As everyone read in my last two blogs I’ve really been struggling with night terrors in my sleep. I stayed back Tuesday from ministry to figure out some bank, ATM eating my card nonsense and stumbled upon a list in my searching of things. A list that someone I look up to gave me at my going away party and made me promise that I would study it before I got back home. It’s a list of 12 different verses spread through the bible, he wasn’t even sure why God gave him those verses but I found out Tuesday as I spent 13 hours or so studying them.
I went to bed with so much excitement from being with Jesus all day and learning so much and 36 hours, yes I said 36 hours, later my teammates finally woke me up!! I slept for a day and a half with no night terrors or any interruption what so ever and it’s all thanks to God!! I took today off to process everything and to process the GOOD dreams I had and wrote a letter to Jesus that I felt was needed for not only myself, but also for everyone who clicks the link. There’s so much more to this so if you want to know more just message me, but here’s my letter to Jesus using those 12 verses and what I got out of them.
Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20 You talk about going to all of the nation’s baptizing in Your name. You literally want us to teach people the way of righteousness, peace, pardon, salvation and so much more. In order for us to do what You have commanded we have to part with all for You and give ourselves up to You completely. We need to welcome people into our lives and mistakes for them to see how we’ve practiced Your word to overcome the battle. You will be with us spiritually to assist us in our works to comfort us under all discouragements, to supply us with grace and to protect us. In Mark 16:15 You say “Go ye unto all the world,” not just our neighbors but to all The nation’s under Heaven! We can start with friends and family but You tell us all, meaning our school, our gym rat family, and even the guy behind the Wal-Mart register. If we tell that one random person they’ll tell another and another and soon we have more and more people spreading the word. I don’t want to let discomfort or fear to stop me Lord from spreading the word, even if I have to learn another language then so be it!
I’ll learn it because in Luke 10:2-5 You tell us of a “great harvest with so few labourers.” If I have to go with nothing in my hand but a book of Your word than I’m ok with that. I am Your lamb amongst the wolves of this world and will continue to bring “peace to this house” wherever You will lead. There are 7.442 billion people on this earth and only 31.5% of them are followers of You, the harvest is plenty! We need to share our testimonies of how God has impacted our lives. But at the same time “I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel” as it says in 1 Corinthians 9:16. “How terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel.” Lord You’ve given me the ability to speak to people with ease, why not use that gift to tell of what You have done for me?!
There’s no proper way or rightful way to preach, ordinary men can be sent out to preach, You bestow gifts upon me so I need to use them or the glory of You. You tell us in Romans 10:13-15 that people will have questions that will need to be answered. The only way to answer those is to spend time with You and to study with You, to learn the history of those living words You have blessed us with. We just need to make sure that when we preach, people see You and hear You, not us. Lord I pray that as we “Declare Your glory among the heathen” people can see Your marvellous works done through us and not just us. That’s what You say in 1 Chronicles 16:24, I deserve Your love just as everyone else does! I want to be able to come across anyone and everyone I meet under the Heavens and boldly say that You, Lord, are my helper.
You bring up a point in Hebrews 13:6 that says we shouldn’t fear what man can do to us. What’s the worse they can do? Laugh at us? Throw stones at us? We stand on a ground of infinite power, grace, and goodness of heart. You will forever and always be our protector and friend. You will be, as Psalm 144:1-2 tells us, my goodness, my fortress, my hightower, my deliverer and my shield. With all of that being said we can’t let the battle shake our firm foundation for You will always subdue our enemies. You are the ultimate teacher and deserve all praises, we thank our earthly fathers for teaching us to ride a bike so we should thank You for destroying our enemies.
Lord I pray that You will always cover my head, the head of my family and friends just as Psalm 140:7-8 tells us. The wicked has no room in our lives, You and only You do Lord! The power of prayer holds so much importance in the days of battle and even in the days of peace and this scripture proves it. For our battles are weak without You. You are our salvation, strength and most powerful song according to Exodus 15:2-3. You will protect us, all we have to do is believe and trust in You, and I pray that it gets easier and easier as the days progress. Lord I also pray that I do not let the past define me, yes I’ve made mistakes but You have already forgotten about them. In order for me to truly allow You to be my refuge and strength I need to forget about them too.
Korah, in Numbers 16, challenged Moses and Aaron and was swallowed up by the earth for doing so. Seven generations later the ascendants of Korah became expert warriors and fantastic choral/orchestral leaders for King David and wrote eleven of the Psalms including Psalm 46:1-2. They actually bring up their ancestors by saying “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed…” and no longer wanted that to define who they were. Bring me that same freedom Lord! I want my heart to be in the ways of You and no where else, I have no worries as long as my heart is where You want/need it to be. Psalm 84:5 states “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.”
My strength comes from You because that’s where my heart is and where my heart will always be. I, nor anyone, can do this on my own, so Lord I pray that You will always give us the strength we need to love others as You do and will give us the courage to tell people of You. I pray that You will give us the wisdom we need to help others and that You will protect us all from the enemy in whatever form it tries to attack us. Allow us the eyes and ears to see and hear the lost “harvest” so we can work on them bringing the lost lamb back to You, our greatest shepherd. Lord I pray this for all of us, not just myself, I pray that people see You through us!
Love, Zach Lambert
