From a reader re: Never Quit Praying-
“Dear Brooke and Gary,
The beautiful, touching testimony you sent let me know it is time to share my testimony about how praying through the Bless Every Home App brought a young man into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I had been praying for my neighbors, using the app, for about a year. I was driving back home this past April when I passed a man with a hoodie on and his head bowed. He walked on my side of the road but in the opposite direction. Immediately I received a word of knowledge about him. I knew he’d been upset with a loved one and was walking aimlessly down the highway in emotional pain.
I don’t stop to pick up people, so I started immediately seeking the Lord about how to respond, whether by prayer or giving help. I drove home and sat down in my chair, and kept praying. Somehow I just knew I was to go back and offer a ride. If he was nowhere to be found, I prayed for him at least.
He was still walking! I asked him if he wanted a ride. He was surprised and unsure. Then he said, OK. ” When he arrived, my first question was, “How is your day going?” He said, “Not too good, “He continued, “I got into an argument with my girlfriend and just started walking.” I asked where he was headed. He said he was heading to the next town to get a haircut from the barber.
Long testimony short, his name is Anthony. He is 32. He had tattoos all over, including a life-sized rosary around his neck. I asked him about his story. His mother gave him up in foster care when he was very young.
He grew up in the foster care system. Eventually, he was adopted by a Catholic family. He said he is a father working toward regaining custody of his son. He worked reliably on a construction crew pouring concrete. I know the family. They are Lutheran Finns. It was beginning to line up how the Lord has been setting him apart, already calling him into salvation. He’d been sober, off alcohol, for one year.
I pulled up in front of the Barber’s but told him I wanted to talk some more. He stayed in the car with me. I shared the Gospel and the dilemma of self will lived before a holy, sovereign Creator. I shared the gift of redemption through faith in Jesus’s finished work on the Cross. Soon it was time to ask if he was ready to receive Jesus.
Anthony said, “Ma’am, I want to, but unfortunately, I can’t. I sold my soul to Satan as a teenager, so there’s no hope for me.” I laughed at that lie from the pit! I said, “Anthony! Of course, your human soul is redeemable by Christ’s shed blood! It’s the devil who’s not redeemable! We all fall short of God’s glory whether or not we make an overt pact with the enemy or go along with his agenda subconsciously.
We all need saving! The enemy is the father of lies and has duped you; don’t believe a word he says! So many folks who fell for that lie who’ve been born again. They could tell you it’s a scam!”
I asked him if he had genuine, godly sorrow for his trespasses which caused God the Father, others, and himself to grieve. He said he walks with godly sorrow every day.
So, he repented and repeated a prayer of confession after me to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. His countenance changed! He smiled from ear to ear. Then he confessed that if I’d not stopped, he would probably have drank alcohol that day after a year’s sobriety; that’s how down and depressed he was.
I connected him with a Christian brother and gave him a Bible. The Lord released me to give him my number. He’s my son’s age. He texted me a few days ago, saying he finally saved enough money to pay his DMV fines. He got his driver’s license back on July 29th. And he’s regaining custody of his son!
So, when I drove him back to his girlfriend’s apartment, I realized he lived across the street from me! I’d been praying for his salvation at that address and his girlfriend by name for over a year through the Bless Every Home App!!!!
Because I had been faithfully praying, I discerned the Lord’s Voice to go back and minister to that man. Can you believe it? He turned out to be my neighbor for whom I’d prayed for a year!! And to think, I had the honor and privilege of leading him to our Redeemer! Now he’s born again!
This is a story from Shame to Shalom for Anthony!
Robyn S. O’Neal”