Far to often in life we allow busy to mean Godly. If I just work full time really hard and attend 2 services a week, make time to be a leader in the church, hang out with friends, family, fundraise, email, phone etc…. I will in some way be all that God wants me to be. Just reading this list of to do’s which is only about the half of it, I have become exhausted.
The other day God said to me, “Remember Melissa be still and know that I am here.” Here was my response , “Seriously God be still, I can’t be still, I am 16% in my support, I have calls to make and more fundraisers to plan. I ran off this long list of to do’s only to be told by him to again be still. Boy did I get a little Spiritual spanking this week. “Who’s list is it?” He asked me. “When did you stop and ask me for help let alone to take the lead. Why are you running every which way trying to figure out the details and work yourself to death when I have told you that you are going?”
Last week I was making a major decision that was founded on a bunch of very convincing lies. I was going to walk away from the race and even my church. I have a prayer team that has been supporting me and confirming to me that they to feel that I am called to this ministry. I have had now two pretty decent small fundraisers that have helped out now. But in one day with one lunch date, I almost let it all go. To be fair though it was more than one event, but that was the breaking point.
Let me tell you why. Discouragement due to Distractions. I have had to cancel my fundraisers that I had planned on more than one occasion. I was sick for almost a month and really wore down. Funny one, I sneezed while backing my car up and I hit the side of my church. (feel free to really laugh at that, I did). I was being attacked by many lies and negative words. Death has been spoken over me. I was trying to sort out lies from truth, right words from wrong and find God in the midst of this chaos that circled around me. How I had longed for the joy that I am known for and that faith that moves mountains. Where had my passion gone? I was told that I should give up trying on this because obvisiously the lack of success on fundraising etc should be a sign that this is not from God, because when you go into missions he makes it easy.
In 2Chron, Ch 20 The Israelites are yet again facing possible ruin. Enemies are approaching on each side. And the spirit of the Lord comes to them and delievers these words, “Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army that comes apon you, for the battle is not yours but the Lords” It further goes on to say “Take up your positions, stand firm and wait for the delieverence the Lord will give you.” When the enemies of the Israelites came to fight, they stood in their spots with their heads bowed and their hearts fixed on God, because they believed and had faith that what promises were given and what the prophets had spoken were true. They stood in the middle of battle and worshiped the Lord. Wow so good. What a great lesson for us World Racers as we prepare.
The Devil is mad, I am glad, thank you Jesus. He has every right to be worried. The World Race is a bold and powerful movement for our Lord. People are being saved and set free from sin and sickness. Wholeness and Revivals are being birthed. I have dreams of me leading a vast army of children towards God, and that same word was given to me. It was prophecied in my life that I was a mother to all nations and that God would make me like a signet ring for I have been chosen. That is humbling, it brings me to my knees and quite honestly makes me want to vomit some days. So here come distractions and discouragment because God is raising up an army, a generation of people who won’t settle for the “Sunday Cookie cutter Christian image.” We want more, and we are mobilizing and building up an army that is going to take this world by storm. I get to see the Glory of God rock this world in big ways.
Was I prepared for what has happened? No, it was a good attempt to get me off line and it did almost work. But then God showed up and my Pastor preached that very message above. Any great and powerful movement of God has come against opposition, so its simple for me, I just need to take up my positon, stand my ground and believe, waiting for my delieverence from the Lord.
