Have you ever been traveling and talked with someone who you had an instant connection with the moment you met?  The more you talked, the more you came to realize they were a believer and you start sharing stories of God’s faithfulness and what He’s doing in your life.

On my recent trip to India this happened.  From the moment we touched down in India, the people we met didn’t feel like strangers.  They felt like family we just hadn’t met yet.  In reality, they were. [The picture above is of my team members on my trip to India during our long flight over.  In order to protect the safety of my friends in India, I cannot post their pictures.] 
As believers, we are all part of the family of God, brothers and sisters of the faith.  When we left them, there was a heartache that comes from leaving those you love.  When I hear of anyone going there, I have a longing to go with them or when someone returns from there I want to catch up with them on everyone there.  The same is true of Ghana.  However, it isn’t just in the mission field.  I’ve met people at conferences, in the airport or in a restaurant here in the states and have experienced the same type of connection.  Have you?  If so, I’d love to hear about it.  Sharing our stories with one another strengthens our faith.
Paul felt the same way about the various churches he planted and people he visited.  If you read his letters in the New Testament, they are filled with requests to greet people he’s loved and encourage them [Romans 16:3-16, Ephesians 6:21-24, Philippians 4:10-23].  He also tells them what he’d like them to be doing and how he hopes to visit them again [2 Corinthians 13:1-10].  You can almost feel his longing as you read the words he penned to them.
One of the greatest things we can do for those we have a Spirit connection with in our travels is pray for them.  We can pray for them to be encouraged [1 Thessalonians 5:11].  Pray for their provision [Ezekiel 34:29, Matthew 6:8].  Pray for their health [Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9, Acts 4:30].   Simply lifting them to the Lord in love is a great blessing to them and you [Mark 2:1-12].
The whole experience makes me think of the song we used to sing in elementary school, “Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold.” One day, we will all come together, never to be separated again [Revelation 19:7; 22:17].  Until that day we can know the Lord has blessed us by allowing our paths to cross.  Take a moment today to give thanks for those the Lord has blessed your journey with and ask Him to bless them today.