Do you ever have seasons when you get frustrated because you feel like you're not growing, learning, or hearing from God? Do you ever have seasons when you feel like your heart is open, your eyes are open, you're a sponge soaking everything in and you can't get enough? I think I've experienced both extremes this year and I definitely prefer the latter over the former. I've come to realize that there will always be different seasons of life and that no matter where I am in the journey, I need to keep my eyes focused on Christ.
Some people that know me might look at me from the outside and just think I'm a dumb jock and that I only care about sports. To be honest at times and seasons in my life sadly, that's probably been true. Deep down though I've always had a desire to grow and learn especially about leadership and growing in my faith. I feel like God has been teaching me a lot in the past couple of months and that he has been preparing my heart for the journey I'm about to embark on known as the World Race.
During our World Race Training Camp a couple weeks ago Ron Walborn did a lot of teaching. I felt like I was trying to drink out of one of those big fire hoses as I tried to take in and process everything. I want to share a couple of points during his teaching that hit me right between the eyes. Maybe they'll hit you like they hit me.
- God has become our line of last resort instead of our first line of defense.
- You need discernment for spiritual things, but the discernment is NOT your comfort zone.
- When reading the Bible, we need do make a distinction between the things that are prescriptive and those that are descriptive.
- When Jesus healed people, he listened more than he talked and he prayed short prayers.
A couple of things that Ron challenged and encouraged us to do was to ask God to give us eyes to discern and see where He is working and then be ready to jump in where ever that might be. We should also be asking "Father who are you preparing to receive the Kingdom?" Ron encouraged us to pray the following prayer: "God do anything you want to do in me that you might do everything you want to do through me. Nothing is off limits." I think if we're honest with ourselves, that can be a scary prayer.
That prayer is my hearts desire though and I've been praying it a lot lately. I feel like God wants to rock my world this year and show me more of Himself that I've never experienced before. I've been so encouraged recently seeing how God has been working in people around me and want to share a cool story that I've had a small part in…
Earlier this week I got a text from a friend asking me if I could help one of her homeless friends that was about to go to rehab. They needed people to volunteer to watch him 24/7 and he needed to be clean for 72 hours before they would allow him into this program. I was very interested in the story and had some time, so I said yes.
When I got to the house where Michael (the homeless friend) was staying, I met a guy named Damen. Damen had been on watch before me and after a brief introduction to each other I started asking him questions. He ends up sharing that he had been a heroin addict a couple of years ago, but got clean and gave his life to the Lord. He felt like God was leading him to befriend this homeless guy he had seen around. So, about 6 months ago he started hanging out with Michael. About a week ago he felt lead to post something on Facebook asking for some help with his homeless friend. A random guy messages him and they start talking and the guy asks what the guys name is. Damen says his name is Michael and describes him a little bit. The guy says I've got another friend who I think has been talking to the same guy!
My friend Bethany moved to Denver about 3 years ago and felt like God was leading her to work with the homeless, but wasn't sure the right avenue to get involved. About a month ago she felt like God was leading her to befriend this homeless guy she'd seen a couple of times. She got to know Michael and he started going to church with her.
Damen and Bethany end up meeting up to talk and decided to help Michael get into rehab because he had mentioned it to them. They did some research and found out that a bed would be open in this Christian rehab center Aug. 1. Damen was hanging out with Michael this weekend and Michael was trying to make some money holding a sign to help with the rehab cost because he didn't want his friends to have to pay for it. At some point he looked at Damen and said "The Spirit came over me and we need to do this now or I'm not going to do it." Damen and Bethany scrambled to get a place Michael could crash and people to cover him. People rallied together to make it happen. Michael made it through the 3 days of cleaning up and was heading to rehab today.
I believe that there is special calling on Michael's life. He's a guy that in eyes of our society is a throw away. How many people in our churches would reach out to a guy who is homeless, gay, addicted to drugs, etc? Two people had discerning eyes to see where God was moving and step out in faith and love someone that most see as unlovable and because of that they are a part of changing a life.
I believe that God has big plans for Michael and I'd ask you to join me in praying for him. He will be in rehab for 7 months. I hope this is just the first of many stories that I will be able to share with you this year about how God is working in my life and others around me to advance his Kingdom.
I encourage you to have the courage to pray this prayer with me…"God do anything you want to do in me that you might do everything you want to do through me. Nothing is off limits." Then ask God to show you where he's working and get involved.
