Release.

Everywhere I go is a mission field. My life’s calling is to listen to people who need encouragement, love, and Jesus.  But even when this practice becomes second nature, it still becomes a part of routine and can lose it’s impact on your own life. That’s why I love going out into the mission field.  Changing the world around you, the people, and your schedule forces you to open more opportunities for God to work.

 

This week I’m in Nasvhille, TN out in the mission field.  We are working with a group of college students from James Madison University who instead of soaking up rays in a tropical paradise on their spring break, have chosen to challenge themselves on a inner city mission trip serving the homeless.  They too are looking for a break in routine and an opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones.

 

 

As we, the leaders, prayed and prepared for this trip, we received words that were to serve as themes for each day.  Monday’s word was Release.  When we initially talked to the students, many were holding on to control, fear, anxiety and anxiousness.  None had ever really done any kind of homeless ministry, and quite frankly, the homeless scared many of them.  So we encouraged them to release all of the control, the fear, the uncertainty;  we encouraged them to release their expectations for the trip, and their stereotypes of the homeless; and we encouraged them to release the ways they think God moves

 

Yesterday they learned about listening prayer and put it into practice as they walked around Centennial Park.  Most were uncomfortable walking up to a stranger to say “I feel like God wants to say to you…”  But they gave it a chance and met some great people along the way who just needed a little encouragement in their day.  More importantly though, they themselves were encouraged as they gained confidence and realized it may sometimes be awkward and uncomfortable, but it’s all a part of loving and building people up, and in the end, loving His people is all God wants us to do.