I feel so ill-equipped to write the blog post for today’s lesson. I pray you will bear with me as the Lord leads my fingers as they dance across the keyboard…..
Have you ever found yourself in a similar circumstance to the one that Priscilla describes in today’s lesson? Maybe it was at your church or a conference or even watching the news on television….. but have you ever been bombarded with image after image of horrible, unspeakable travesty that make you want to run from it and hide you face?
I have.
For me, it happened a month or two ago when I was catching up one afternoon on Facebook……
I’m “friends” with many of the teens I work with at church Thursday nights and, as you can imagine, I like to encourage them in their walk with the Lord in social media channels like Facebook. On this day, I was at a loss for what to say.
This BEAUTIFUL daughter of the King who I met through my own children at church had started dating a Muslim boy, had renounced her Christian faith, and was excited to show off her new look wearing her burqa veil. I didn’t know what to do. I could not click “like” but I also didn’t want to make her feel like she isn’t beautiful to me…… I wanted to reach through my laptop screen, scoop her into my arms, and help encourage her right back towards her Heavenly Father…… but I didn’t know how to do that in the constraints of reality… so I prayed.
I prayed a lot.
I started reading more and more about the Muslim faith and a woman’s place within that religion/ culture. I kept praying and learning and I found out that many members of my church family had been praying too.
THIS MORNING I popped on Facebook to post today’s FUN in our Resolution Group and I saw this gorgeous face staring back at me once again and my heart sank. Yes, I have been fervently praying for this precious soul, but I still have not acted on encouraging her or speaking into her life in any way…… and then God nudged me….
He reminded me that she sees every single word I post on my own Facebook page every day. She has not unfriended me so I get to assume that she has at least read one or two encouraging things I have posted! However, I know that God is calling me to be more bold than this with her heart…. and I know He will equip me with all I need to do His work in speaking into her heart…. or any other dear heart that He might show me that is in need of His pure, unconditional love.
My town has been in the national news over the recent past about many of our residents not being happy about a Muslim Training Center that is enlarging its current structure here and I am sad to say that I do not feel that some of my brothers and sisters in Christ here have handled their disapproval of this in the most constructive or Godly manner…. I don’t want to fall into that category…. but I also want to respond in a way that glorifies our Father and shows love for all people. I know he will give me the words to share with any young woman He puts in my path and I know He will also equip YOU to represent His Kingdom in a mighty way for whatever cause He places so intentionally on your dear heart.
Habakkuk 1:3
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Priscilla reminds us that God puts these images and circumstances in front of us for a reason….. it is simply up to us whether we choose to do something about it or not. I know it is hard not to look away or just pray that SOMEONE ELSE will make a difference with it… but why not allow yourself to be that instrument, that willing vessel for God’s work to be done in this earth? Certain injustices will stir your heart in ways it wouldn’t the heart of another. God has divinely designed YOU to specifically impact that injustice in a unique way that only YOU can, dear sister. I know you don’t feel ready, or able, or prepared…. that’s what God is for!
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Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father….. please please please break our hearts for what breaks your’s!!! Then, we ask that you give us the courage that only can come from You to act in such a bold way as to make a difference for Your Kingdom. We no longer want to stay idle….. we know that You have been preparing us to take action in this season and may You get all the glory, Lord! Give us your eyes, give us your heart, give us your love and give us your strength for we know we could never do this in our own power. Help us to lift one another up as we search our hearts, Lord, and may our relationships be ever strengthened for this stand we will take. In Your Son’s name we pray, amen <3
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Your Assignment:
In the comment section below, tell us about what global or local devastations are you currently seeing that stir compassion in your heart? What has kept you from doing something to help? What is one thing you can do and would be willing to make time to do?
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Don’t forget to stop by Craig’s blog to see what the guys are up to with The Resolution for Men.
www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
Many blessings,
Megan 🙂
About Megan Smidt
LOVE your post Megan. I just want to add if I may that it's critical to be discerning and to ask the Lord what HE would have you do, instead of running ahead, trying to tackle everything yourself.
There are SO many injustices and I am one person who wants to help with everything and everyone, It's not my place to though. I'm not bragging on myself, this is the heart for people our Heavenly Father placed in me. I just learned a hard life lesson in which I should have asked God if I was the one to help. I just assumed that since this person said they loved the Lord, that I had to help. Sometimes we are to help, take charge, or delegate, but ALWAYS, always to first PRAY and seek Abba's will.
Your post really blessed me today Megan and I'll join you in prayer for this young woman.
I was devastated when the Movie Theater Shootings happened. I cried for days for the families of the victims. Having been in that theater so many times and having the memories of our entire family ~ seven of us ~ going there as family time and lately taking the grand children. It breaks my heart that so many people were killed or injured. And then the shootings at Texas A & M, and at the World Trade Center and then the latest one that just happened. What is happening to our world? I have not physically done anything but my prayers have increased for these people and they will pop into my head during the day. If I happen to have to go by the theater, I pray as I pass the memorial that is still there. I pray for the owners of the theater, they are losing lots of money each day that theater has the green fence around it.
There is just so much death around me. Yesterday a body was found in our reservoir that the people here use as their "beach". He was a principal at one of the schools, his wife a teacher at another school. My hearts breaks for the kids that have to deal with yet another death. Our kids have so much more to deal with than we did as kids.
It breaks my heart that is appears the good ones are being taken. . . God is in control and he has a plan.
Right now as the news talks about Isacc bearing down on the gulf coast,it reminds me of how quickly our lives can change because of the weather. When Katrina hit our church took up donations of food,water,clothing. We will do the same again to help our brothers & sisters but pray that Isacc will not leave the path of destruction that Katrina did. One act of kindness can change someones life-it may even plant the seed for them to also help others.
Have a wonderful day ladies. The posts,and blogs are so uplifting.
Marieta….. you are so right!!!! you never know how BIG your obediance can start a chain reaction and impact countless lives!!!!
It goes without saying…. PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!! ….. but don't let FEAR opr anything else keep your from in-action! As you pray, God will show you what He needs your focus to be and HOW to take action! Boundaries from your own day to day life need to spill over into ministry as well….. if you try to tackle everything without seeking the Lord in prayer for discernment, it is probable that you won;t have much to give any cause, including your own family.
Balance is key…. the point of the post today is not to squelch God's voice prompting you to take action because He created you so uniquely to do His call!!! Yes, Jackie, there is so much death, pain, and suffering all around us…… and God's plan is perfect <3
Preach!
No fear though….
My son educated me on the troubles I'm Darfur while he was in high school so I tend to pay more attention to the news about it to this day. My hubby and I would like to travel abroad someday and help those in need..like Haiti, etc. Big love today! Love your heart Megan!
What has always stirred a passion in my heart )as I was one of them at one time) is the whole issued of battered women and domestic violence. My heart is sick and ad when I hear of yet another woman killed or injured at the hands of someone who is supposed to love them!!! The broken families… I understand the cycle of violence, I understand why they stay, I understand the fear and I truly feel God is leading me in a direction to help these women. I have been praying about this for some time…. I know He will show me the way as to what He wants me to do, and I will do it all for His glory!!!
amen Paula!!!! I can't wait to see how He uses YOU uniquely for this cause!!!
Today as I finally had time to read our lesson it really touched & spoke to my heart. God has really been working on my heart to be sensitive to others. Recently, I had a friend confess to me that she was once the other woman. Part of me wanted to scream at her for all the pain & devastation she had caused but what I saw in her eyes was a woman wanting to make amends and to seek forgiveness. We talked about the courage it took & about where forgiveness comes from. After talking to her I thought about the woman that caused me pain & just how many others there are out there.
What God has laid on my heart is to pray for an opportunity and a way to minister to those who have been in the same place been hurt and who have hurt others. I understand what the words – Hurting people hurt others means. I realize that this cycle must end & through Jesus who found me it can end. I pray for a way to partner with my friend to share the hope of lives restored with others.
Praying right along side you, anne <3
My heart breaks for broken "children". I am/was a broken child. I recognize the look on other faces and broken hearts. I was a teen when I filled the void in my life with Abba Father and let Him direct my life path. He placed me exactly where He needed me and brought broken children to me…usually one at a time. Over the years I have had the honor to love on many families in distress.
For the last nine years there has been a very special family in my life that has taught me so much about ministry and loving with a heart like Jesus. God brought me five sisters that needed a mom. Did I mention that God gave me three daughters of my own? GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS.
That passion in your heart that causes you to look twice at something or someone, that cause that brings emotion to your spirit…that's what God wants you to look closely at. Not everyone can be a Mother Teresa, but I can be a Mama T. 🙂
I am willing to be used however God needs me. In His strength and in His power. Do not be afraid of the path God has for you. "Lean not on your own understanding, but in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.". Proverbs 3:5-6 (my mixed up paraphrase)
amen, my mama T <3
Megan,
Amazing post today!!!! Spoke right to my heart!
What devastates my heart globally is Hurricane Issac and the destruction left behind from the storms and lives being turned upside down. What I can do is pray and donate can good items to be shipped to the hurricane victims or volunteer locally in my own city where they will be set up for the victims.
What devastates me locally is teenage pregnancy I see so many young teenage girls having babies and they are just babies themselves. I could volunteer at that pregnancy center here in my own city and pray with them and talk with them into giving their baby to a couple that cannot have children and give that child a life that the mom couldn't. It breaks my heart seeing babies having babies and their parents are rasining two kids instead of one. I have one teen mom that brings her girls to my center and she had her oldest at 13 and she just had another one at 15 and the mom was ok with it. If I did that when I was 13 and then again at 15, I can only imagine what would have happened to me.
What breaks my heart is how so many people all around me every single day are dying and going to hell. I was one of those once upon a time. I didn't understand the gospel. I thought Christians were good people and I was drawn to them but I thought that in order to be good enough to get to heaven I too had to be good like them. I would try for a while, and even record in my journal, God, please help me to be a good person. However, I missed the mark daily. It wasn't until someone really explained to GOSPEL = GOOD NEWS to me that heaven was free gift, not earned or deserved, Who God was, who Jesus was, that man is a sinner and that Jesus paid the price when he died on the cross and rose from the dead proving he purchased a place in heaven for me, that I too obtained FREEDOM.
I am vocal in sharing my faith, especially around town. Strangers are the easiest and I do not have to earn my right to share w/ them. If the HS is drawing them, they will listen. Aprox 1 in 10 will listen to the complete gospel.
I do believe that evangelism is something our Savior wants us involved w/, but at the same time I believe it is my gift cuz it is so easy and natural for me to share.
Thank you JESUS, please help me to continue to be bold.