbors, co-workers, friends around you by name…asking God to provide opportunities to love, serve, and share life with them. When the opportunity to share, love, or share life arises - JUMP ON IT! I was surprised to see how many opportunities there really were as well as how praying for the people around me caused me to be more aware of the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
There are multiple stories about how taking chances and following where God has prompted have ended in great conversations and others coming to know Jesus. I promise you that by praying and watching, God can and will change your life and the lives of people around you.
So what are you waiting for? Take a chance. Pray and watch.
