What Do You Need the Most?
There are times when we approach someone ready to minister God’s love, that we are so sure we know exactly what that person needs the most. We see a need, whatever it might be, and determine it to be the most important thing.
I was on my way to work one morning when I received a call from my Chief telling me that I had been assigned to a different station for the day. I tried to have a good attitude about it but was a little annoyed because moving stations means moving everything including gear, bedding, toiletries and whatever else.
Nevertheless, I was shortly on my way to the place I would be spending the following 24 hours. On the way I was remembering times in the past in which I had been reassigned for the day, and the opportunities to minister God’s love that had come as a result. I started wondering what opportunities God might bring this time.
It came late afternoon when my partner and I were dispatched to a young man who had fallen in his bathroom, injuring his lower back. We arrived to find him lying in the living room on his side, trying his best not to cry out from the pain.
I completed the assessment, determining that his spine was not compromised, and lifted him up and onto the stretcher. That’s when I noticed his tear-stained face. I was overcome with compassion and began to ask the Lord what He might have me do. As we loaded him into the rescue, I heard the Lord tell me to pray for him.
As we left the scene and started towards the hospital, I asked the Lord how He wanted me to approach the young man. After listening, I looked at the young man and told him that I would love for him not to be in pain and that I had some medicine that I could give me. I asked him if he would be willing to let me pray for him to give God a chance to heal him before giving any medicine. He told me that it would be wonderful if I would pray for him.
So I put my hand on his shoulder and listened for God to lead me how to pray. When I was done I asked him how he felt and he told me he felt really good. I asked him to move and when he did he told me that there was still some pain. So I told him I would pray one more time.
As I was praying the second time it was like the Lord shouted at me to listen to Him instead of getting centered on a prayer for healing. As I obeyed I felt the love and passion of God for the young man fill me as the prophetic word began to flow out. The message to the young man was one of overwhelming love and a call for reconciliation between him and Jesus.
When I was finished the young man looked at me, clearly touched and emotional, and told me he’d needed that message far more than he needed his back to be healed. I was really impacted by his words.
I’d seen a need and went after it without fully listening for God’s instructions. I’ve come to understand that if we can keep from being influenced by the need we see, we have a much better chance at hearing God clearly leading us how to minister. God knows the best way to reach someone’s heart and it might be very different than we think. It’s so valuable to slow down and take the time to listen rather than jumping in right away.
Blessings,
Jesse and Kara Birkey
http://www.facebook.com/reflectministry
View the Trailer for our new book, Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People Here!
Click Here to find information on an exciting new documentary called DeadRaiser releasing in October!
Add new comment