“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the people; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds” – Psalm 57:10
Let the earth rejoice, Lord. In your Love, in your Glory. Let your Glory be all over the earth!
Our goal is to know God, and to make Him known. Right?
Know Him – to abide in Him, to read His word, to spend time in His presence, to pray, to talk to Him, to listen, to be overwhelmed by His love.
To make Him known – wait, how does one actually do that?
Well friends, what I have seen, heard, and felt is that there are many ways. God made us creative. God outlines divine encounters. God opens doors. God prepares hearts. Well, God does a lot, actually.
But the main lesson I have taken heart in, is in the simplicity of sharing about His love.
No need for a prepared speech, bullet points or a go-to tag line. No need for for a microphone or a famous name. No need for a structured conversation or a set up event. And friends, no feelings of unpreparedness or incapability.
It simply is a form of worship. It simply is singing praises. It simply is walking fully aware of His love and His character.
Because when we walk in that awareness. When we let God be the King of our Hearts. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can’t help but share (intentionally or unintentionally).
We go along our day, singing praises. We go along our way remembering His faithfulness, greatness and love. And people notice. People hear. People sense.
We pray for open windows, and God opens up gates.
It can look like many things.
Like a smile and a sincere “how are you” to the person that God placed upon your path going down the grocery store
Like leaving a little encouraging note behind for your barista.
Like asking the coffee shop you are at if you can plug in your phone and play your music
Like setting up “Free English practice” sign at a local spot
Like inviting local people and backpackers to join you for game nights, volleyball, other adventures
Like praying to make a friend on the train, and being seated by the sweetest of girls who says “I have heard of Jesus” but was fully unaware of His resurrection. (Let’s talk about a cool convo that happened that day)
Like visiting a new friends home, to enjoy time together, pray and share a scripture in the Bible
Like attending a universities small group
Like going home to home praying over the people in a village
Like looking at a painting with animals that are paired up, and telling the barista that it reminds you of a story of Noah, and asking if they have heard of it before
Like sharing the Gospel through Henna and it leading to a great 3 hour conversation about what a true relationship with Christ is
Like asking the store owner if you can pray with them, after they have spent some quality time helping you find bus tickets for your group
Like actually talking to your waiter
Like sitting in your local friends living room, ministering and talking to her parents about your passions and hearing about their life
Like cooking breakfast for your hostel owners so you can chat together
Like asking people weird questions so they allow you to sit with them at a park
Like giving free braids, henna, art and music at a local park
Like worshipping in public
Like asking people about their families, about their passions, about their dreams and goals
Like listening, actively listening and genuinely caring.
Like asking someone if they want to read/hear about your favorite story in the Bible.
Like being kind and seeing the person in front of you, specially in a tourist town, where people walk in and out daily focused just on their pleasure
Like worshipping at the top of a mountain (or a tattoo parlor if you are our boys) to have people gather around you to hear
Like loving your brother and sister in Christ in a way that points directly to the Lord
Like reading your bible in public
Like praying in public
Like asking people if you can pray for them
Like hopping in the kitchen with someone to spend time in conversation
Like personally praying for the fruits of the spirits, and demonstrating them, in times of frustration, anger, confusion or unrest
Like speaking life to people, such a sweet refreshment compared to what is being heart and shared around them
Like building true friendships, by looking at the person in front of you. By living with a heart of worship
So friends, lets not overcomplicate the thing. Let’s not think we are not equipped, or that we are not making change. Let’s not think we don’t have time or a shared interest with the person in front of us. Let’s not be scared to interrupt their day. Let’s not be so focused on our self that we have blinders on.
Let’s have magnifying glasses on. Magnifying glasses that intentionally seek to be obedient to God’s voice, His nudging, His gentle voice that asks us to see and LOVE people where they are at.
Magnifying glasses that seek God all around us.
Let’s apply the idea that “life is missions, missions is life” all around us
Let’s wake up every single day, in awe and wonder, and live a life that is saturated with Christ.
Let’s not have it be a box. Or a “only when I take a planned trip” or a “scheduled event” but lets let it seep into every part of our day. Every part of our life. And lets let it characterize and shape our walk.
Let knowing God and making God known, dictate our life in our jobs, in our churches, in our families, in our homes, in our friendships, in our grocery stores, in our cafes, in our travels, in our thoughts. In it all.
Are y’all ready for this crazy adventure?
Because when we seek, when we ask God for opportunities, when we listen to His voice guiding us and loving us – incredible things happen
“Look at the nations and watch, and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
Habakkuk 1:5
“And my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness, Oh Lord, open my lips. And my mouth declare your praise”
Psalm 51:14-15
“You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever”
Psalm 30: 11-12
