Women’s Prayer Team - Week 12
I have lots of "favorites"! My favorite pair of shoes, my favorite song, my favorite perfume, and the list goes on. But hands down - my all time favorite time of the year at Mid-Way is definitely Missions Emphasis month which, leads into our annual Missions Conference.
I hope you were able to join us during the conference as we hosted four incredible couples and their children. They each shared their hearts and vision for the foreign fields that the Lord has called them to serve. One of the things that struck me most this year was the humbleness of each of our missionary families. They each had their own personalities, strengths, and testimonies. Yet, they all were so very similar in that they shared their hearts with such vulnerability and humility. During our opening service, one of our missionary men, Chris, shared that he was just a "pretty normal" guy that was humbled that God would even use him to accomplish HIS plan. He said that his wife had shared with him a quote that said "we, as Jesus followers, are simply living lives of long obedience in the same direction." Long obedience. Can that be said of me? It honestly set my heart and mind in motion for the remainder of the conference. Am I living a life of complete obedience to God in faith? I honestly cannot always say yes to that question. But I want to! So, what can motivate my heart to complete obedience? Love.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments"
John 14:15
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:58
PRAYER TIP #12 – As believers, let's be motivated to live a life of obedience.
I am a part of the ladies Sunday evening Bible study class here at Mid-Way, Experiencing God. In the week leading up to missions conference, our study was focusing on adjustments we are required to make when aligning our lives to the will of God. Now, I could chalk it up to coincidence that this week's lesson was focused on obedience - and even using several famous missionaries as examples - but I truly do believe that it was God-ordained timing. Long obedience in the same direction - it's like a light bulb came on for me! After our family served in Ethiopia for 5 years, we never expected to come back to the U.S. to live. We honestly thought that we would live the remainder of our days there. But God, rich in mercy, had a different plan. He adjusted our lives - in a huge way. I recognized in my own heart during this year's missions conference, that though I had adjusted my physical circumstances from Ethiopia to Raleigh out of necessity, I hadn't surrendered my complete heart and obedience to the Lord's will and His timing. My heart wasn't fully surrendered to the adjustment the Lord had asked me to make - no longer being a foreign missionary. I spent quite a bit of time with the Lord on the Wednesday evening of this year's conference and asked Him to forgive me for holding on to my own desires.
Missions is a huge part of my life. I love missionaries! I love mission trips! I love missionary videos! I love missionary kids! These are good things. But obedience to the will of my Father is more important. Long obedience in the same direction. I told my husband that this was the very first missions conference since we have been back in the U.S. that I truly understood that any adjustment, big or small, that God expects us to make is truly for our good. His will is perfect, His timing is even more so. Obedience is hard, but when motivated out of love, it helps to know that we are making adjustments to follow the One who gave it all for us. What adjustment could be too great for me to make for Him? There is none.
Prayer Points:
Lord, thank You for Your Word and the instructions You give us in it.
Lord, help me live a life of obedience and faith for You.
Lord, show me how to live a life of long obedience for You.
Lord, allow me to step out in faith in what You call me to.
Suggested Prayer - Pray these words in your heart or out loud:
Father,
I come before You in the Name of Jesus and just thank You for who You are. Thank You for what You are doing across the world. Thank You for using us to proclaim the truths of Your Word. Lord, I ask that You would motivate me to obedience through You. I love You and I want to walk in obedience. Allow my love for You to motivate my obedience for what You call me to do - whatever that may look like. Help me to trust You to provide what I need to be obedient to Your call, because You are the giver of all good things. I trust You and I desire above all else to step out in faith and live in obedience to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Because of His Grace,
Amanda Dyson