Be Strong and Courageous

We have gotten to experience so much in the past month here and are excited about all that is to come!! We were able to travel out to a village where Clark and I got to have some special prayer time with families in need. There was one particular widow who we spent some extra time with. Regardless of the believers' circumstances that we meet with in these remote areas, they are always so hospitable and filled with the true joy that only comes from the Holy Spirit. We also got to share at a service about what was on our hearts. Clark did excellent job speaking from Acts 4 & 5 about being bold.

This is us in the village excepting our gifts!

God has been working in our hearts separately but collaboratively! As we have been reading through the bible together, God has been challenging Clark through Acts to be bold. At the same time we have been reading in Deuteronomy and Joshua. In those books, God has been showing me how often He has to tell Joshua to be strong and courageous, and not to fear for "the Lord goes before you and is with you." The first two times I read this in scripture I thought, "Wow, I need to write this down." However, the fifth and sixth times I read it, I thought, "Wow, God really wants me to get this." See, there's a difference in knowing scripture, and believing it to be true. When we really believe something to be true, it is reflected in the way we live our lives. At the village I was able to share with the people how the Lord had been encouraging me and convicting me to be strong and courageous. God had put both of those topics on our hearts separately, but they still coincide with one another.

The church building where we spoke in the village.

Many times in our lives we let fear and the unknown cripple us from living out our faith and being bold for His kingdom. When we first arrived here in India, I thought about being a hermit and staying in to just 'pray for the people' here. But then again, God had told me six times in scripture to be strong and courageous, and not to fear for the Lord is with me. So I have no other choice but to go out and be obedient!

Some of the boys about to play frisbee with Clark.

We, and many of you reading this, strive to be obedient to God's will and direction for our lives, both long term and day-to-day. In India, He has allowed us to be able to meet people who have home churches where they are the only Christians in their town. Wow, talk about living your life in faith that God will protect and provide! We have met pastors with awesome testimonies of how they came to know the Lord and their ministries now. We are reading about Paul and Barnabas, Peter and John, and all of the spectacular work that the Holy Spirit did through them!

Most of us only dream of God using us in such a mighty way and having that kind of faith. So what is the difference?

Recently, I have been reading "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer, and it has been so encouraging. Then a few days ago it really slapped me in the face. There is a quote from A.W. Tozer that's says,

"Whoever seeks God as a means toward desired ends will not find God. The mighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, will not be one of many treasures, not even the chief of all treasures. He will be all in all, or He will be nothing."

Wow, do we seek the will of God more than we seek to know God? Do we seek our personal desires from God more than we do His blessings and His desires? Paul's primary goal, the house churches' primary goals, the pastors' primary goals, and many other's we have come across in our time here in India, is to know God and be used by God all for His glory. If we truly devote ourselves to knowing Him, His plan and discernment will follow naturally. Sometimes we get sidetracked by the end result. This leaves us stuck in a rut asking, "what is God's will for my life!?" We have to refocus our eyes and hearts on knowing God - who He is and His character. This is done through studying His word and spending time with Him. The more we know Him, the more we will know his desires for our lives.

God wants you to know Him! "While we were still sinners Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8 - He knows more about yourself than you do, and He has a plan for your life. He wants to show us that plan by showing Himself to us. If we are diligently seeking Him, He will speak into our lives the direction that we are called to go. For me, I didn't know what I was looking for here in India, but God has shown me through scripture not to fear and to be courageous.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you...The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;...Do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:6, 8