I spent the past month in Malawi. It was a great month of solid time with the Lord and ministry. We did door-to-door evangelism, discipleship training for the local missionaries we were working with, and showings of the Jesus film. I also formed a bond with the neighborhood kids around the house we would have dinners at and spent a lot of time outside singing and dancing and learning new games. One of my favorite parts of the month though was taking advantage of all the down time we had.
We had most mornings to ourselves, and without electricity (meaning no charging my ipod) I had to resort to other forms of passing the time. One of the best things that happened was when Dre and I decided to put our time to good use. We had been talking for months about our desire to memorize more scripture and keep each other accountable (which we obviously weren’t good at since we hadnt started). We really wanted to make it a priority though so we picked a chapter from Psalms and made a strategic plan in dividing up the verses so we could have the entire thing memorized before leaving Malawi. I’ve often set similar goals like this and failed to follow through. I would start of strong and slowly dwindle. But, this time was going to be different. Every morning I would work on my verses and throughout the day (mainly during our LONG walks) would be repeating them in my head. By the end of our time in Malawi I had the entire chapter of Psalm 34 memorized. Its crazy what a difference this made in my month. Having scripture constantly floating in your mind makes a huge difference throughout your day.
Having the mornings off to ourselves was amazing. As a team we used the time to pray over each other and our ministries. Individually I took advantage of not only spending time memorizing, but also spending time with the Lord. Whether that time was reading or just sitting in silence listening to Him, it was time I find myself currently missing. I will always have good memories of those mornings in Malawi and will hopefully be recreating that time as much as possible.
Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
