He told them this parable. "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?" Luke 15:3–4 WEB.

One night, I had a vivid dream where a person who had attended our church was suffering and in great pain. In the dream, they had huge painful sores covering their body. I held a jar of salve that could heal them. So I convinced them to let me help, and I rubbed the ointment over the sores. They were so touched that someone cared enough to seek them out that they began weeping. Then I awoke.

I was confused about the dream and realized I hadn't seen them at church lately. So I called them up and invited them to have dinner with my wife Sylvia and me. They agreed, and over a long dinner, we learned they had become hurt over a simple misunderstanding at the church. No one involved in the incident meant anyone harm. It was just some careless words spoken at a bad time. Yet, they took it wrong and withdrew from church, believing the worst.

I worked at the coffee counter and knew everyone involved in the situation. So I was able to explain what had happened. We prayed together, and the anointing fell over our little group. As the peace of God came over them, they began weeping. It brought healing to the relationship, and they returned to the church.

God doesn't toss people away. He actively seeks out the lost and hurting. The Lord will use you to do it if you let Him, for you are His body on Earth. He will heal people through you and speak through you. Yet, you have to be willing to go when He sends you.

God doesn't want to lose anyone, but we have free will. We can push Him away and those He sends to us. And the ones He tells to go don't have to go at all. Truly the harvest is great, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).

Let God love you and through you. Don't let the one He has placed on your heart slip through the cracks like so many others. Work with Him to bring in the harvest one at a time. Be willing to go after the lost and the wounded. For when He sends you, He will back you up.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show me the lost I can reach, and give me Your words to comfort them. Help me see people through Your eyes. Please guide me, teach me, and use me on the Earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.