I instituted the prayer-action goal last year of praying for the doubling of baptisms each year. Last year we had 4 baptisms, so we are anticipating 8 this year. But not baptisms by default of members giving birth. In other words, it didn’t count to get pregnant just to fulfill the goal! : )
But to be in action by faith with our prayer, it would be necessary to share your faith in Jesus Christ. I noted the very simple outline of a testimony provided by Mr Lee Buck when he visited St. John’s years ago: 1) what my life before I met Jesus was like, 2) how I met Jesus, and 3) what my life has been like since I met Jesus Christ. Once we had that worked out, it was only a matter of the encounter(s) in which we looked for the opportunity to share our testimony, noting how often such testimony was shared in the context of a newly developing friendship.
Still, our Northern Hemisphere Anglican/Episcopalian sensitivities inform us to not be intrusive in others’ spiritual lives. How then, to be obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ and bring the message of the Good News to all, do we navigate through our probably hyper-sensitivity to the right person and the right moment?
Well, left on our own, so to speak, it is readily apparent by the appalling decline of membership and attendance in The Episcopal Church in the USA, that we have not been successful in this venture. And so, unless we are given a spiritual gift for successful witnessing already and just haven’t made use of it, we really have only one choice, and that is to ask God to help us directly, which would be accomplished through His Holy Spirit.
This would be one of my biggest pieces of both pastoral advice and direction in every situation, as most of you know: “Ask Him.” And I have shared on many occasions what such a prayer might be like, asking for God’s help in witnessing. I want to do so again, but with one difference. The following prayer was not written by me, and it includes an initial awareness that may be helpful in your reflection that I have not always included: “I am ready…” Reading through the prayer may, in fact, cause you to pray something else (which is the second prayer below), but I am willing to concede that reality, and will also rejoice that you have also conceded such a reality for yourself.
It reminds me of another context: “Do you want to do this (such as forgive someone)?” and the answer is, “I can’t”, or “No”, the next question is, “Do you want to want to do this?”, and we move from the emotional will to the obedient will.
As a teacher, I want you to know and accept the direction and commands of God. As a prophet, I look for nothing else but compliance with God’s will. As a pastor, I am temporarily satisfied knowing you are now on the pathway to such compliance, rather than being off the road alltogether!
So here is the prayer for “Willing Witnessing”, as written by Dr. Gil Stieglitz.
Pray this prayer:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I am ready to tell people about you and the positive changes you have made in my life. If you want me to share my faith this week, arrange meetings and conversations so that other people will bring up the conversation. I will share my faith with them if you have them bring it up.
Thank You, Lord Jesus.”
And, in case you are not “ready”, a prayer to get you to the status of being willing to pray the previous prayer! (making liberal use of the Collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany) :
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, give me grace to answer readily the call of my Savior Jesus Christ and so desire to proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that I and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.
Just remember – you are, in fact, by Jesus’ direction, to be ready.
