The Lord is in charge of the harvest.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord, who is in charge of the harvest, to send more workers into the fields.” –Matthew 9:37-38
“You do not have because you don’t ask God…” –James 4:2
“You don’t waste your life by where you work, but how and why.” –John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life
This month I witnessed over 100 people place their faith in Christ! Whether that was for the 1st time or the 10th time, I don’t know. However, I do know that those people committed or recommitted their lives to Christ.
Some of these people I had the opportunity to know, encourage, love, and pray with. Just like Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 3:16, some may have planted the seed, some may have watered it, “…but it was God who made it grow.” It is just a joy to see others around me who are from my generation receive the gospel, and not only do they receive the gospel, but their lives start to change from the inside out.
I have been praying and meditating on the Word this month, and I have learned so much and feel so full of knowledge, truth, joy and love for others. And it is only because I am full that I am able to pour out to those around me. I’ve seen God answer both small and big prayers this month and when I say, “Lord prepare me for the next step,” He will and He is already doing it. For He knows me and all His children so well that Matthew 6:8 says, “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “ And so I see him preparing me for the world race daily. In what ways is the Lord preparing you for the next step?
I had the privilege of going on a spontaneous trip to Atlanta, Georgia for a conference called Passion. It’s the biggest Christian conference in the nation with over 55,000 young adults from the ages of 18-25. I truly believe it was a God destined trip for me because it cost $100 for everything (bus, hotel, and conference tickets!).
At this conference I got to connect with one of my squad mates (Melanie), as well as many other people. I even got to know six other people from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin who became like my family after three days together. We got to hear from speakers and artists such as John Piper, Louis Giglio, Francis Chan, Hillsong, David Crowder, and others.
One of the truths that I took away was the importance of following the LORD daily with my life. “No one just becomes a famous speaker overnight” Louis Giglio said, “But it is by following God day by day that He reveals our purpose.” I realize how I need to put in the work in to study, memorize, learn, obey, share, disciple, and be discipled. And through pursuing the Lord daily, He will take care of all my worries and all the anxieties of the unknown future.
Francis Chan brought up Isaiah 55:8-9,
“His thoughts are not my thoughts, ‘says the Lord’, and my ways are far beyond anything you can imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Sometimes I just need to get rid of my thoughts and embrace His thoughts for me and His ways for me. All the thoughts that tell me I am not qualified vanish when I believe the LORD when he says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. OUR QUALIFICATION COMES FROM GOD.”
Overall, there is joy in following and obeying Christ because He is the one who purposed my life! And by knowing my purpose and being able to share the joy of knowing Christ with others I further see God’s goodness.
Lastly, I want to say thank you for your prayers and for your commitment to running this race with me. Helping send me on this mission is a joy to me and I hope I can share that joy with you. I would not be able to do this mission if it wasn’t for the support of a team. So sincerely, thank you.
Prayer Requests for this next month:
- Ability to pour out this joy, knowledge, and love into the people around me, especially those high school and college students I am discipling.
- Motivation and energy with long days. There are lots of late nights, early mornings, long meetings, and deep conversations that seem like they go nonstop.
- Generosity to be shared toward this mission as I speak in Bismarck at Word of Faith Church (January 22nd), as well as a Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rugby (January 29th).
- Pray for the words to speak at these churches that they too will understand the importance of bringing the Good News to those who have never heard the name of Jesus before.
- Endurance and obedience daily as I follow the Lord one day at a time.
Want to be more involved?
-Ask how you can be involved in my prayer team.
-Ask how you can use your time as a valuable recourse to help send me on this mission.
-Ask about how you can sponsor a country and a month of mission.
Send me an email at [email protected] or send me a text at 701-681-0116
I am more than willing to talk anytime!
