Through Intercession

It's sad, but as I slip back into my routine, my time with Him comes easier. As my wake-up time becomes solidified, I rise each morning with expectation, knowing what's ahead.

But it's so easy to let my mind wander as I think about what is coming in the day. And as I speak out loud to keep my concentration, it then becomes easy to focus on what's going on in my life and my mind narrows.

I think about all that I struggle with instead of all the chains that He's broken. I focus on what's stressing in my day ahead instead of thinking of the gift of another day.

And you know what helps take my mind off me and turn it to Him?

Others.

When I turn my mind from myself and bring others' needs and problems (as well as triumphs) before Him, my problems fade away and I realize once again how strong and powerful He really is.  I try and make it a habit, but it's so easy to forget.

I have a notebook, filled with a 12 day rotation of people from school, the whole Colombia team (still praying for all of you!), kids from youth group, campers, as well as counselors, from Camp, family members, friends, etc.

But, besides my list of four people a day, there is another list.

A list of ministries.

Now I wrote up that list after a very special trip I took in February of this past year. If you've taken the time to read through my Colombian Diaries tab up above, you've probably heard about them.

Beside the schools that we visited and taught at, there were a variety of ministries that we visited. Although we visited them, bringing whatever we could to bless them, but we always left blessed by them. These ministries were headed by some simply amazing people through whom God is doing great work.

And at this 6 month marker since I went and 6 months until the next team goes, I'm wondering if you will join me in a week long journey of prayer for these ministries. One a day, with information about each, and the excerpts from my journal about my time there, as well as some pictures that bring it a little bit closer. I'll try and post them the night before (and then link them the following morning), so that whenever you do your devotions, it'll be ready.

Would you commit to it? It might be a stretch for you, or it might be nothing big, but I do know that it will be worth it. Already, through typing up the beginnings of each day's post, I've seen a bit of the bigger picture... and it's stupendous. It's amazing what God can do when we take our focus off ourselves and place it on somewhere else or someone else who also needs prayer. It makes our problems seem that much more insignificant and reminds us that our God is so much bigger. Maybe it will put a certain ministry into your heart to keep and to continue to pray for. Maybe it will show you the greater reach of missions beyond the stereotypical and show you how God is working in so many different ways around the world. I don't know what He will show you... all I know is that He will show you something.

All I do know, is that through intercession, I find Him at work, in both my life and theirs.