God is not seeking so much to use us as to love us. Our participation in his work comes out of his love for us, not the other way around. If we really want to be a part of God’s work we must first linger in his love for us in the present.
Will of God
#willofgod
We expend a lot of energy trying to figure out God’s will for our lives. We seek his guidance selecting colleges, majors, career paths—all with the underlying notion that there is a hole in God’s plan that only we can fill.
Your paths to fulfilling your commitments will look a little different for each of you. But no matter what your specific path looks like, plan for it to include these eight steps.
If it hasn’t already, there’s a good chance that your path in missions will include a short term missions program. If you haven't already had to, there’s a good chance you’ll need to avoid some pitfalls along the way, especially the pitfall of fear.
Matthew didn’t just sit there and pray a prayer to follow Jesus in his heart or a promise to think about following him; he actually got up and followed Jesus.
I want you to picture this: I am dragging along my suitcase, with my large over the shoulder bag containing all of my snacks, electronics and various knickknacks. I'm trying to maneuver the large trash bag filled with the pillows and blankets that both my friend Becca and I had used on the 22 hour bus ride to St. Louis. And it's pouring.
The Incarnation reveals how thoroughly intimate God’s love for us is. Our only fitting response to this great love and power is complete surrender; we must come to God with open hands receiving whatever God gives us and letting go of whatever God takes from us.
What is “missional prayer?” And why is there a room at Urbana dedicated to it?
Before we get into the nitty gritty, let me ask a couple more questions: When was the last time you went to a prayer meeting? How engaged were you with others and God as you prayed? Was it boring? How have you been praying for things like the Syrian refugee crisis, #BlackLivesMatter, the Paris attacks, Beruit, Baghdad, Kano, and all the other hotspots in the world? Do you sometimes feel so overwhelmed by domestic and world events that you are too paralyzed or numb to even have words to pray?
I said that I exhaustedly said ‘yeah.’ Not in a giving up sort of way, but in complete surrender.
Two weeks ago, I spent an hour on the sidewalk listening to my friend firmly assure me that she was NOT going to Urbana. She was not interested, not called, not ready, and definitely not going. Last week, I spent an hour on that same sidewalk jumping up and down with a giant smile on my face as that same friend told me that she knew, for sure, that she needed to go to Urbana.