A long time ago, I came to the realization that my biggest responsibility as a Christian was to pray.
I don’t mean that we never need to act, or step out in faith to meet the needs of others. We do. We are called to pour out our lives for others, to meet their needs and to carry their burdens. Sometimes I think we believe we are only called to give out of the overflow of our lives and blessings.
Take care of yourself first, current wisdom dictates. If you have something left to give, then give. But as I read the scriptures that is not the message I see.
22And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25“And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26“If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28“But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29“And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. ~Luke 12:22-31
I think of the man who carried Jesus’ cross up the hill to Golgatha. How could that have been easy for that man? It must have been a very heavy load to carry.
It is impossible to carry other’s loads without bearing the weight in our own lives, without making our lives harder. Yet, as I read the scriptures, that is the message I see.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.~Galations 6:2
Yet in our own strength, we are so very weak. We can do nothing without God’s grace and power in our lives.
I’ve kept a journal most of my life. I’ve written about my fears and concerns. I’ve written prayer requests and needs for ourselves and others.
And God has answered those prayers.
Yet, there was so much more I wanted to do for Him, so much more I wanted Him to do through me.
I would read John 14:12, and wonder why caring for ourselves and our own consumed me and my energies. If Jesus said we would do greater things than He did, weren’t we falling short somehow?
12“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. ~John 14:12-14
I read Jesus words over and over again.
I prayed for faith to believe.
I began a “Dream Big” prayer journal.
Within it’s pages, I began to ask God to use me to do things that were way beyond anything I could do on my own or within my own strength.
This wasn’t a make me wealthy or bless me kind of dream book.
This prayer book was ALL about God and a desire for Him to use our family in a BIG way for His glory.
Inside it’s cover I wrote these words.
Purpose
1. That God would be glorified in my life.
2. That what God has done and will do in my life could only be attributed to God’s provision because all that I ask is beyond my ability alone.
3. That people will see that God is able and ready to provide and do great things through us if only we would allow ourselves to dream big dreams beyond what we are capable of in our own strength and believe that He will answer prayer as He says He will in scripture.
As I began to fill the pages of this little pink book with prayers and verses completely beyond anything we had ever asked before, God began to move in our lives and hearts in some pretty big ways.
He also began to ask of us things that took everything we had.
It was scary, but we gave with reckless abandon.
Do you know what God did?
He provided for our needs and the needs of our family. He carried us.
Why?
Because when we step out in faith to meet the needs of someone less fortunate than ourselves, God moves mountains!!!!
I share this with you now as our story circulates in cyberspace. We are not here in our own strength. We are in this place only because God, in His precious love and care for the orphans, has carried us here. He has shared His heart with us, and it is His love and wisdom that overflows in us.
I feel as though king Jehoshaphat must have felt as he stood defenseless against the enemy. God spoke these words to him.
‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15
This battle is God’s.
It was never ours to fight.
For those of you who are praying with us or have given to help bring our girls home, thank you. Thank you so much.
There are no words to express how incredibly grateful we are.
We stand in faith in God’s ability alone. And when we cross the finish line with our precious girls in hand, ALL the glory will go to God!
May God bless you.
Been thinking along these lines today! With his might all is possible. Our loving God has promised so much. I will believe that with his hand I and my family will accomplish his work and to his glory. Trust, obey and then with faithful prayer and the word he will move mountains!!
Yes, He will!
Praying for you, Karen!