At debrief in El Salvador, my team and I shared our World Race Resolutions for the year.
For my ministry goal, I wrote I want to love hard, even when the desire isn’t burning within me. And when I feel the Holy Spirit pulling on my heart, I want to faithfully respond.
One of our ministries this past month was spending time with the elderly in a nursing home in San Vicente, El Salvador. Our second time there, we played guitar and sang worship songs for them. As we were singing, the Holy Spirit moved within me. He brought to my attention that these old men and women probably haven't been touched in a long time, and that if I didn't take the initiative, they may never again receive that physical touch that He designed us for.
At first I was hesitant. Because of the language barrier. Because it might be awkward for them.
But as we continued to sing, I couldn't resist the pull on my heart.
I responded to the Holy Spirit and began gently scratching the back of José. José's wife and son had died, and he had been living at the nursing home for 2 years. The Spirit moved in some of my teammates too, and they began giving some of the others back massages.
When I began to give a massage to the woman in the picture below, she had the biggest smile on her face.
[Photo credit: Emily Peterson]
As soon as I obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit, joy washed over me.
The beautiful thing is, when we obey, the Spirit inside of us rejoices. And it can be in the littlest of circumstances.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, " Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."
Daily, we need to die to ourselves. To our pride. To our selfish ambitions.
Paul said it beautifully to the Philippians:
"Therefore
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love,
if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others."
-Philippians 2:1-3
This is my anthem for the next year. And I pray that it be yours as well.
Listen to that still small voice; the gentle proddings of the Spirit.
I promise, when you respond, His joy will be made complete in you.
