“Give Me A Soul”: How One Simple Prayer Changed the Course of a Life this Week.
(This is a true story, it actually occurred this past Monday afternoon! My dear sweet friend, Luann, shared this personal experience with me, and I asked her permission to write about it here. I pray this story moves you, as it moved me.)
The airport buzzed with the familiar sounds of travelers hurrying to their gates, the hum of rolling suitcases, and the occasional overhead announcement crackling through the speakers.
Luann adjusted her carry-on and checked her boarding pass.
The past week had been a deeply refreshing time, visiting her youngest daughter at Bible college in Florida.
The four days of revival meetings had left her heart stirred, full of conviction and a renewed sense of purpose.
Just before boarding, she noticed a missed call from her oldest son, away at his own Bible college in the Northwest.
A pang of regret hit—she hated missing moments to catch up.
But with her flight departing, there was no time to call back. She whispered a quick prayer for him, then slipped her phone into airplane mode.
Her mind drifted back to the missionary who had spoken the night before.
His testimony had left a deep impression—a young husband and wife, unwavering in their faith despite a previous cancer experience.
He had shared how he & his wife prayed before every errand, every meal, every routine outing with one simple plea:
“Lord, give us a soul today.”
That prayer lingered in her heart.
As the plane taxied down the runway, she bowed her head and echoed it.
“Lord, give me a soul today.”
She had three flights ahead—three opportunities for God to answer that prayer.
Once in the air, Luann turned to her seatmate, offering a warm greeting, hoping for an opening to steer the conversation toward eternity.
But before she could even knock, the door slammed shut.
The man, though polite, made it clear he was not interested in small talk, much less spiritual discussion.
Atheist. Unmoved.
She didn’t push—she simply whispered a silent prayer for his soul.
Not every seed is meant to be harvested in the same season.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9
As she stepped off the plane, contemplating this encounter she thought of the gift Bible she had tucked in her carry-on before leaving home.
She was hoping to give it to a hungry soul before her trip was over—as she often does when traveling.
When you’re just a beggar who has found bread, all you desire is to tell other beggars where they, too, can find this bread that satisfies every longing.
Maybe on the next flight.
Again she communes with the Lord in her heart.
“Lord, would you just give me a soul today. Someone I can gift this Bible to-but more so, someone I can share your free gift of eternal life?”
During her layover, she spent time chatting with fellow believers from her church who had also attended the revival.
Their excitement refreshed her spirit, sharpening her for what was ahead.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17
Boarding her second flight, she prayed again as she took her seat, waiting to see who God would send.
A cheerful young couple soon joined her. The wife, with warm eyes and an easy smile, introduced herself. Her husband, kind but reserved, popped in his earphones, leaving the ladies to chat.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Luann knew this was the moment.
“Do you attend church anywhere?” she asked, easing the conversation toward faith.
The young woman—Lucy—responded openly.
“Not really,” she admitted.
“I grew up with some religious influence, but we’re not involved right now. But I do think about it a lot, especially as we think about starting a family. I want my kids to grow up in church.”
Luann smiled.
An open heart.
A door swinging wide.
“That’s wonderful,” Luann replied.
Then she gently asked, “Do you know for sure if you died today that you would go to heaven?”
Lucy paused, thoughtful.
“I’d like to think so,” she said slowly. “I try to do good. I work in a field where I help others. I hope my good outweighs my bad.”
Luann’s heart swelled with gentle urgency.
Pulling out her Bible, she asked, “Would you mind if I showed you what the Bible says about that?”
Lucy’s face lit up.
“Please!”
As she turned the worn pages of her King James Bible, she asked, “Do you ever read the Bible?”
Lucy lowered her eyes.
“I should,” she admitted. “But I haven’t in a long time.”
So Luann began in Genesis, explaining creation, the fall, and the need for atonement.
Lucy eagerly received every word, all of this completely new to her.
She had never heard the creation story read aloud from Genesis….she had never heard how the first man and woman, Adam & Eve, were created, were tempted and fell to sin.
How the Lord had to come down and sacrifice a spotless animal to cover their sin—a reflection in prophecy of His beloved Son willingly laying down His life as a sacrifice for all mankind.
Diligently they worked through the pages of the Bible, as Luann paused to read key verses.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…” -Romans 3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” -Romans 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” -Romans 5:12
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
Lucy listened intently, nodding as truth settled deep into her heart.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
Luann paused to ask her if she was understanding what the scriptures were saying. She tearfully smiled and nodded. So, Luann continued…
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”-1 John 5:13
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -Romans 10:13
Luann then asked, “Would you like to pray today? Would you like to pray now? This is a free gift that can willingly be accepted any place any time!”
Lucy bowed her head and asked Luann to begin the prayer, and then she personally prayed and acknowledged her sin, accepting Christ’s sacrifice, and placing her faith in Him alone.
When they opened their eyes, Lucy’s face glowed with new joy.
Luann later commented the following to me:
What struck her the most was that Lucy wasn’t troubled.
She wasn’t coming from a place of hardship or brokenness—she was perfectly happy, cheerful, and confident.
She reflected, “You know how people usually cry out to God when they get to the end of themselves—through trials or suffering? Well… this gal seemed perfectly fine. Just a generally sweet, kind girl with a happy life. No major issues. That’s what struck me—it felt untypical in a soul winning experience. There she sat happy in her life, content, and healthy yet her heart was tender and open to receive the gospel message.”
This was no crisis conversion.
No rock-bottom moment.
Just an open heart, a divine appointment, and God’s perfect timing.
Luann suddenly remembered the Bible in her bag.
“Would you like a Bible? I have one for you.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“Really? You have an extra Bible, for me!?”
She took the new Bible in her hands, running her fingers over the cover.
Then she asked something that made Luann’s heart swell.
“Would you write down all those verses? And… could you write your name and number in case I have questions? I want to know more.”
As the plane landed on the tarmac, Luann eagerly wrote her personal information and the verses in the front pages, thanking God for answering her prayer.
As they exited the airplane, the two ladies hugged. A bond of sisterhood forever sealed in eternity. Luann watched prayerfully as Lucy & her husband disappeared into the airport crowd. She smiled to herself as she saw Lucy clutching her new Bible, walking with a lightness in her step only a new born Christian can comprehend.
On her final flight home, Luann’s heart was overflowing.
When she stepped out of the airport, I was waiting with a warm car.
Before we even exited the airport parking lot, she was already talking—her face lit with excitement. She could barely contain herself, bubbling over with joy as she told me every detail.
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” – Luke 15:10
As I listened, I felt conviction stir in my own heart.
How many missed opportunities have I had?
How many times have I let fear or distraction keep me from sharing Christ?
Luann had prayed for a soul—and when God sent one, she was ready.
Are you ready? Am I ready?
Today, I challenge you: Ask God for a soul. And when He sends one—be obedient.
Because you never know when one simple prayer might be answered.
One friendly conversation might echo into eternity.
Lift up your eyes, Christian, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest…. Let’s pray God gives us a soul TODAY!
Sharpened Today,
Biblical Womanhood
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I feel an urgent need to add this here:
If you have never personally received Christ as your personal Savior and this story spoke to you, or the Scripture verses you read here pricked your heart, please know this gift of salvation is a free gift to any and all who will receive it. I encourage you to bow your head and pray your own prayer asking the Lord to forgive you and save you. You, too, can KNOW you have eternal life!
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13
What a great testimony - Thank you for this encouragement! Lord give me a soul!
God gave you a really great blessing with this. He answered your prayer in an awesome way. I just love how God answers prayer. So quickly (usually), and so completely. We know He hears us and will always come to our rescue because we belong to Him and we love Him.