Our weeks are very exhausting here. By the time Friday comes around i find myself thinking how I can’t wait to rest and relax all weekend. Mentally and physically I’m done. And this past Friday night i has just finished dinner and was ready to hop in bed when I heard the kids we live with having a dance party. I hesitated for a second but thought “this is your last weekend with these kids, go make the most of it!” So I walked over and decided to join in! I’m not sure where the energy came from, probably Hod but we danced for hours! They taught all their dance moves-It was the most fun and the most white I’ve ever felt! LOL
When the phone died (because power is very limited where we stay) and the music ended I thought the party was over. Then one of the kids spoke up and said, “now it is time for our devotion.” At first I thought she was kidding, I mean it was a Friday night, what kids would spend their weekend nights doing a devotion?? But next thing I know they all started to sing and dance and rejoice in worship, so I joined in!
I thought the first dance party was fun but it had no comparison to worshipping with 24 kids from 6 to 15 years old. It was a time FILLED with the spirit and solely led by children! These kids have not had an easy life and currently live in this orphanage away from family yet they were singing praises with such passion like they were living on top of the world!
We finished in spirit-led prayer and I sat and just listened as these kids cried out to the Lord. It was so humbling and convicting. They have so much joy and it’s not based on their circumstances or what they have but solely on the Lord. And it’s what they do on a FRIDAY NIGHT. Growing up that would have seemed crazy. Friday night is time to just have fun, Sunday’s and Wednesday’s are for time with the Lord.
I’ve realized on this race that I used to make time for the Lord only at specific times during my week that were convenient for me, and there were certain nights where the Lord could not interrupt. But seeing these kids make time for the Lord when it was the weekend was such a great reminder to me.
This month a lot of our conversations have started, ”when I get home I can’t wait to go to _____.” OR “when I get home I am going to ______.” Usually it’s about food/Chick-fil-A or hot showers or our comfy beds…the list goes on and on. If you can think it we’ve probably already imagined it multiple times.
Then the other day the team I am with for the month was talking about Noah and it really opened my eyes to something. I can’t imagine how many times while Noah was on the boat he said, “when I get back on land, I can’t wait to ____.” Of course, that’s not documented in the Bible but being on a boat that many days I can only imagine thoughts like that crossed his mind.
Then Genesis 8:18-20 says that Noah came out of the ark, and you know what the first thing he did was?? Go find the closest Chick-fil-A, only kidding…HE WORSHIPPED. He finally touched land and he didn’t rush to go do all that he had dreamt of for the past 40 days but he looked to the Lord first and worshipped Him.
It was a great reminder to me as I get ready to go home and could easily get distracted by all the comforts of home and all the Chick-fil-A’s and other restaurants I can’t wait to revisit. I need to keep Him my priority. The things of this world will only bring temporary happiness but worshipping him on a Friday night or before I seek old comforts will bring much greater fullness and everlasting joy.
Now, I can’t wait to be interruptible for the Lord no matter where I am!
