40acts: The Lent Generosity ChallengeSample

The Bible tells us in Philippians to look out for the interests of others over our own. That might mean putting aside our own awkwardness or embarrassment in order to reach out to those around us and bring their cares and concerns to Jesus.

God has generous gifts for people outside of the church, for businesses, for those in our workplaces, and for our schools. And the phenomenal thing is He wants to give them through us.

I often say that I love to be in places where people are least likely to expect a God encounter. I’ve had some of my best faith conversations in some of the most unexpected places! One of my favourite places to start ‘God chats’ is at my local gym. I remember one person who appeared to be very independent, confident and feisty – impossible to keep up with in a CrossFit class! The kind of person I was nervous to approach and pray for. 

One day, after a class, I felt prompted to offer to pray for her. In accepting the offer, she looked at me and said, ‘I don’t know how to pray,’ to which I replied, ‘You don’t have to do anything! I’ll just talk to God.’ This encounter then led to deeper friendship and openness.
 

I happen to serve at my gym as a chaplain. As I go there prayerfully and intentionally, I find myself taking time to listen to people’s stories. It’s easy to assume people won’t want prayer in a place like that when really we’re often more scared of offering prayer than people are of receiving it.

Our job is to help people taste and see the goodness and generosity of God. Our role is to enhance His presence, to bring out a distinctiveness, to make the God-flavours and God-colours even stronger and brighter.

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 James 5:16 tells us ‘the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working’. Let’s use the gift of prayer to bless our friends, strangers and even those who mistreat us. 

 Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog:   

https://40acts.org.uk/act-25-roadwork-ahead/