Just Take a Chance

The other day my friend, Hannah and I were suppose to go over to her house to study. But little did we know something else was about to happen. Hannah and I went to go walk her dog because she had been in her crate all day long.We ran into a lady that was walking her dog and started up a conversation. After the conversation I told Hannah I really felt like we should've invited her to church and tried to witness to her. God keeps handing me these opportunites to witness to people and I walk away in opposite direction due to fear and the potential of it being an awkward conversation. Hannah and I decided we weren't going back to her house till we had witnessed to someone and invited them to church. (eekk!)
So we walked down to the waterfront and took Maggie with us as bait because most people want to pet a dog or ask about it. We passed this guy and Hannah told me I should go talk to him, but I got really nervous and said 'no that could be a sketchy situation', haha. We continued to keep walking and quite a few people kept coming up to us and asking to pet the dog. But none of the conversations were long enough to say anything. After about 20 minutes or so we turned back around and saw the same guy sitting on the bench. We decided to sit down on the bench next to him and just try to start a conversation. After about 10 minutes or so he started asking about the dog and then asked where we went to school, etc. We responded and asked about his life, and he said he was looking for a house to buy in the downtown area. Well lucky him cause Hannah's house is for sale in the downtown area and so they were able to talk about it. The conversation kept going and we ended up getting on the topic about God and going to church. He said he's been Catholic for 10 years but it just wasn't fulfilling to him. He didn't get much out of it and wanted more in life! To God be the GLORY! We continued sharing Christ to him and I asked him if we could pray for him in any way. His eyes lit up and he got really excited. He shared his prayer requests and was shocked when I asked if we could pray for him right there. He even started tearing up. He agreed and we prayed. I felt the holy spirit rush through me and God was totally speaking through Hannah and I. I can barely remember what I said. I just stood there with words coming out of my mouth and shaking nervously. He thanked us for everything and felt really inspired. I told him we hoped to see him sometime at Bethel and he said 'it's not if I come, it's I will come!' Hannah and I left that situation in complete shock and felt like we could do anything God threw at us from that point forward. The man also thanked us for our boldness and willing to talk to him. The whole afternoon was crazy and I'm still in complete awe! I'm so grateful for this boldness God's given me and I now know that with God anything is really possible. I knew that before, but now I have this experience and it's amazing.
I challenege you. Are you walking away from the opportunites to share your faith, or ask someone to church because you're scared of the outcome, it being uncomfortable/awkward, or not knowing the words to say? I was, and still am. But because God spoke through me and provided me with the words to say, I know it's possible! Try asking for boldness. See where it leads you. We should be jumping for joy, we have a risen and alive Savior who lives in us. Who wouldn't want to share that, especially with the people we love!

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. -Acts 4:29-30
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13