A life of faith can seem to be one of the craziest lives you can live. I find that to be the case because obedience to God doesn't always make sense to the people around you, and it especially doesn't make sense to the world. You can be following after the Lord wholeheartedly, and the world will call you a fool.
I'm a missionary with YWAM DC and for this present season I am serving with David's Tent DC. Here is my shameless plug: if you haven't heard about David's Tent DC check out davidstentdc.org . We are worshiping Jesus non-stop in the center of Washington, D.C. right beside the Washington Monument for 10,000 hours (424 days)!
Anyways, as a missionary I don't have a lot of funds. I'm in need of financial support. My present need is simply to pay rent, which is $350. In a time of need, God asked me to do something that wouldn't make sense to the world. I have a $50 bill that I received the day before Christmas. It was actually the fulfillment of God's promised restoration. When I was in Nepal, my iPad Air 2 and my $50 bill were both stolen. Just last December (2015), I was handed a $50 bill and then literally handed an iPad air. GOD IS A RESTORER!
But then today God gently whispered to me: "Give your $50 to so and so ". This has become a usual occasion actually, the usual occasion being God asking me to give in a time of need. I'm learning to love it though because it takes my eyes off of my present need and fixes them back on Jesus. Something I am discovering is that I actually don't really own anything at all. I lost $50, God didn't have to give it back but out of His kindness He did. But He doesn't want me to be attached to money. I don't rely on the money I see in my wallet or in my bank account but I rely on the Lord!
I have found the greatest fulfillment in moments of surrender. Because when we surrender, yes it's a sacrifice, but it is totally an exchange for something greater! I gave away the $50, but in exchange I drew nearer to God! I let Him know that I trust Him FULLY! Random, but God asked me to give away my favorite sweater one time. I didn't want to give it away but He told me my friend loved the sweater. So reluctantly, I'm not going to lie, I gave her the sweater. Her joy and excitement blessed my heart more than any day I wore the sweater and felt "pretty". Knowing the Father was pleased and that I wasn't holding this back from Him, was worth it.
I'm far from perfect and I'm sure there is more that I can give. But I want to give to God everything that He asks me to bring to Him because surrender and sacrifice, are such beautiful and pleasing gifts unto the Lord. Plus, when we let go, it opens up our hands to receive more from the Lord because we are no longer clinging to what is in our hands but we are now able to cling to God!
God can be trusted. He is faithful. No, His ways do not always appear to make sense BUT His ways are higher than our ways. He works all things out for good. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, but He is with us and He is for us.
I'm not sure if the Lord has been asking you to give or let go of something, but may I ask you to give to the Lord what He asks of you? It will be one of the best decisions you make. I'm so convinced that there is always more that the Lord wants to give to us because He is that good! I believe that the Lord is wanting to purify us so that we do not blend in with the world but rather so that we are more and more like Him.
What a joy it is to know the Lord, to love Him, to walk with Him, to serve Him, to obey Him and to honor Him.
I love you all. May God bless you and take care of you. May He meet your every need and may you know His goodness and faithfulness.
I'm a missionary with YWAM DC and for this present season I am serving with David's Tent DC. Here is my shameless plug: if you haven't heard about David's Tent DC check out davidstentdc.org . We are worshiping Jesus non-stop in the center of Washington, D.C. right beside the Washington Monument for 10,000 hours (424 days)!
Anyways, as a missionary I don't have a lot of funds. I'm in need of financial support. My present need is simply to pay rent, which is $350. In a time of need, God asked me to do something that wouldn't make sense to the world. I have a $50 bill that I received the day before Christmas. It was actually the fulfillment of God's promised restoration. When I was in Nepal, my iPad Air 2 and my $50 bill were both stolen. Just last December (2015), I was handed a $50 bill and then literally handed an iPad air. GOD IS A RESTORER!
But then today God gently whispered to me: "Give your $50 to so and so ". This has become a usual occasion actually, the usual occasion being God asking me to give in a time of need. I'm learning to love it though because it takes my eyes off of my present need and fixes them back on Jesus. Something I am discovering is that I actually don't really own anything at all. I lost $50, God didn't have to give it back but out of His kindness He did. But He doesn't want me to be attached to money. I don't rely on the money I see in my wallet or in my bank account but I rely on the Lord!
I have found the greatest fulfillment in moments of surrender. Because when we surrender, yes it's a sacrifice, but it is totally an exchange for something greater! I gave away the $50, but in exchange I drew nearer to God! I let Him know that I trust Him FULLY! Random, but God asked me to give away my favorite sweater one time. I didn't want to give it away but He told me my friend loved the sweater. So reluctantly, I'm not going to lie, I gave her the sweater. Her joy and excitement blessed my heart more than any day I wore the sweater and felt "pretty". Knowing the Father was pleased and that I wasn't holding this back from Him, was worth it.
I'm far from perfect and I'm sure there is more that I can give. But I want to give to God everything that He asks me to bring to Him because surrender and sacrifice, are such beautiful and pleasing gifts unto the Lord. Plus, when we let go, it opens up our hands to receive more from the Lord because we are no longer clinging to what is in our hands but we are now able to cling to God!
God can be trusted. He is faithful. No, His ways do not always appear to make sense BUT His ways are higher than our ways. He works all things out for good. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, but He is with us and He is for us.
I'm not sure if the Lord has been asking you to give or let go of something, but may I ask you to give to the Lord what He asks of you? It will be one of the best decisions you make. I'm so convinced that there is always more that the Lord wants to give to us because He is that good! I believe that the Lord is wanting to purify us so that we do not blend in with the world but rather so that we are more and more like Him.
What a joy it is to know the Lord, to love Him, to walk with Him, to serve Him, to obey Him and to honor Him.
I love you all. May God bless you and take care of you. May He meet your every need and may you know His goodness and faithfulness.