I’ve been in Nepal for about two weeks now. For part of our ministry, my team and I travel to different Buddhist and Hindu temples. It’s breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. These gods are everywhere; small and large. These stones that hold no value to me are their world. They pray, they bow, they worship. My heart breaks for the amount of people that come believing that they need to perform to these gods and say the right prayers or they’ll be punished. I walk around and intercede for them, asking the Lord to change their hearts and fill it with him alone.
As we travel to and walk around these temples, I am reminded that I have an amazing Father who doesn’t ask me to do anything for him. He has given me the greatest gift and only asks me to receive his blessings. There’s no perfect prayer, no ritual, and no pressure in messing up. He’s my one and only; the only true God!
Last night, my amazing team leader Al, gave us a space to write a Psalm. I laid my heart out on paper and the words cannot be more true to how I’m feeling right now.
“Oh how I feel your presence,
Lord.
In the sky, in the majestic mountains,
in the crowded streets.
You are everywhere!
My heart is saddened by
those who worship false gods
and perform absent rituals.
They do not know your goodness.
They do not see your miracles.
They have not experienced
your overwhelming love.
They strive and they long
for something more. Something
that will fill the void.
The empty space inside of them
that cries out for you.
God, they need you. We need you.
I need you.
Holy are you, God. You alone
I will praise, forever and ever.
You fill my void. You wipe away my tears.
You hear my prayers and answer them.
You give me more than I
could ever ask for.
You love me more than I
could ever understand.
You are my one and only.
You are my Abba, my Teacher, Healer,
Father, Miracle-worker, Friend, and Lover.
You are my God!”
I know that the Lord alone is the only one that can change their hearts and I will forever pray this over the people I see on a daily basis. Dad, you are so good and you love your children so much! Nepal is no exception.
~A
