I was convicted today, standing up in the middle of Thailand in front of 30 church members comprised of men and women (many with Leprosy), children, and teens. This Sunday I gave the message. I was excited to share the thoughts God had put on my heart, and then I realized that I was speaking to myself the most.
My next financial deadline is here. I need to raise $1,300 in the next 2 WEEKS in order to stay on the race. I have $9,700 right now and my next deadline is October 1st: $11,000. The total amount I need, $16,285, is due by January 1st.
If you are reading this, chances are that you know someone who is raising support or who has raised support in the past. So basically: it can be hard to swallow your pride and ask, some people say “no,” and deadlines are stressful. What’s most important and the reason I bring up these thoughts and issues with support raising, is that all of these are WORLDLY PROBLEMS. We’re talking self-esteem, pride, lack of trust, rejection, dependence on others, etc. All of these worldly feelings competing makes for a sharp dagger to be wielded by the Enemy. They draw us away from the plan God has laid out for us the day we were born.
Today in church I spoke about “living in the world and not of it.” You’ve probably heard this phrase before. Psalms 139:16 explain that God has already recorded every day of our lives “in His book.” Ephesians 4:1-3 urge us all to “lead a life worthy of our calling.” When we walk in Christ, we are in effect, OF Christ and no longer OF the world. 2 Samuel 6:16 illustrated a king coming down from his castle and dancing in the streets for the Lord, ignoring all “correct” social expectations and worldly stigmas of “how a KING should act.” Isaiah 54 tells a barren woman to “shout for joy” for the Lord is good, even though the world tells her she is useless until the day she die. It’s in these moments when it’s important that I find my Identity in Christ and to, in a sense, die to myself every day in order to shed the world’s perception and expectation of William and to become Christ’s expectation for William (The past two months have been about identity for me. From Facebook “likes” to career path, I’ve struggled understanding what true identity means. Perhaps another blog). The bible is full of rebuke for the “social norm.” It’s part of the reason I love it so much.
But I got through all of that this morning and I still hadn’t realized the reason God had me speak today. It was the final verse that I read, first in English, then in Thai, that I put two and two together:
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
– 1 John 2:15-17
Today, as the translator was reading in Thai, I realized my current struggle. When it comes to support raising, I was living in the world and of it. I was letting it define me. I was letting it dictate my decisions and my stress. But no longer.
With this deadline coming, I need to bolster the trust that God SHALL meet my financial goals. When asking for support, I should NOT allow the word “no” to define me, as the world so often tries. I need to CALM the nerves when it comes to depending on others. I have sat with God for hours and listened. I have followed God in His slipstream, allowing Him to lead me to the World Race. And I won’t let the world, with all of its attacks, keep me from the plan God has already recorded in His book. and I am CONFIDENT He has called me here, to Nepal, and to India, and to Thailand in order to complete His work. All He needs to do is equip me. For he does not call the Equipped, but equips the Called. I am here and I’m ready for more. I grow every day in character and in Christ. I make new friends every day, and do my best to love on them as the Father loves on me.
If you are a current supporter of mine, YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Seriously!! No joke… each one of the people I meet has to do with you. So take each photo I post on Instagram, Facebook, or my blog as something that you had a MASSIVE hand in. If you could share this post, or another one of my blogs with someone who you think has a heart for missions tonight I would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps pray for a week and see who else God might urge you share this with. Also, I ask for your prayers that God’s message will continued to be heard by my team as we enter month 4 in Cambodia.
If you feel called to support, you can visit www.tinyurl.com/supportwilliamreed to give a one-time gift or to begin monthly donations until my January 1st deadline.
Will you consider following the slipstream that God has laid out before me? And will you join me in making this an even more EPIC race? God is good.
