Welcome to the first Testimony Tuesday!! I was praying and asking God what testimony to share and I was reminded of this super sweet moment a few years ago.
I was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the summer of 2020. George Floyd had been killed a few weeks earlier and the riots were coming to a close. I was on a trip called Kingdom Interruption. Myself alongside Matt Blair and Luis Lam had been traveling the country in a minivan. Our goal was to meet our brothers and sisters across the States and encourage them to step out in more ministry at home, as well as connect them to others believers near them. God worked so much through us! He redeemed so much of my perception of ministry in America.
Well, here we were at the Petersen home in Brooklyn Center. The Petersen’s have such an amazing family culture of invitation. They have used their resources to honor God and build the Kingdom! They regularly open their home for meals, prayer groups, worship nights, and even to house people from all over the country. They have made what they own a ministry in and of itself. Shoutout Drew and Marie!!
One night we were sitting out around the fire. There was a good sized group there. We had dinner and some worship then were just hanging out. At one point, I had started a conversation with this girl named Sophia. (Sophia, if you are reading this, you are a woman of God! Praying for you today!) We had talked about her passion for worship and how she was falling in love with Jesus. It was a really sweet conversation.
At one point Sophia asked her friend for some advil or ibuprofen as she had a headache. She said she had had a headache all day, maybe the day before as well. I felt the Spirit nudge me, and so I asked, “Before you take that medicine, do you mind if I pray for your head?”
“Sure!” she replied.
I walked over and gently put my hand on her head and prayed a simple prayer. “Thank you, Jesus, that you love Sophia and you care for her. Please bring relief in her head and take away the pain, Lord. Amen.”
I went and sat down. Sophia did not take the medicine, she stayed sitting in her seat. After a moment, I asked how her head felt. With tears in her eyes, she admitted that she didn’t feel anything.
“It is silly because it's just a headache, but He really cares.” She was just caught up all over in His love. Even I started to tear up because of her reaction. For me, I prayed because why not? Do I see Him heal people every time I pray? No. Do I believe He can? Yes. After talking with her that night and hearing her heart, I was overflowing with love for the Father. My prayer was an overflow. But then hearing her response to receiving a touch from the Father, I was encouraged all the more.
In scripture, it says that Mary pondered these moments with Jesus up in her heart. This is a moment for me. “He cares for me even in the little things,” Sophia contemplated. “He really, really loves me.”
This is the heart I want. I want to pray for people to feel His love. And I want to be open to know His love myself. Please, Jesus, reveal to us your heart. Amen.
John 15:9
Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
