40 Faces, 40 Places: A Devotional JourneySample

Beverley from Kent

Sometimes whole-life discipleship looks like an offering to pray for new people.

I work with my friend and colleague Bruce, delivering cars for dealerships and private traders. We always pray about the day’s job and ask God to give us opportunities to share His love with people we may meet.

Frequently, the salespeople we’re dealing with will open up and share about difficulties in their home life, job worries, illnesses in the family, mental health struggles, etc. We offer to pray for them, and if the moment is right, pray with them there and then in a natural, conversational way. Sometimes we give them a booklet of daily Bible notes.

We’ve seen God at work in many interactions with salespeople and customers. For example, while sitting in a tire dealership waiting room, Bruce led a young man to the Lord. He was trying to leave the army and take a job he’d been offered, but the military wouldn’t release him. We prayed, and it all worked out.

We also met a young barman with whom Bruce shared God’s love and weeks later led him to Jesus over the phone. There is seldom resistance to our witnessing, as people are hungry for more than material satisfaction – but we do have to err on the cautious side so as not to scare off work opportunities by being tactless or over-enthusiastic!

Reflection

Beverley’s story contains practical challenges and reminders for all of us. It’s always good to pray about the day ahead and ask for opportunities to join in God’s work where we are. It can be impactful when we act with a belief in God’s power to answer prayers and the Bible’s power to speak to those we meet.

The well-known instruction to ‘always be prepared’ in 1 Peter 3:15 implies more than a hesitant willingness. It suggests being ready and standing by because God is already at work on our frontline – all we need to do is ask Him to show us how.

Beverley is keen to be appropriate. She recognizes that being too forceful could put people off and affect the business. Nevertheless, she is eager to share her faith in what she does and the words she says.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the people I know, like Beverley and Bruce, who pray and look for opportunities to share You with others in their daily lives. Help me have more of this ‘ready and standing by’ willingness today. Lord, may my desire to avoid pushiness not lead to silence or inaction when Your opportunities open up.