On our last day of ministry in Keta we went to the market to walk around, talk to people, pray with people, listen to the Holy Spirit, and share the love of Christ.
We paired off in teams of two and agreed on a time to meet back at the market square.
Even as we were having this brief conversation as a group and praying over the time we were about to spend in the market, my eyes were drawn to a man sitting on the side of the road.
This man had obviously been worn down by life. His clothes looked like he had been wearing them for weeks (at least), the whites of his eyes were yellow, and he had almost no teeth to speak of. That or it seemed that all of his teeth were actively in the process of crumbling away in his mouth.
I felt that God wanted me to go up and talk to him, and I mentioned this to the friend I was partnered with. She immediately turned back to walk in his direction saying, “Great, let’s go.” However, I was completely terrified, had no idea what I was going to say, and had to pace back and forth a few times before I finally committed to walk back down the road a bit to where he was sitting.
As always, I had to just trust that if the Holy Spirit had called me to speak that he would follow through and give me the words.
The man’s name was Lawrence.
He was a follower of Christ, and when I asked if we could pray for him, he nodded enthusiastically.
Is there anything specific we can pray for you?
His answer certainly wasn’t what I expected.
“Pray for the Lord to comfort me.”
Remember my description of this man. His clothes are filthy, his teeth are crumbling to pieces, he is sitting by the side of the road in front of the marketplace, and this is his prayer. He didn’t ask for healing, or provision, or prosperity. He just wanted the Lord’s presence and comfort. I sat down on the road next to him, put my hand on his shoulder and prayed with him.
I assumed that would be that and we would say goodbye and be on our way, but as soon as I finished praying he asked if I had a word or a scripture for him. I took a moment to ask the Lord what word he had for Lawrence and he brought up Psalm 46- the same passage he’s been giving me the past few months.
I opened my bible to read it to him and he motioned for me to wait. He pulled a small wooden pencil out of his pocket and looked around on the ground until he found a piece of trash to write on.
Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
The word that God has been giving me the past two months is the word “Refuge.” I shared this with Lawrence and said that as children of God we can rest in his presence and take shelter under his wings. One of the most beautiful things about refuge in the Lord is that we have access to God’s presence no matter where we are.
Verse 10 calls us to “Be still and know that I am God.” This has been a favorite verse of mine since I was in 6th grade. Back then I never would have imagined that I would one day be sitting on a sidewalk in Ghana and sharing the beauty of this verse with a weathered old man named Lawrence. But as always, God’s plans are bigger than my plans, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ as he sought out this man in order to comfort and encourage him.
If you feel so called, remember Lawrence in your prayers that the Lord would continue to seek him out with comfort and provision. Also don’t forget that no matter where you are or how you are feeling- you are seen, known, and loved by the God who made every star in the night sky and knows every grain of sand on the earth.
Much Love,
Hattie
My Dear Hattie .I am so grateful to have heard from you. I am praying every day for you and that the Holy Spirit Will work mightily in your life and the lives of your team. Now I will add to my prayers your friend, Lawrence back in Ghana; now that you’ve moved on. Much, much love to you,my dear, dear granddaughter. Nana