This month in Thailand we have been doing what is called ATL (Ask The Lord). This means that we wake up everyday and ask the lord what He wants us to do for the day. We seek Him to lead us to encounters He wants to have with His children.This is a really cool practice for everyday life once we get home, because the reality is most of us work and don’t necessarily carry a title of “Pastor” or are on church staff.
However, that doesn’t mean we can’t “do” ministry as Jesus commanded us to do. When He said “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” You can do this in any environment and in every moment of your life. Ministry is life and life is ministry. You don’t need a title to love people well or to draw people to Jesus through His kindness emanating out of you. It’s His kindness that leads people to repentance. Notice it doesn’t say anything about a title in that verse, or all the biblical knowledge in the world. It’s His kindness that leads to repentance, and you just gotta be a willing vessel for that kindness to flow out of.
SO! ATL has definitely been a growing and stretching time, but really cool. One day we felt God leading us to our “usual” spot for lunch, and when we got there we had a guy literally turn around and sit at our table. He looks at us and says i’ve never had anyone share the gospel with me will you share it? We ended up spending the whole day with him sharing the love of God, and he even came back to hang out with us on Easter Sunday because he wanted to go to church.
A few days we made sandwiches for a group of homeless men and women we pass every single day. (Sometimes there is a need right in front of your face and you just have to help out, and not wonder what God wants you to do. If it’s in the Bible do it!) So we sat with them and played charades because of the language barrier. But it was the sweetest most heart warming time. I played rock, paper, scissors with this little 60 something year old Thai homeless man, and we both laughed the whole time. In that moment I heard the Lord so clear say to me, you’re doing this to me. We’ve done prayer walks and met people along our walks who we can share kindness and love with.
There is so much need all around you/us. You don’t have to go half way around the world to ATL. You just have to ASK and He will always reveal Himself to you. Sometimes it will be with a go here and do that, but sometimes it will be just looking in His word (which is a book full of Him guiding us in what to do…) and obeying. I like this acronym for ASK.
A:ALWAYS S:SEEKING K:KINGDOM
As long as you are always seeking to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. You will always be on the right track. God has taught me a lot about what “ministry” is and how it’s a lot more everyday mundane than what I had thought it was. I encourage you today to ALWAYS SEEK KINGDOM in whatever you’re doing.
Liv
