One of my favorite movies growing up was Indiana Jones. I loved the action, adventure, and of course, Harrison Ford. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, there is a part where Indiana Jones has to step out in faith and “walk on air” to get to the other side of the bridge save his father’s life. It looks crazy and doesn’t seem like it would work, but when Indiana Jones takes that step of faith, there is a bridge there that he didn’t see before. He was able to “walk on air”, but if he hadn’t taken that step of faith, he would have never been able to get to the other side.
Well, when I was in Nicaragua, I felt like the Lord was asking me do something that made me feel like I had to walk on air to get to the other side. I really had to step out in faith, because I had no idea what I was doing. What was this “crazy” thing that the Lord was asking me to do? Teach a group of youth.
I know that may not sound too crazy for a lot of people, but I’m not a teacher or a pastor. Last time I taught youth, I fell on my face. Now the Lord was asking me to do it in front of 25 people who didn’t speak English. Huge step for Danae.
BUT! I told the Lord that I would do it… and I did.
I wasn’t really sure what the Lord wanted me to teach on, so I asked the Lord what He wanted me to teach on and he laid King Hezekiah on my heart. I had just read about King Hezekiah and how the prophet Isiah told the King that he was going to die. The King cried out to the Lord and before Isiah left the building, he told Isiah to go back and tell the King that He would add 15 years to his life. What a quick response to prayer! Then the Lord kept giving me versus on prayer… so I decided to teach about prayer.
The Lord is so good. I don’t know the Bible like the back of my hand, my computer wasn’t picking up the Internet signal, I’ve never heard anyone preach on Hezekiah before, but the Lord gave me versus and reminded me of stories of people who’s prayers were answered. Shoot, he answered mine when I asked for help because I had no idea what I was doing. It was a new meaning to the phrase, “If He asks you to do something, He isn’t going to leave you hanging”.
So the Wednesday came where I was going to teach. NERVOUS. But once I started to speak, peace… and it went really well. After I spoke, I had a time where the youth could write letters to God, have a youth leader pray for them, or they could just sit and talk to the Lord. This went WAY better than I expected.
I was blessed to pray for two people. I’m not sure what happened, but each person that I prayed with the Lord spoke. One person I got to pray with was named Paula. I asked her what I could pray for and she simply said, “todo” all of it. So I did. I don’t know how, but I could feel what she was feeling. So when we were done, I felt like the Lord was asking me to tell her, “I love you.” Stepping out in the new faith, I did. Wow. Why am I so amazed when I’m obedient to the Lord? When He asks me to do something and I do it, why wouldn’t it be blessed? He told me to do it. I got to connect with a person that hadn’t been connected with in a really long time.
I’m just honored that Papa picked me. I’m glad that I listened to what He called me to do. As intimidating as it can feel sometimes, I just need to step out and do it.
Paula and me on our last night together.
