Sometimes life feels like your walking through a narrow tunnel. There are no windows to climb through, only the feeling of claustrophobia creeping in on you. You begin to feel panicked, frantic! Life begins to feel like an overwhelming amount of anxiety with no end in sight. The bare concrete walls remind you, your life is the same day in and day out. You wonder, will there ever be a change? Is this as good as life gets?
With the weight of the world on your shoulders, the feeling of failure pushing down on you, you fall to the ground. Once there, you begin to cry…cry out to God. Your cries turn into sobs, the sobs of your heart. You don’t even realize it, but soon your laying your heart out before the Lord; every ounce of it, especially the dirty and disgusting parts the world doesn’t care to take the time to see. You don’t even realize it, but you’re giving Him the greatest sacrifice you can present before His throne – all of you; your broken heart.
Mindlessly, you stand to your feet. Still unaware of what your doing, you begin to walk forward. Eventually, your sobbing stops, your heavy breathing eases, your eyes clear up from all the tears, and your lift your head. Perfect timing… His perfect timing. As you look up, the long, narrow tunnel turns a corner. With clear eyes, you’re astonished by what you see – the end of the narrow, concrete contraption which has barricaded you.
You see a set of stairs, leading up to a door. An unsuspecting door, but in your heart it resonates deeply. Hope.
You walk up to the door, gently place your hand on the knob and pull it open. You’re greeted by a familiar voice… Where have you heard that voice before? The words finally resonate in your head, “Welcome home child of the King.”
…I’m sitting here, trying to prepare to be used by the Lord tomorrow to teach for the first time in front of a congregation. As you can clearly see by the above thoughts now on paper, I have a million things going through my mind. That’s what happens when I get nervous. I had no clue where the Lord was leading this though as I was having it, but in the end He led to His front door.
My hope is tomorrow, others are also led to His front door.
I’m nervous as all get out! But I also know His words carry power, the power to change lives.
So, I have a prayer request…
I’m asking that you pray for the people in the community of the church I will be attending tomorrow. Pray the Lord works in their community today, tonight and tomorrow morning to lead those He desires to speak to straight to where His word is being given. Regardless of whether it’s the church I will be at or not. He raise up many to teach, not just one. Pray that they will have their hearts and minds softened, the soil prepared for the seeds He desires to plant. Pray that their eyes would be opened, the veil removed, so they may see His glory. Pray that their ears would be opened, so they may His is voice, not the voice of the person giving the sermon.
I’m also asking you to pray for those who will be used tomorrow as servants and vessels by Him to speak His words. Pray for their hearts, that they will not be hardened or filled with pride. Pray for their minds, that they are open to speaking what the Lord prompts them to say and that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the boldness to speak His truth in whatever manner He desires. Pray for their eyes, that they will be opened and drawn to the passages and words He desires them to see. Pray for their ears, they they will listen to the whispers of the Lord – the instruction from Him regarding the words He desires to speak. Pray for their tongues, that not a single word which leaves their mouth will be theirs, but instead, the Lords. That the message they give will not be manipulated by human selfishness, but will be covered in the love of Christ and used to encourage The Church in their pursuit of the our Abba, Father.
