S3 - Day 10 of 27
There have been very few moments in my life where I have felt completely spent - emotionally, physically, spiritually. Fewer still where I recall having even a fleeting moment of doubt that my efforts will ever be adequate - so why bother? Oddly, there was nothing drastic or particularly significant that prompted my momentary irrational exasperation. It manifested almost imperceptibly and without warning; the seed of doubt that beckons you to give up on the edge of your breakthrough.
In this moment I was starkly aware of every prayer that I had ever prayed and was yet waiting on an answer. I am reminded of a scene in Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. The entire town stood yelling at the top of their lungs, "We are here! We are here! We are here!" Yet their desperate cries were imperceptible to the ones who held their life in the balance. They were at once cognizant of how insignificant they were in the context of the universe of which they were just a microscopic part.
As the situation turned dire, they discovered that their was one young town member who remained silent despite the town's desperate situation. He remained silent because he was not convinced that his small effort could in any way impact the their inevitable demise. At the story's climax the young boy finally relents and adds his simple "Yop!" to the collective din. This simple action turned out to be all that was needed to break through the invisible barrier that had been preventing the town's desperate cries from being heard. As a result the town and all of its inhabitants were saved.
Not unlike this childhood story, my breakthrough did not come until I was willing to YOP (Yell Out Praise). It literally welled up from somewhere deep inside me as imperceptibly and without warning as my sudden onset of doubt had been. The moment that I verbalized my praise with passion and purpose it was as if all of the prayers that I previously felt had been reaching the ceiling and no further were released to find audience with the One who holds my life in the balance. I may not have ended the day with a tangible result in hand - but I did end it with a renewed sense of passion, purpose and faith that completely overshadows the doubt and inadequacy with which I had battled for the better part of the day. I look forward to sharing my testimony as it unfolds...the best is yet to come!
Day 10 Thanksgiving: Religious Freedom
I am so grateful for unrestricted access to the Word of God and the privilege of walking out my faith openly. There are so many in this world who have to hide to share and express their faith. There are countless others for whom the Bible is contraband, owned and shared at great risk. I don't want to take my many privileges for granted and be lulled into the all too common complacency of treating the Word and my religious freedom with anything less than the utmost reverence and gratitude.
Day 10 Prayer: Those suffering religious persecution
Lord today I pray for those who are experiencing religious persecution. They love you with all of their hearts and crave your Word to the extent that they risk their lives for an opportunity to memorize whatever pages they can have even temporary access to. I pray that you would cover them with your hands of safety and protection. Give them the wisdom, grace and favor they need to influence change in their cities as they grow stronger in you.
In this moment I was starkly aware of every prayer that I had ever prayed and was yet waiting on an answer. I am reminded of a scene in Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. The entire town stood yelling at the top of their lungs, "We are here! We are here! We are here!" Yet their desperate cries were imperceptible to the ones who held their life in the balance. They were at once cognizant of how insignificant they were in the context of the universe of which they were just a microscopic part.
As the situation turned dire, they discovered that their was one young town member who remained silent despite the town's desperate situation. He remained silent because he was not convinced that his small effort could in any way impact the their inevitable demise. At the story's climax the young boy finally relents and adds his simple "Yop!" to the collective din. This simple action turned out to be all that was needed to break through the invisible barrier that had been preventing the town's desperate cries from being heard. As a result the town and all of its inhabitants were saved.
Not unlike this childhood story, my breakthrough did not come until I was willing to YOP (Yell Out Praise). It literally welled up from somewhere deep inside me as imperceptibly and without warning as my sudden onset of doubt had been. The moment that I verbalized my praise with passion and purpose it was as if all of the prayers that I previously felt had been reaching the ceiling and no further were released to find audience with the One who holds my life in the balance. I may not have ended the day with a tangible result in hand - but I did end it with a renewed sense of passion, purpose and faith that completely overshadows the doubt and inadequacy with which I had battled for the better part of the day. I look forward to sharing my testimony as it unfolds...the best is yet to come!
Day 10 Thanksgiving: Religious Freedom
I am so grateful for unrestricted access to the Word of God and the privilege of walking out my faith openly. There are so many in this world who have to hide to share and express their faith. There are countless others for whom the Bible is contraband, owned and shared at great risk. I don't want to take my many privileges for granted and be lulled into the all too common complacency of treating the Word and my religious freedom with anything less than the utmost reverence and gratitude.
Day 10 Prayer: Those suffering religious persecution
Lord today I pray for those who are experiencing religious persecution. They love you with all of their hearts and crave your Word to the extent that they risk their lives for an opportunity to memorize whatever pages they can have even temporary access to. I pray that you would cover them with your hands of safety and protection. Give them the wisdom, grace and favor they need to influence change in their cities as they grow stronger in you.
No comments have been added yet.
