I have always needed direction. I’ve been accustumed to someone saying, “Go this way” or “Go that way”. The same applies to ministry. With each month on the World Race, our ministries were assigned to us. There was some flexibility, but there were at least parameters on what we could do.
As we spend our last week of ministry in Florence, Italy, I’m hit with a challenge – not having someone telling me what I should be doing. It’s not that I can’t think for myself – actually, I probably think a little too much. It’s just that I’ve come to rely on a superior to give me direction when it comes to ministry. So, I have been faced with the challenge this week to sit, pray, and wait on the Lord to give me that direction that I need. I never imagined it to be so hard. It’s been a few days since we first arrived in this beautiful city. I’ve seen some incredible art, churches, and various other buildings that most people only to get to see in pictures. I’ve tasted the real Italian gelato, and, boy, is it amazing.
But, sight-seeing and tasting the local foods is not why I’m here. And I keep asking myself, “Why am I here?” To be honest, I have no clue at this point. We’ve only a few days left. I’d love to finish this Race strong and with an awesome story to share. Maybe that awesome story will come to pass, but maybe it won’t. It’s not to say that God isn’t working, because this year has shown me that He definitely is whether I recognize it or not. Even if this year doesn’t end in fireworks exploding to the tune of the 1812 Overture, I’ve got a ton to share with people of what the Lord can and does do with normal, average people like me. But, getting back to my dilema… Where’s my direction?
Maybe this week is readying me for home. When I return to the familiarity of home, who’s going to place in front of me an agenda for the ministries that I need to get involved in? Who’s going to show me where the needs are in my community? The answer: no one. I‘ve really got to seek out the Lord. He’s got things lined up for me already. He’s got people that He’s going to bring into my path that need to hear my testimony, or simply need to know that they’re loved and prayed for. The Lord has a plan for my life. I just need to ask. The asking is then followed by the harder part – waiting to hear from Him. He’s speaking, but am I listening? The Bible says that He has a “still, small voice”. Often times, I think I allow the noises of this world to drown out His sweet voice. It’s not about finding a sound-proof chamber so that there is absolutely no other peep to distract me. It’s about intentionally seeking Him and expecting a response. He’s not a genie either who speaks upon command. The Master and Creator of this world seems to work from a different time frame than what I’m familiar with.
So, that’s my lesson for the week…
As we spend our last week of ministry in Florence, Italy, I’m hit with a challenge – not having someone telling me what I should be doing. It’s not that I can’t think for myself – actually, I probably think a little too much. It’s just that I’ve come to rely on a superior to give me direction when it comes to ministry. So, I have been faced with the challenge this week to sit, pray, and wait on the Lord to give me that direction that I need. I never imagined it to be so hard. It’s been a few days since we first arrived in this beautiful city. I’ve seen some incredible art, churches, and various other buildings that most people only to get to see in pictures. I’ve tasted the real Italian gelato, and, boy, is it amazing.
But, sight-seeing and tasting the local foods is not why I’m here. And I keep asking myself, “Why am I here?” To be honest, I have no clue at this point. We’ve only a few days left. I’d love to finish this Race strong and with an awesome story to share. Maybe that awesome story will come to pass, but maybe it won’t. It’s not to say that God isn’t working, because this year has shown me that He definitely is whether I recognize it or not. Even if this year doesn’t end in fireworks exploding to the tune of the 1812 Overture, I’ve got a ton to share with people of what the Lord can and does do with normal, average people like me. But, getting back to my dilema… Where’s my direction?
Maybe this week is readying me for home. When I return to the familiarity of home, who’s going to place in front of me an agenda for the ministries that I need to get involved in? Who’s going to show me where the needs are in my community? The answer: no one. I‘ve really got to seek out the Lord. He’s got things lined up for me already. He’s got people that He’s going to bring into my path that need to hear my testimony, or simply need to know that they’re loved and prayed for. The Lord has a plan for my life. I just need to ask. The asking is then followed by the harder part – waiting to hear from Him. He’s speaking, but am I listening? The Bible says that He has a “still, small voice”. Often times, I think I allow the noises of this world to drown out His sweet voice. It’s not about finding a sound-proof chamber so that there is absolutely no other peep to distract me. It’s about intentionally seeking Him and expecting a response. He’s not a genie either who speaks upon command. The Master and Creator of this world seems to work from a different time frame than what I’m familiar with.
So, that’s my lesson for the week…
