“God can speak to anyone, anywhere.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 30, 2024
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
One day this week, I stopped by a local coffee shop to grab a cup of tea. A few seconds after I arrived, the barista called out to a man behind me. “Hey, Mark! How are you doing, man?” Mark replied, “I’m doing great! How are you?”
I turned around, waved, and said, “Hey, Mark! How are you doing?” I hadn’t ever met Mark. I was just being friendly and funny. He moved toward me and said, “Do we know each other?” I smiled and said, “No, but we do now.” Then we did the casual conversation stuff, discussing where we both lived in the county and what we do for work.
Then I mentioned that I was diagnosed with cancer last summer and that God is healing my body. His eyes grew large, and he emphatically said, “Hold on. Don’t go anywhere. You and I were supposed to meet.” I said, “Okay,” and took a seat at a small table behind us.
After he got his coffee, he sat down and told me his story. He was a triplet. His two siblings died at birth, but he lived. Then, when he was a little older, he had a 4-year-old sister die when a friend pulled the trigger on a gun where he was present. More survivor’s guilt. Later, his children abandoned him, he died several times and came back, and his wife, whom he had known since he was thirteen, died from cancer. As I listened, my heart filled with grief for him. So much trauma.
Then, he began to tell me why we needed to talk. He explained that he had left the country to try some mushrooms to help heal his emotions. He felt that it could help me too since I am dealing with cancer. Inside, I smiled because in a way I can’t explain, I have more joy in my heart now than I have ever had in my life since I asked Christ to come into my life over 30 years ago. It’s all Jesus. I told him, “I actually have a lot of joy in my life right now.”
But he continued to write on a small Post-it note what I should do to get the treatment he had received. As he was doing this, I quietly thought, “Lord, I don’t know what to say to this man.” The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “You just do what you do, and you let me do what I do, (which is show up in power).”
I told Mark that Jesus loves Him and wants to heal his trauma. I told him that God wants a relationship with Him and that He wants to talk to Him. Then, I asked him if I could pray for him. He said, “Sure, and while you are praying for me, I’ll send some healing vibes your way.” I smiled. We held hands and I petitioned the God who is all light and love and goodness to heal Mark. I asked Him to make Himself known to him and come into his life. And as I prayed, grief and compassion for Mark from Jesus filled my eyes and heart and I began to weep. Big tears flooded my cheeks and made a puddle on the table next to our hands.
When I finished, I looked up and there were tears under his eyes. He wiped them away and then said, “Wow! Trippy.” I smiled and asked him what he meant. He said, “When you were praying, I felt more power coming off you than I have ever felt before.” I told him that that was God showing him how much he is loved; it was the Holy Spirit. We spoke a little more about Jesus and then, as we parted, he said, “I just feel like I need to give you a hug.”
I marveled that God can reveal His power to anyone, anywhere—and perhaps He wants to use you to be His mouthpiece. Listen to what the Lord wants to say through you and open your mouth and speak. He may want to use you to share His love with even a stranger in a coffee shop.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit and your power that enables us to be your witnesses! What a joy it is to share your love. Make me mindful of people around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Put today’s devotional into practice. Ask the Lord how He might want to use you to be a witness for Him today wherever you go.
Related Reading
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:15-17; Isaiah 11:2
Worship Resource
Franscesca Batistelli: Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here
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