When I asked a Christian coworker to pray with me that our boss would come to know Jesus, Sheryl replied, “Lynn, Dr. Subran is East Indian! A practicing Sikh! It would take a miracle for him to turn his back on his culture, his family, and his upbringing!”

Sheryl was right. It will take a miracle. It takes a miracle for each person to be reconciled to God. But such miracles happen every day.

What better time to pray than in the face of the impossible and the improbable? What better time to watch God work?

 

So I pray on

Intercessory prayer became an integral part of my medical career years ago. It allows God to use me, a medical assistant, to evangelize my corner of the world. I work for a cardiologist—a heart specialist—and I pray that he will come to know my God, the ultimate heart Healer.

I believe it’s wisest for women to evangelize women, and men to evangelize men in the workplace. However, my prayer life is not confined by such gender constraints. And it’s through prayer that the most valuable work is accomplished.

 

Clues from Conversations

Conversations with Dr. Subran provide me with most of my prayer fuel. They offer insight into the role religious faith plays in his life and give me glimpses of how far from—or near to—God he is.

When my husband, John, and I had my coworkers over for dinner, we discovered that Dr. Subran and his wife shared our enthusiasm for growing vegetables and flowers. We swapped stories from our childhood, traditions of our diverse cultures, and dreams for the future.

Dr. Subran asked Sheryl and me how we met our husbands. He was surprised when we both answered, “At church.”

“Most Americans I speak with met their spouses in a bar,” he explained.

Later, Dr. Subran showed us photographs of his medical school reunion in India. One picture showed three vessels sitting along the front of a stage decorated with hundreds of orange marigolds. Dr. Subran explained, “The three vessels represent three classmates who have committed suicide since our graduation.”

I asked, “What percentage of your classmates would you count as being truly spiritual as opposed to simply following tradition?”

“I understand what you are asking,” he nodded. “When we were young, 20 years ago, probably 20 percent. Now that we are older, many are the patriarchs of their extended families, and we grow more serious and prioritize spiritual things more than before.”

Through conversations such as these—at work and in social settings—I have learned Dr. Subran’s areas of strength and weakness. I know his celebrations and his sorrows and some of the concerns of his heart. This equips me to pray more specifically.

Lord Jesus, draw the doctor to Yourself. Fill his heart with questions that will lead him to Your truth. From his position of responsibility for his extended family, may he recognize his need for Your help. May he learn the comfort of Your love and grace.

 

Another Cornelius

When Dr. Subran and his wife invited the office staff and our spouses to dinner, he took us on a tour of their beautiful home. Having designed it himself, he proudly showed us its unique features, including a small room off the master suite. He explained, “This is our prayer room.”

“I told you it would take a miracle!” whispered Sheryl.

Our employer was a religious man, a good man. How would he recognize his need for Christ? How would he understand who Christ is and why He came to earth?

Lord Jesus, You work inside the heart where I cannot see. Your power exceeds every power at work on earth. Lord, is it too bold to ask that You intrude upon Dr. Subran’s prayer sessions? You are a God who reveals Yourself to people who do not even seek You. Lord, reveal Yourself to Dr. Subran and his family.

I was reminded of the Acts 10 account of Cornelius, a devout, God-fearing man. Like Dr. Subran, he gave generously to those in need and prayed regularly. One day, Cornelius saw an angel of God who instructed him to speak with Peter. Peter showed him the way of salvation. God led Cornelius to the truth. When I grow discouraged in prayer, I remember Cornelius.

Lord, You accept men from every nation who fear You and do what is right. Lead Dr. Subran to men like Peter who will show him the way to eternal life. Lead him to Your truth.

One day, Dr. Subran said to me, “Lynn, one thing I’ve come to admire about Christianity is the seminary system. In India, religious teaching is handed down orally from leader to leader. Leaders are not required to be able to read, only to pray. Much teaching has been lost from generation to generation. Many know what they believe but not why. However, your Christian leaders attend college and receive much schooling. They know the why.”

To whom has he been talking? I wondered. Was it a hospital patient or the family of a patient? Was it a man like Peter?

Lord, continue to send students of Your Word across Dr. Subran’s path. May he find devoted Christians at every turn. Draw him step by step. Thank You for the step he’s made today.

 

Dueling with Doubt

On other days, the idea of Dr. Subran’s conversion seems dishearteningly far fetched. One day he came into the office marveling about the internet.

“My wife has learned to access India! A daily holy reading is issued from a temple in India. You can even hear worship music in the background while you read!”

My heart sank. Doubt chided my faith. Would a man so enmeshed in another religion ever consider the claims of Christ?

Just as I grew completely discouraged, 1 Tim. 2:3-4 came to mind: “God our Savior ... wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of truth.” Jesus says that men come to know the Father because He has drawn them (John 6:44 ). After considering this, I wondered if Christ’s “unlimited patience,” which is described in 1 Tim. 1:16 , referred to Dr. Subran’s lack of faith or mine! So I scraped together enough self-discipline to pray on.

Lord, sometimes it’s easy to pray; at other times, I find it so difficult! Replace my doubt with Your resolve, Your faithfulness, Your vision, and Your hope. Increase this doctor’s spiritual thirst. Shield him from evil.

 

Christmas Hope

While I supervised a patient’s treadmill test, Dr. Subran asked, “Lynn, have you ever heard of the musical tree of Christmas?”

“You mean the Singing Christmas Tree?” I asked. It was a popular Christmas musical by a local evangelical church. Each year it sold out quickly.

“I’m going,” he said. His brown eyes sparkled with amusement. “It is a Christian service,” he added nonchalantly, baiting my enthusiasm.

Not one to hide my feelings well, I’m pretty sure I beamed.

As it turned out, Dr. Subran bought tickets for Sheryl and her family, my family, and his family, including a visiting niece and nephew. We were going to a Christian service celebrating the birth of Christ, and Dr. Subran thought it was his idea! But I knew: God was drawing him.

The night of the musical, we sat beside a row of empty seats. Had Dr. Subran changed his mind? Just as my anticipation began to droop, I spotted two brightly colored turbans and a jewel-toned sari heading our way.

The program presented the gospel beautifully. At one heart-stopping moment, three choirs and 50 or more characters on stage turned toward the nativity scene and bowed down to worship the baby Jesus. The focus shifted from holiday entertainment to an invitation to awe.

The program seemed to have struck a deep chord in Dr. Subran, evoking a solemn consideration for something he still does not fully understand. God miraculously used a Christmas program to display Christ’s life and mission for Dr. Subran and his family. Furthermore, He strengthened my floppy faith with His ability to exceed what I dared ask for or imagine.

 

Still Praying

My boss has not yet recognized that Jesus is his Savior and Lord. He is unaware that while I work beside him professionally, I also work on his behalf in another realm through my prayers.

First John 2:8 says, “The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” The miracle of Christ’s redemption is here! It continues to dawn daily. Nothing short of this miracle will reconcile Dr. Subran to God. So I pray on, while watching Jesus work where I work.

Lord, make the testimony of Your grace at work in me comprehensible to those around me. Help me to communicate the gospel intelligibly. Make my life translucent, that I might draw people into Your presence and acquaint them with Your character.

 

On Your Own:

1.   Which statement best describes the way you pray for your non-Christian coworkers?

·         I have been faithfully praying for at least one coworker for a year or longer.

·         I keep my work and my spiritual life separate.

·         The only time I pray for coworkers is when I need God’s help so I don’t “lose it” with them.

·         I pray for coworkers only when they’re having a crisis.

·         I’ve never really thought about becoming a faithful interceder for a coworker, but I like the idea.

2.   If you were to make a habit of praying for the salvation of a coworker, who are you most burdened to pray for?

3.   Do you know other Christ followers at work? Who are they?

4.   If, like many of us, you have trouble persevering in prayer on your own, you may want to find a prayer partner. The ideal would be another coworker. If you have no Christian workmates, look for a like-minded person in your church or small group. Does such a person come to mind?

 

 

Dr. Subran’s and Sheryl’s names have been changed for this article.

Lynn Hallimore is a freelance writer as well as a medical assistant.  ©Lynn Hallimore and NavPress.   Used by permission.   Content distributed by WorkLife.org > Used for non-profit teaching purposes only.