We have transitioned now from Keta, Ghana to Lomé, Togo. Our team C3 is paired this month with team Talitha Koum. As we’ve stayed this first week in Lomé, I’m so thankful for the way God has worked and directed our team’s steps to various areas and hosts over the last 2.5 months.
For location of where we are doing ministry this month, we are in the capital city in Togo. Our week has consisted of visiting different primary and secondary schools, bible clubs, and churches to share about the love of Jesus. We are staying at a seminary campus in rooms that are similar to dorm rooms with bathrooms attached to each room. We have found a general store right down the street that sells snacks and toiletries that we may want or need. It’s typical to be driving somewhere and have somewhere between 15-20 motos pass around cars or all be in the space or 2-3 car lengths at a stoplight.
I’m thankful that God gradually brought us from small village to town to city. It brings me comfort that our team could transition through our three counties in Africa in this way and have the opportunity to see people’s daily lives through these various settings.
As we entered this new country, I decided this month I will be meditating on the Psalms. I want to sit in the presence of the Lord and be reminded of Him being my refuge. He is my joy and my peace. In His presence, I can be filled with His love and be able to love out of the abundance of His love. Here are the verses I have for this month to meditate on as I pray for our team to have no health problems and restful sleep:
“Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm? ?4:6-8? ?NIV??
As I’ve read through almost 40 chapters of the Psalms so far this week, here are some words that have stuck out:
Delight
Meditate
Refuge
Proclaim
Sustain
Deliver
Dwell
Safety
Rejoice
Declare
Thanks
Praise
Protection
Redeemer
Exalt
Seek
Trust
My hope is in you
Never to be put to shame
His faithful ways
No need to fear
Wait for the Lord
The Lord’s unfailing love
As we near the end of week 1, I want to seek Him to trust Him with all things. I want to further step into identifying insecurities, surrounding and confessing, and replacing them with His truth. The burdens have become too heavy to bear, and He is here with His hands ready to take them off my shoulders.
In the last two months, the Lord has been helping me to release concern over status, striving to be enough, seeing achievement as equal to worth, seeking security in money and position, and seeking love from others through what I do.
He wants me to rest in who I am in Him, to see myself through His eyes, and know that He chooses to have a personal relationship with me full of His unfailing love. I don’t have to work to earn His love. I can rest in Him as my security and know my value and worth in Him.
I still have so many questions for the Lord, but I am learning to release pressure I put on myself to know the answers or have a deadline. I don’t have to feel behind or unprepared. I can rest in Him knowing He has perfect timing and is faithful to keep His promises. His plan is far better than I can ever create myself.
Lord, my hands are open to you – to what you have here in Togo – to what you want to teach me – to what you want to prune and take away – to what needs to be burned off – to releasing control to you – to being filled with your abundance – to the freedom you have to give – to your love. Surround me in your joy and peace – may I be filled with your love to overflow into loving others with your love. May you be my refuge. Thank you Lord, amen.
“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
??Habakkuk? ?1:5? ?NIV?
