Dear Abby
I promised I would would pray every day of your mission trip... and some of them I will share with you in the moment. I don't know if you'll have internet in Peru... and if you do, I hope you don't check it too often. These sweet six weeks are a time for you to concentrate your heart and mind on the work of God... loving Him well and loving the people He's put in front of you.
Today I'm praying Philippians 3:7-8 for you.
But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
The joys, talents, comforts, abilities - all of these things that you've been surrounded with so long, may be stripped away during this trip. You might find yourself not knowing how to do simple tasks. You might find yourself with a loneliness deeper than you knew was possible. You might find that what gave you great pleasure "at home", seems so out of place in Peru. You might not be able to communicate even when you speak someone's language. The things you pride yourself in being good at - well, either you won't have the opportunity to do, or no one will applaud you when you do them.
And that is OK.
You'll be OK. You'll be better than OK. The idols you didn't even know you had will grin at you and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you'll glare back. Six weeks - well, it might not be enough time for you to crush those idols... it takes a whole life time to do so... but every time you find something is "lost", I pray that you look to the Cross. And there, find great joy.
LORD, I pray that you guard Abby during this journey... that she will not find comfort in anything but You. I pray that she falls more in love with Your Son and that He will become the desire of her heart. I know you are going to mature her as she holds fast to Your Word and Your grace. Help her know Jesus. Help her think about Him more than she thinks about who she was back home. Court her with Your Spirit and give her faith. Help her pinpoint what You're doing when she's emotionally overwhelmed or stressed; help her know that You are at work - sanctifying her and growing her.
As she dies to self, let her gain the joy of living with and walking with You.
Today I'm praying Philippians 3:7-8 for you.
But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
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| touristmaker.com/countries/peru |
The joys, talents, comforts, abilities - all of these things that you've been surrounded with so long, may be stripped away during this trip. You might find yourself not knowing how to do simple tasks. You might find yourself with a loneliness deeper than you knew was possible. You might find that what gave you great pleasure "at home", seems so out of place in Peru. You might not be able to communicate even when you speak someone's language. The things you pride yourself in being good at - well, either you won't have the opportunity to do, or no one will applaud you when you do them.
And that is OK.
You'll be OK. You'll be better than OK. The idols you didn't even know you had will grin at you and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you'll glare back. Six weeks - well, it might not be enough time for you to crush those idols... it takes a whole life time to do so... but every time you find something is "lost", I pray that you look to the Cross. And there, find great joy.
LORD, I pray that you guard Abby during this journey... that she will not find comfort in anything but You. I pray that she falls more in love with Your Son and that He will become the desire of her heart. I know you are going to mature her as she holds fast to Your Word and Your grace. Help her know Jesus. Help her think about Him more than she thinks about who she was back home. Court her with Your Spirit and give her faith. Help her pinpoint what You're doing when she's emotionally overwhelmed or stressed; help her know that You are at work - sanctifying her and growing her.
As she dies to self, let her gain the joy of living with and walking with You.
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