Our time in Cusco, Peru looked quite different from the month we spent in Chile. In Peru, we did not have a host so we spent our time doing what is called “ask the Lord ministry”, which is exactly what it sounds like – asking the Lord what he wants us to do and then doing it. It’s really a very simple concept, and it was so useful to be able to intentionally practice during our time in Peru because it is what ministry will look like at the end of these eleven months when I come back home, going about everyday life and asking the Lord for direction in how to minister to the community around me.
On our first day in Cusco, the Lord pointed me to Joshua 3, where he provided a lot of encouragement for the coming month. I want to share some takeaways from the chapter because it’s not necessary to be on the World Race to do this type of ministry; it is just as applicable for typical life in the U.S.
Joshua 3 is the passage where Israel is finallyabout to enter the Promised Land. This has been a long time coming, and they are now at the edge of the Jordan River, needing only to cross the waters in order to enter the place they had been working toward for decades. The people are commanded to follow the ark of the covenant that is being carried, “in order that [they] may know the way [they] shall go”. In the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant is simply a tangible representation of the Lord’s presence, meaning that the lasting command is merely to follow the presence of the Lord so that you know where to go. As basic as this direction is, it really is the key to living out your life as ministry to the Lord. All you need to do is follow his presence, and he will lead you.
Further, the people are commanded, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you”. Old Testament vernacular can be intimidating, but the word consecrate is not at all complex when broken down; it merely means to officially promise to give your time and attention to something. When you devote yourself to the Lord and his purposes, he promises that he will do WONDERS among you. How cool is that? This promise from the Lord serves as such a great encouragement when going out into the world with the mindset of ministering because the power is not in ourselves. All the pressure is taken off because our job is easy; it is the Lord who does the wonders.
And how wonderful are his wonders! The people are told, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan”. In Israel’s time, God performed the mighty work of driving out all of Israel’s many enemies. For us, it looks different, but the premise is the same because he is the same God with the same power. To rephrase it, we could say, “The living Godis among you and he will without faildrive out from before you doubt, danger, misunderstanding, fear, hopelessness, lies, and lack of direction. The Lord of all the earth is passing over before you”. There is no limit to what the Lord can do because it is a living God that we serve; he is the Lord of all the earth and he goes before us and is faithful to fulfill his promises.
The wonders that he does don’t stop here; he provides in miraculous ways. In Joshua 3, God literally stopped the waters of the Jordan so that the Israelites could walk across. The power of the God we serve is incomprehensible, and he still does miracles today. We should live our lives expectant of this miraculous power, that he might use us.
Lastly, in living out the motto of “life is ministry; ministry is life”, it is vital to remember that God’s timing is perfect, and, as hard as it seems, we shouldn’t doubt it by planning ahead. In this instance in the book of Joshua, it wasn’t until the priests had literally stepped into the water that God cut off the streams from flowing. I believe that far too often, we give up on ideas too early. Perhaps God gives us a plan but an issue comes up that seems insurmountable so we abandon the idea. Perhaps God highlights a person for us to talk to but we have no words so we pass by without an interaction. What we forget in these equations is God’s timing and power. He will overcome all problems if we continue to trust in him; he will give us the words as long as we have the faith to approach the person.
With this mindset, we went out into the city of Cusco asking God to give us guidance and make his power known. We had opportunities to share the Gospel, pray for healing, encourage struggling believers, worship with traveling musicians, fast and feed those in need, minister to tour guides, and much more. What I am consistently seeing through my time on the World Race is that his guidance and his power are always available, and he is so willing to provide them when you ask. I hope that you keep this in mind as you live out ministry through your own life. And if you are struggling, I want to let you know that in the midst of whatever you are walking through, he has the capacity to provide you with firm, dry ground – ask him and be expectant.
Ps – I am still fundraising! I have about $3,000 more to raise. Any contribution you could make would be so greatly appreciated so that I can continue my ministry on the Race!
