Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

Intention

To encourage believers to give testimony to Jesus and invite others to encounter him.

Scripture

“Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ They left the town and made their way to him.

Jesus told them… ‘Don’t you say, “There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest”? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest.’

Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, ‘We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Saviour of the world.’”

– John 4:28–30, 35, 39–42

Reflection

Many seeds of truth may need to be sown before a heart can receive Christ.

For me, there were numerous encounters with church, Scripture, and caring people that drew me toward faith before university, where I ultimately came to faith in Jesus.

At high school, a “Smile, Jesus loves you” sticker on the wall in the girls’ toilet caught my attention. In Year 10, a girl who attended my school for only one year spoke in our English class about C. S. Lewis’ four loves. Later, alone in the girls’ locker room, I asked her why she seemed so happy. She told me it was because of Jesus. I neither understood her answer nor forgot it.

Jesus engaged a thirsty Samaritan woman in a solitary conversation at her local well. After he revealed his uniqueness, she immediately hurried back to her village to tell them that she had encountered someone so supernaturally wonderful that he could be their long-awaited hope. She extended a simple but powerful invitation: “Come and see!” Moved by the evident transformation in her, they went to investigate for themselves.

She pointed clearly to Jesus. She shared her personal experience of him and prompted their seeking. He did the rest.

We bear witness through our integrity, kindness, and words of blessing. Yet we must boldly name the one who lives in us. We may not always have the opportunity to share a gospel tract or recount his story. Often, what we need first is the vulnerable courage to share our own story — that Jesus is real, that he interacts with us personally, and that he is worth investigating. We sow seeds even when we cannot fully explain the gospel.

As we seek to awaken curiosity in others, we remember to live out Peter’s exhortation: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

I turned to Jesus and became his follower when God answered my prayer asking if he is real. He revealed himself to me supernaturally, calling me to look to Jesus on the cross. I had been around Christians, so I asked one: “How did you become like this?” She shared her own story of decision-making moments with God. When God answered me in solitude, I said yes.

As the Five4Five poster reminds us, witness to Christ is not optional — it is a command. Will we pray expectantly that God will open opportunities for us to testify and invite others? Can our deep longings for revival, for the reformation of society, and for a church passionate in love for Christ and one another compel us to give vulnerable and bold testimony? To one person? To five?

Video

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we have prayed for and walked alongside many people who have yet to believe. We continue to sow seeds through prayer and ask for opportunities to testify to who you are.

Open our eyes to your harvest; help us see you more clearly and discern how our witness can be made and heard. Teach us to share boldly how you have loved us, and give us courage to invite others to come, see, and listen to you for themselves.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

Author Bio

Judy Wilkie is an American-Australian who has taught in Bible colleges, served as a Christian counsellor/supervisor, and partnered her husband in pastoral ministry. She is part of the Centre for Theology and Psychology team at MST/Eastern in Melbourne, is ordained with Elim Fellowship USA, and thanks God for the Canberra Declaration.

Prayer Points for Five4Five 2026

1. Five people to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20

2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47

3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

We invite you to support this campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:

DATES: Every night from Sunday, 12 April to Pentecost Sunday, 24 May

TIME: 8 pm (AEST), 7:30 pm (ACST), 6 pm (AWST)

ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184

ZOOM TUTORIAL: youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxH_H_Cs

View all Five4Five 2026 devotionals

Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.

___

Image via Adobe.