I’m sitting in a room over 8,300 miles away from home, listening to rain batter against the sheet metal roof on my little home in Thailand. My heart is full, my eyes are heavy, and my mind is doing the best it can to wrap itself around God’s good character. I am currently viewing God’s goodness through an entirely foreign lens and seeing His Spirit move in new ways. It’s the same God I have always known, but I am becoming more and more aware of His presence. My life has, in no uncertain manner, grown quieter (as I’ve moved away from life in the States) . . . I am hearing His still small voice more now than ever. He whispers to us . . . and I’m learning that the closer you are to someone, the better you can hear them whisper. He bends His ear to me (Psalm 116:2), so I want to slow the way I speak, and FIGHT for the authenticity of every word that falls off my lips. No routine, no empty words, no ‘impressive talk,’ nothing but a conversation with Abba Father.
How am I to know the will of the Father if I do not converse with Him? Patience plays a key role here because a conversation has two voices. If we could catch the vision of God, it would be fire. I believe that I’m breathing air because God has something big planned for my life specifically and I want to pray diligently for that. God doesn’t do cheap work . . . He desires to do the impossible through us—through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed life into me and I want to give Him His breath back! Right now that looks like teaching little Thai children English and sharing God’s love with them. However, even in the midst of this specific ministry, I want to be aware of every opportunity that the Spirit wants to move outside of what is planned for the day.
Through this ever growing awareness, I am beginning to see that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just an influence. He convicts; He witnesses of Christ; He indwells us and empowers us; He sends us; and ultimately He is God. I need Him for every aspect of my life. I don’t just want to leave my ‘pilot light’ on, I want to be completely consumed by the Spirit and let Him become personally involved in everything I walk in. “Your glory, Lord, is what my heart longs for.” I’m starting to see that anything I try to do on my own strength is a wasted opportunity. I don’t want to so much as speak without relying on the Holy Spirit for strength. Abba Father, let my life be nothing but an adoring response to you.
Please be in prayer for me and my team as we continue to do ministry here in Thailand. We have been attacked left and right with sickness and injury. There is lots of spiritual darkness surrounding the monk temples and the town. We can ill afford to take steps that are not thoroughly covered in prayer. However, even in light of these circumstances, God has been so faithful to give us joy, strength, and peace that surpass all understanding. I know this is because our trip is already drenched in your prayers! Thank you all for your steadfastness in that aspect.
God’s glory is the end goal here. The ultimate worship of His holy name is the end goal. This will only spread if we carry the fragrance of Christ on us . . . and this comes from worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. We are all learning to walk in this calling and enter more deeply into the wonder of it all.
Thank you all for your support!
Yours in Christ,
-David Sands
