Praying for Conversation

I caught a ride back to Aggieland with a friend of mine from high school.  During the several hour drive from my home to our university, we began to pray together for this upcoming semester.  While my friend was praying, she said something that has stuck in my mind ever since.

"Bless our conversations." 

The idea of praying for God to bless our conversations struck me.  In an average day, I may not approach many people with the sole intention of sharing my faith.  However, in an average day, I have multiple conversations with several different people.  Some of them are believers in God.  Some aren't.

Your conversations may be the biggest light you shine for Christ all day long.  Have you ever prayed over those conversations before? 

Almost immediately after my friend prayed for God to bless our conversations this semester, I was reminded of Colossians 4:6.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 

This semester, I am going to challenge myself to bring up my faith somehow in every conversation I have, whether or not I'm talking to a fellow Christian.  I want to use the things I say to encourage others, not bring them down.  I want to choose what I say with wisdom and show Christ's love with every word that comes out of my mouth.

Each morning, I challenge you to take a moment and pray over your conversations.  Ask the Lord to bless them and to fill your words with His grace, love, and a joy that could only come from Him.  Ask Him to plant seeds in the hearts of unbelievers through you.  Ask God to fill you with a fire so passionate for Him that it cannot help but spill over into your day-to-day conversations.

I can be shy at times.  Talking to people I don't know is a little intimidating.  However, I challenge myself and you to make a true effort to start conversations (and relationships) with the people around you.  Start conversations with the students in your class, with the person sitting next to you on the bus, with your co-workers and dorm-mates and friends, new and old.

And when a conversation is started, whether you expect it or not, eagerly embrace the chance to share God's love with those around you.  Perhaps these conversations are being placed before you for a reason.  Don't let them fall to pieces without making an effort to share God's love.  Even when you're having a difficult day, even when you're busy or stressed or irritated, remember that your conversations are an opportunity to show Christ.  Don't take them for granted. 

Personally, I'm excited about the conversations I'll be having this semester.  Are you?