The other day, I found myself sitting in a small coffee shop with a book in my hands. I wasn’t expecting much of anything besides progress in how far along I was in the story. The book I was reading was called Bruchko and it was given as an assignment for my squadmates and I before we leave for the Race. It’s about a missionary in Columbia that had a heart for the Motilone Indian Tribe, so he left everything he knew and faced many life-or-death situations for the sake of the gospel. I don’t want to give anything away, but I found myself reading a part where he finally lead a friend to Christ. It had taken years because the Lord was teaching him the importance of not trying to Westernize other people’s cultures and how to pour into others without the mindset that says, “my way is the best way”.
It was in that moment that God wrecked me.
I had been praying for Him to soften my heart for the past couple of weeks. I’ve been really working on trusting in His promises and having faith in what I cannot see. I’ve been praying that He strengthens my passion for ministry and continues to prepare my heart for the Race. His response was to take my prayer and to blow my mind with His answer. I was engulfed in that book, but I didn’t expect for it to have such a great impact on me. His friend finally knew about Christ! I got out of my chair and left the shop with a huge smile plastered on my face.
Then I wept. A lot.
It was the kind of cry that only comes from the joy of loving something so deeply and feeling almost overwhelmed with it. In all honestly, it had seemed like forever since I felt that much joy. I thought it was kind of crazy.. I didn’t even know the guy! But it had resonated with experiences from past trips and I knew that I was going to experience more lives being changed when I go on the Race. I sat in my car and I heard God’s sweet whisper. He told me that He was answering that prayer that I had prayed on repeat. “Soften me. Wreck me. Do what you need to do to prepare me.” He told me of the significance of that moment for me. It had revived my heart. It had been used to prepare me for the Race by renewing my excitement to go and preach the gospel to all nations. Since that moment, I have not been able to shake off this feeling of love and empathy for others. He used that prayer to renew my joy and soften my heart.
Here’s a Challenge.
We all fall short, sometimes. We all find ourselves in slumps that we cannot seem to get out of on our own, simply because we’re human. We tend to often forget our purpose on this earth and that we are called to give our all for the sake of love. But so much power is held in each prayer and the Bible tells us that if we ask, we will receive, and that God will do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.
I want to challenge you guys to pray big prayers this week. It doesn’t matter how you’re currently feeling or how you view yourself. A lot of people believe the lies that tell them that they aren’t good enough or that God can’t change your current circumstances. But God is a God who cares and desires for us to have a relationship with Him because He is the only One who can change us and the situations around us (Psalm 30:11-12). Pray prayers that challenge you and prayers where the solutions don’t seem possible enough to wrap your mind around. Pray for something that only God can do. It may take time, but He always shows up and exceeds our expectations.
John 16
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Ephesians 3
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
