Empathy Softens Hard Hearts

 A senior councillor in a Canadian city was a women's rights activist. She was pro-choice and wanted to legalise prostitution. Pastors in her town visited her to explain her Christian views, but she wouldn't listen.

When the pastors came in, she said almost aggressively, 'You must know that
I am a feminist. A positive exchange was impossible.

As we were leaving, the senior pastor said, 'We want to pray for you. How can we pray?

The atmosphere changed dramatically and immediately. The councillor was really touched.

Pray that I will do a good job as a public servant.

The pastors prayed in exactly the same way. Gradually the councillor's attitude changed. She recognised the negative consequences of legalised prostitution, and her attitude to abortion also changed somewhat.

Here we see a principle that can be seen in the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Two blind men sat by the roadside and asked Jesus for help. How did Jesus respond? He did not preach repentance. He asked a question.

Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Mt 20:32–34 NRSV

When we take the longings and needs of our fellow human beings seriously and pray for them in this way, they understand that we respect and love them, and often they begin to become aware of God's reality and love.

There are people who don't want to hear a sermon or a testimony, but they have problems at work or in their family. Maybe they have a headache. If we take their problems seriously and pray for them, we will often see wonderful results.