Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven!

Jesus is speaking to all of us to stop, look and listen as we go about our daily lives!

Here’s another story from Ruth in Hyderabad as she listened and obeyed!

MEETING MARIAMMA

After serving tea and samosas just once, in the lane next to the one we live in, simply because I felt that God wanted us to, I felt a distinct change in the environment.

A few days after that first ‘chai evening’ with the women from the bank building, I woke up one morning feeling as if I couldn’t think. My mind felt very “blocked” and there was this driving need to go for a walk. It grew to almost a feeling of urgency to walk. I hurriedly got ready and left the house, completely unaware that it was a Friday and I don’t walk on that day as it’s the day when I fast. I also felt an acute inability to think or plan anything, yet my normal day usually begins with a set routine and my mind is active – thinking, planning, praying. I couldn’t even pray just then – just walk. I tried putting on my head phones and listening to a podcast as I usually do, but found I couldn’t listen or make sense of anything. I kept walking, and went into the lane parallel to where we had served tea and samosas some days before.

“Namaste Amma!” I heard a woman greet me, and I stopped in my tracks and took off my headphones. It was an elderly woman whom I had never met before. She came up to me smiling and introduced herself, telling me her name was Mariamma (Mary, in Telugu). She then introduced me to her husband, Gabriel! I smiled, nodded, exchanged greetings, and walked on. Then I heard God say, “You were supposed to pray for them!” Realizing that was the first lucid thought I had had that morning, I raced back, only to find that Mariamma and Gabriel had gone back inside the building where they worked. I found a little girl outside (their granddaughter Meghmala), and asked her to call Mariamma back. She did, and Gabriel came along too.

Now the thoughts were flowing like crazy into my mind, and I found myself speaking them out aloud. “Mariamma,” I said in Telugu, “do you have a pain in your lower back?” She nodded rapidly as I placed my hand on the spot where I felt the pain was.

Then I asked if I could pray for her, and she said I could!

Gabriel had a hurt foot and I prayed for him too.

(The next day Mariamma said Gabriel was absolutely fine – healed – and her back felt so much better!)

As I was walking away from them, I heard God say very clearly, “Now you can go home. Remember it’s Friday and you don’t go for a walk on Fridays!”

I knew then, why I had woken up unable to think. It was because He wanted to have the first say that day! And I met Mariamma and Gabriel – and the rest of their family who have all come to Hyderabad from a village in Karnataka! What’s more, they are unchurched Christians who have never read the Bible, or heard much about Jesus. I took them a Telugu Bible.

Now I join them, during my walk, for prayer on the side of the street, outside the house where they work.

Jesus is working in all of our neighborhoods! Let’s bless the people, go caroling, do acts of kindness and meet people who don’t know Jesus! They may be just waiting for you! What is He telling you to do?