In this Christmas season, may you know much joy as you reflect on God's amazing gift to us in Jesus! It is wonderful to realize that because of this gift of Jesus, one day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11). What a day to look forward to!
Recently, I was able to be a part of seeing someone personally receive this gift of salvation in Jesus! Sasha* is a 26 year-old young woman who I first met when she was a young teen. She attended our knitting club and teen night but at that time expressed no interest in Jesus. After graduating from high school, she would call me every now and then when she had something she wanted me to pray for such as a job interview, her grandmother who was sick, or for her family to find a new apartment. I would sometimes try to go further about the Lord but her concern was just about the particular request. When we hung up I would pray then for the Lord to work in Sasha a desire for a relationship with Him but did not think to do so again until the next time she called. Finally this summer when she called for prayer, I asked her if I could take her out for lunch and share with her just what a relationship with Jesus is all about and she agreed.
The Lord worked it out so that when we went to the restaurant, the hostess led us to seats in the far back with no one near us. Sasha was so attentive when I shared the Gospel with her, so different from when she was a teen. However, she assured me that even as a teen she had been listening. After dialoguing for nearly two hours I asked her if she wanted this relationship with Jesus and without hesitating she said yes. We went back to my place and there she prayed to put her trust in Christ. The Lord had been working in her and preparing her heart during those years even when I didn't see it!
Since then we have been meeting once a week to do a follow-up Bible study. Sasha is the only Christian in her immediate family so she does not come from a tradition of church and everything is so new to her. She is also presently working full-time and part-time jobs to help out the family.
Please pray for Sasha to grow in grasping how great God's love for her is and out of this heart knowledge to grow in obedience to Him. Pray for an increasing desire to read the Word and for understanding and application to her life. Pray that she will be a witness to her family in both word and action and pray for the Lord to draw family members to Himself!
*Name changed for privacy.
