I
have been wanting to blog for a while, but I have really felt like
I’ve had nothing to say. Like I have been in a season of silence and
rest, and I am really okay with that : ) It has been really
refreshing. The Lord has blessed me so much this summer, that I lose
count of all of the awesome things He has done for me. It’s hard to
believe just 2 short months ago, I was experiencing massive hardships
in Africa.
I
often think about my time there, and I wonder why God sent me there.
What was His purpose for me to be there? I know our team accomplished
some amazing things and we met some incredible people. However, I
still feel like there was a different reason, why we experienced the
spiritual intensity that we did.
Today…the
Lord has given me revelation. In My Utmost for His Highest, I read
these statements from Oswald Chambers, and the wheels in my mind
started turning: “We
soon find, however, that the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) contain the
dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They explode, as it were, when the
circumstances of our lives cause them to do so.
This
reminded me of a time I was in prayer in Uganda. I saw a clear, vivid
picture of an explosion, and I knew it had something to do with our
team and our time in that country. The time I spent in Uganda, was
one of the hardest times of my life. We faced so much, that it is
difficult to put into words. Only those of us that were there, truly
understand, the spiritual battles that we encountered.
Oswald Chambers goes on to say, “When
the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of these Beatitudes we
say- What a startling statement that is! And we
have to decide whether
we will accept the tremendous
spiritual upheaval
that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words.It
is a choice, and such a difficult one to make, when you are in the
thick of it.
Now
I get it….now I can see the importance of that time in Uganda. The
importance of all the hardships, sufferings, and persecutions we all
faced. The Holy Spirit used that time to ignite His dynamite and make
the Beatitudes very real in my life….and I praise Him for it : )
(Matthew
5:3-10)THE
BEATITUDES
Blessed
are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed
are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed
are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be
filled.
Blessed
are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed
are the pure in heart for they will see God.
Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed
are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is
the kingdom of
heaven.
