"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter". -Martin Luther King Jr.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
I read a quote that touched my heart deeply during my devotion the other day, "What's your dream and to what corner of the mission's world will it take you?" That is a question I have now posted above my desk so that I can read and ponder it often.
"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. Living, praying, giving, and going will always be found together." -Arthur T. Pierson
There have been many things on my heart lately as I prepare for the many opportunities to serve the Lord this year in ministries He's called me to and as my heart gets prepared for the major direction changes He's bringing. As I have spent much time in reflection and searching the Lord's direction for my life, one thing I have fought to come to a conclusion about is that I need to distinguish my will from the Lord's will so that as I conform my life more to Christ, His will becomes my will. When we choose to follow Christ, we are no longer our own, no longer of this world, no longer lord of our own lives... for our will died with our flesh when we chose to obey and follow Christ with our lives. We lay our lives down at the cross, surrendered and ready to go the direction the Lord wills, and to serve Him with all that we have, however and wherever that may take us.
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him". -C.T. Studd
The reason for mission trips, is to grow closer to Jesus and to share Him with others. It's about evangelizing the lost and discipling the saved. "We are His workmanship" (Eph. 2:10)... we no longer serve ourselves, but the Holy and Mighty God, Creator of the world. I believe that's a huge part of serving the Lord: to be able to go anywhere, do anything, and lay down everything to serve Him, to follow His path and will for our lives. This has been one of my biggest prayers for years, yet also a part of me can honestly say, one of my biggest fears is what that may bring. Last weekend my pastor at church remarked about following the Lord as feeling like: "I'm willing God, I'm trembling and scared, but I'll go".
"Where You go, I'll go...Where You stay, I'll stay... I'll follow YOU."
"I have but one passion: it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ."
I pray so often that the Lord will help me to obey what He's calling me to do, because as He's revealing more and more His plan for me, the choices I have to make will not be easy. I pray He Strengthens me to advance His Kingdom and that it is only Him who is living and moving in me. Often times we can feel like we wish we knew what God was doing with our lives, for what purpose events are occurring, or better yet, where are You taking me Lord? Sometimes I wish I had the answers to these questions as well, to reason that, possibly it would be easier to follow if I knew where I was going. In being completely honest, would it really make anything easier? Or would it be more difficult to be obedient if we knew what trials or persecution await us in the future? Every time I read the Gospels, I am in awe that Jesus made the choices He did, to come to earth knowing what was awaiting Him. He freely chose to give His life and die that we might live and have everlasting life... knowing the persecution and hatred that would come, He still came, He still lived on this earth, and He still died on the cross for us, so that it would be finished. As His followers and as missionaries, how I wish that even my love for Him would easily compel me to make the same decision. To give up what He tells me to give up, to go where He calls me to go, to serve who He calls me to serve, and to love His people whom He's called me to love. Oh how I wish that were an easy decision... throughout the many lessons these past several years this has become easier, but it is still far from easy. How often do I drag my feet in "obedience" or deny having heard His voice or calling on my life or freely take in His blessings but not commands or how often do I even surrender back over to Him, His blessings that He's bestowed upon me, without calling them my "sacrifices to Him"?
With all of these struggles and questions filling my mind lately, I am so ever thankful that I can always find rest in my almighty, powerful Lord; He alone is my Comforter, Sovereign King, Abba Father, Jehovah Jireh and my true Refuge in times of struggle or pain. His joy comes in the morning, I don't need to lose heart because He has overcome the world; no matter who leaves or forsakes me, God will never leave me nor forsake me, He is my Rock and in Him alone, I find peace and hope in my soul.
"It is inconceivable that our Master would leave us to stand alone when we are standing for Him". -Amy Carmichael
"The word "forsake" conveys the idea of 'leaving comrades exposed to peril in the conflict, or forsaking them in some crisis of danger". Our Lord God, Provider and Protector, could NEVER do that. Even though we may be trembling at what He calls us to do, we never need to fear obeying the inward calling on our lives.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me... no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." -John 10:27,29
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you... And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed". -Deut. 31:6,8
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