Praying for Strangers and Overcoming Fear – Part 1
These tips on overcoming fear of praying for strangers came from a Facebook discussion question that I asked to my friends.
Daniel Cook:
When you are first starting out in this its good just to be as simple as possible.
One obstacle that seems to present itself is the fear of being rejected or the fear of approaching the person in the first place.
Learning that in MOST cases to love that fear and use it as motivation during the approach is a very good key.
When that presents itself, that can be a great indicator that the person is really I need of your prayers, the word you have for them, or the blessing you want to give them at that very moment.
Keeping this in mind will often serve as a positive motivator as well.
Be yourself, always.
We live in a culture where everyone has been trained to keep to themselves. Breaking through that barrier in the USA can really bring positive changes to the community.
One other approach I have found effective is to approach the person and plainly state, ” This is weird for me, but I feel like I have something on my heart that’s positive I would like you to know. Really I know this is a bit odd, but lets just go with it. Lets embrace the weirdness lol!”
Normally that will also help it move along.
For me, I love praying with strangers!
In fact, at times I find that easier than praying through more difficult well know issues with people I may be close to.
No matter what the results are I try to leave people with a good taste in the mouth from the encounter.
Craig Adams:
The easiest way I know of to overcome the fear that nothing will happen is to confront the fear, step up, and pray for folks.
A lot.
Like, every chance you get.
It’s amazing how fast that voice is silenced when you see God doing cool stuff….and seeing it happen in greater and greater proportion the more you practice.
Experience will put that fear down, for those who dare to confront it.
I’ve found that asking what happened, expressing interest in the stranger and listening until they finish their response makes it pretty easy to offer folks healing.
Bryan Anderson:
Whats helpful for me in street or public ministry especially is Paul’s words in the context of the gifts of the Spirit, “Follow after love….”.
When someone, a stranger or whoever catches my attention and I find myself feeling the Lord’s love and compassion for that person, I follow that. Jesus was moved with compassion and healed the sick and when I feel more than my own compassion for someone I’ve learned to recognize that as the Holy Spirit’s heart for them.
The question of overcoming fear isn’t too difficult because when I’m sensing His compassion and love for a person it gives me great confidence that what He started He’s got a plan for and will complete it. I find often He doesn’t give us the whole plan, so each step I take opens the way for me to see and know the next thing to do. Where I think myself and most people struggle is approaching the person. Small talk is always safe and once I begin talking with them is when the Holy Spirit gives me the words or info on what to do next. Or the person out right opens the door by talking about a need for healing or some other issue in their life which the Lord is wanting to use me to minister to.
People have asked when I share about this, “What if see someone in need or in pain and I really want to see them healed or pray for them but don’t feel God’s compassion in any special way?”
I tend to think anytime we feel that strongly about wanting to see someone healed or blessed that is the Lord’s compassion for them and sometimes it just doesn’t “feel” all that dramatic. The only caution I exercise with myself in that situation and encourage others to do the same, is to check my heart and motives to be sure it’s not really that I want people to see me helping a homeless person, or that I want others to see how spiritual I am when praying for someone or some other self centered motive not based in love. Those are sneaky and can creep in so we all need to check our motives no matter how mature we think we are.
Even if they have an obvious physical need not everyone I feel led to approach out of His love is going to be healed. It could be any or several gifts of the Spirit or simply kindness or something practical they need like a ride or help in some other way. I do often simply ask Him, “Show me what’s going on in this persons life and show me how you want me to be a part of what you’re doing.” But following after love, His love, will give us great confidence that since He’s initiating things, He will be in the middle and the details and the results rest with Him. I see our role more to follow His leading to love on, show kindness to people and speak what He gives us or do what we see Him wanting to do.
We never know the long term effects of an encounter with someone. But since love never fails, if we have loved someone with His love and been as obedient to His leading as we knew how, then no matter the visible results, we have not failed. My only “failure” (if there is such a thing) is sometimes not following after love and loving on those who cross my path.
People in obvious pain rarely refuse prayer and often I’m just really direct, saying something like, “Wow you really seem to be in pain” or “It looks like your knee (back, whatever) is really giving you trouble! Would you mind if I prayed for you?”
I always assure them no one but the two of us will even know we are praying, which lessens their fear of some overly demonstrative prayer. When they sense our genuine concern for the pain they’re in; I’ve almost never had anyone say no and usually they’re eager for prayer.
