Sometimes God answers unusual prayers in unusual ways.

U.S. Online Missionary Martha was praying with contact Susan in Liberia. Susan's final prayer was that she would be a Philemon 6 kind of witness.

Here's how the Amplified Bible renders that verse:

[And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].”

That's such a great verse! Let me try to share a little peek into how that prayer is being answered:

Martha's next email from the address Susan used was from a man, Max: “I bought this phone from a man on the street. Who is Susan and who are you?

Martha explained that Susan was someone who owned the phone before, and that she was helping her know God.

The next message from Max admitted that he was leader of the gang that had STOLEN the phone from Susan, but that he was now convicted: “I have been stealing long time now… this phone is different; whenever I put the internet on, the messages really touch me and make me know that what I am doing is not good.

He quoted Martha from one of the messages she had sent Susan: “God promised to provide for those who put Him first. Be faithful with what you do have, but when you feel worried, ‘give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.’ (Psalm 55: 22)”

Max trusted Christ, asked for prayer for his ailing wife, and returned Susan’s phone in person, literally getting on his knees to ask Susan’s forgiveness.

This story provides a new twist on a challenging thought: if you lost your cell phone, you’d probably be concerned about your identity. For most of us, our smartphones reveal a lot about our identity. Would your online mail, social media footprint, music and banking habits share your faith in a Philemon 6 way, showing precise knowledge of your identification with Christ Jesus?

Love, in Christ,