Just in town for a brief time today, picking up something for a family member.
On my way through the shopping centre, I saw a tracksuited man ahead of me, hood up, cigarette in one hand, limping and leaning on a walking crutch with the other. He went through the automatic exit doors and I followed him! As I caught up with him, I saw that he was only a young guy, mid twenties perhaps.
“That looks painful” I ventured. “What happened?” Thankfully he stopped and didn’t blank me or tell me to mind my own business! He explained that, the night before, he had accidentally stepped barefoot onto a large piece of broken glass which had gone right into his foot. It had bled a lot. He was in town today to drop his little boy at the soft play centre and to get more dressings for the wound. He hadn’t yet had it seen by a doctor. It was painful in a dull ache sort of way.
Asking his name – “Jake” – I told him mine and explained that I work as a street pastor who prays super-quick for people in pain and sees God take away that pain right there and then! He seemed to have heard of a street pastor before, and when I offered to pray for him and his foot, he said with a cheeky sort of smile “Yeh, okay then!”.
As I began praying for Jake, I felt such a compassion of Jesus for him, and the Father’s pleasure in this young dad wanting to care for his own little boy. I really sensed the Father’s smile and said this out loud to Jake.
The prayer for his foot was brief and included commanding all glass fragments of any size to be completely eliminated and any trace of infection, scarring or other side effects to be forbidden to take hold. Pain to go. The whole foot to be healed and completely restored. It took about a minute in all. I also felt directed to pray for financial provision for Jake and his family and blessing over them all to know how deeply they are loved by God who can heal anything in their lives. Jake was nodding. I could almost feel him absorbing the Father’s love that I was releasing in prayer, like thirsty land receives water.
At the end of the prayer, he thanked me and asked did I go to the church just behind where we were standing? I explained that my church was in another town but that I most love being out in the “church of the streets”, even if it’s to give just one person a glimpse of the love and hope that’s in Jesus “Oh, that is a great day for me” I exclaimed.
“Jake” I continued –” you are that person today!.” “You are my “great day”! “And you are mine!” Jake replied. “Thank you again, Gilly” – and he walked off with barely any trace of a limp. A moment or two later, I turned and spotted Jake again, though he couldn’t see me. He was walking entirely normally and now carrying, not using, the walking crutch!! He simply didn’t need it anymore! Praise you Jesus!!
As you have healed Jake’s physical walk, Jesus, cause him to walk into the wholeness you have for him and his family through saving. faith in You.