Pray before, during, and after

"Seeing this, all murmured, and said : He went to lodge with a sinful man. But Zacchaeus, standing before the Lord, said to him : Behold, Lord, I give to the poor half of my goods, and if I have done something wrong to anyone, I will restore him fourfold." (Luke19: 5-8).

I happened to invite sinners (I insist on that term) and, with the door closed, regret not having done the right thing. Sometimes I had imagined that I would pray for them and the Holy Spirit would manifest. The Holy Spirit was willing to do its part, but I had not done mine (I must say here that we are not supposed to teach them about the Apocalypse !) But simply show them love and, if the Holy Spirit directs us to it, having our heart open and awake, say and do what it inspires us). So, I closed the door, saddened.

It is good to pray for our guests when they come home. Invite them to pray for them and pray with all your heart, with passion. To succeed this "meal", you will of course have to pray before. God can touch someone's heart by inspiring you with food: friends pray to receive inspiration for the choice of meal! We do not trust in food, but in the Holy Spirit who inspires and speaks, sometimes in one way, sometimes in another (Job 33:14). We should therefore spend a time of prayer before inviting them, praying with all our heart. We should pray before they arrive, then while they are there, and after.

This meeting must be bathed in prayer, just like, or even more, the chicken that has been watered in a juice so that it is not dry. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). These people will find something in your home that they do not know because of your prayers. They will think, "There was something better than the meal".

Jeremy Sourdril