Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Lord Speaks and Confirms

The craziest thing just happened to me tonight.

I was standing in a restaurant tonight getting ready to settle into some work that I needed to get done for school tomorrow. There was a man eating some food from the restaurant who clearly had a physical disability (that didn’t allow him to have full motor control over his body). As I looked over at him I noticed that the bottom of his sneakers were falling apart. I felt like the Lord was telling me to bless him by getting him a pair of shoes.

I sat down and started to set up my gadgets and get to work as I kept feeling urged to talk to this guy. In a moment I decided to pick up my stuff and said to myself, “I can’t let this moment pass me by, I need to do this or at least ask.” So I immediately brought all of my stuff out to the car, came back in and waited for the opportunity.

Within minutes the guy was up and asked to use the phone. I thought perfect… maybe he needs a ride somewhere. I walked over to the counter and as he was dialing asked him if he needed a ride somewhere. He asked which way I was going and said he needed to go downtown… so I let him know that I could take him wherever he needed. To my car we went.

A little bit scared we got in the car and I got ready to leave the restaurant. He shared some "between you and me information" that started to really freak me out.

I composed myself and proceeded to drive to the stop sign, stopped and paused for a few moments. I told him I couldn’t help noticing his shoes were falling apart and asked if he’d like some new kicks. He said he would that his were falling apart. So I said alright, let’s go get some new kicks for you before I drop you off. Off to Wal – Mart we went. By this time I’m thinking “Ok…, this is going to be an interesting trip.

As I started off around the corner, I looked at him and he said: “God sent you didn’t He, you are a Christian” I asked him how he knew that and he moaned and said that God wants him to go back to Church. I let him know that God wanted more than for him to go back to church, but wanted his heart.
In the short, less than 5-minute trip to Wal-Mart I found out that he was in a wheelchair until he was 8 years old. When he was 8 he said he would give his soul to be able to walk. That night he had a dream that a huge red hand came up from hell and took his soul. The next morning he woke up… and he could walk.

(Major goose bumps were happening, hair standing on end, and my body shaking so much that I was trying not to let it show each time I pressed in the clutch…)

He then proceeded to passionately pray that God would take his heart, that even if it meant him having to be in a wheel chair again he wanted to be with God, that he didn’t want to go in hell, he wanted to be with God. I prayed quietly along side of him, whispering Jesus’ name, wondering what was going to happen next…. He asked me if I would pray for him and I said that I would when we found a parking spot.

We got to Wal-Mart and I put my hand on his shoulder and began praying for him. I prayed for his heart, and that he would choose to live for Christ, etc. As I was praying he suddenly started talking very clearly in a strong voice declaring “He’s mine, you can’t have him, he’s mine…” As this demonic force was speaking through him I had to physically restrain him (Good thing I had my hand on his shoulder) and keep him from flailing around in my car. I kept praying in Jesus name for this thing to leave, and that it was through the authority and power of Christ that I was asking it to leave. He began to simmer down as I spoke this guys name and he slowly came too. I looked at him and said “____, let’s go into Wal-Mart now and get you some kicks.”

I went to his side of the car and opened the door for him. He got out, staggered out and leaned up against the car, asking me what just happened. I told him that God was getting a hold of him. He responded with; “That wasn’t God, it didn’t feel like God, that was bad.” He mentioned that sometimes that happened and took over, that he didn’t have any control and asked me what to do about it when it happened. So as we went into Wal-Mart I shared with him that he needed to keep asking Jesus into his heart, that he had to make the choice to follow and live for Him.

We got some cool kicks that weren’t going to fall apart so easily this time. We talked some more on the way to the register. While I was paying for the shoes he finished tearing the bottom of his shoes off as he talked to the clerk about the new shoes hopefully not falling apart so easily. When we got outside he put on the new shoes and we threw those stinky shoes away.

Walking out to the car he asked if I believed in angels. I said that I do and asked if he saw them. He said no, but he could sometimes feel them. As we were driving out of the parking lot he said “Hey man, you are like an angel to me tonight. I’ve been wearing these shoes broken for over a month.” (Someone stole his other shoes).

We talked some more, I prayed with him (outside the car this time) before I left and gave him a hug.
He went on his way. I hope and pray that God finishes a work in him.

I write this as a testimony to God’s love and grace. It was confirmation to me that He really does speak to me (us). He asks us to do things that we wouldn’t normally do, to extend ourselves to those in need. I write this tonight not to put me on a spotlight or pedestal to say “look what I did for someone,” but to glorify my God who is in heaven. To encourage believers to listen and obey the voice of the Lord… don’t let it pass you by….

He has called us to love the unlovable… this is true religion my friends.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Dave, I am so glad that you were obedient. That man has a new chance at life (spiritual life) now because of your obedience.

Praise our Lord, who uses us to love the unlovely!

What is his (first) name, so I can pray for him, too?

12:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave, the chances of you checking this on your honeymoon are pretty slim, I'm sure. However, I wanted to congratulate you and the new Mrs. Perry.

Happy wedding day!

~ Deb F.

7:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good for people to know.

6:29 AM  

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