Praying Big

As I write this over Labor Day weekend I am surrounded by comfort. I had 3 full well balanced meals today; I have a safe spacious apartment; I have friends and family a phone call away; I have money in my pocket, and in the bank if a need were to arise. Yet, amongst all of this, I find myself challenged to think, is this me reaching my full potential?

Don't get me wrong. I've worked hard to get to where I am and I value and respect the perks of hard work in America. I am challenged to think however, about the people born into countries, and even continents where the obstacles that they face are so large and so oppressive that they need aid. They need a hand up if they are going to live. It has challenged me to think about how God has made me. How he has gifted me, what talents he has entrusted me with, and what I am choosing to do with them. Many of these thoughts have been challenged by books that I have read recently. "The Irresistible Revolution" By Shane Claiborne as well as "Wide Awake" by Erwin McManus.

Let me take a step back. You see, in March of 2007 I listened to a podcast by Andy Stanley of Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. It was titled "Pray Big." In what I remember, it challenged me to go beyond praying for daily provisions and my own needs, and going before God and praying that He might use me in big ways. Andy encouraged people to first pray about what we are most passionate about. This was easy for me. It has been present in my life that under-appreciated and otherwise disadvantaged children make my heart ache. I started to pray that God would use me in a BIG way to reach these children. I didn't know when, or how, but I knew I wanted to start this dialogue with God and be open to the unknown.

While as an educator I reach a portion of this population daily, I wanted to go deeper. Not neglecting what I was already doing, but looking into summer opportunities. Well, that summer I looked into various missions trips. I was turned off by the isolation of the projects. I would pay a large sum of money, go somewhere with strangers for a week or so, do my good deed, and then return. While help like that is necessary to get all of the work done that needs doing, it wouldn't meet the ache I had. I knew when I returned home it would be an experience in the past, rather than a life change.

I continued to pray, though to be honest, I would go through periods of time where it wouldn't be on my mind. I would get wrapped up in school, family, friends, etc. Something, however, would always bring the thoughts back, and again, I would go to God. How does he want to use my talents in a BIG way?

Again, in anticipation of summer of 2008 I looked into various trips. My dad spoke to me about it and wisely reminded me that I was really looking for something that would have a relational aspect, where it wasn't an isolated experience. I stopped my searching for awhile.

I was re-energized this past spring when I learned about a move my church was taking to embrace the P.E.A.C.E Plan. You can see the link in the side bar. Our potential plan was to partner with a church in Rwanda, Africa and assist them as they worked towards hope and reconciliation after the devastation of 1994.

In August, a team from my church went down to build relationships with the churches and community. They also went down to discuss what the needs of the community are, and how we could help them on their way to peace and reconciliation.

Well, I was hooked. I was so fired up to be a part of a church community that wanted to reach out and do our part. I also knew that there would be lots of babies and children down there who would need education, hope, encouragement, and love. I started to pray fervently that God would show me how He wanted to use me in this plan.

This is where I am today. I am praying, I am meeting with people, I am reading, I am listening to multiple news broadcasts, and I am aiming to live wide awake. I know I have far to go before I can see what it is that God has planned for me in all of this. But I am encouraged that He is making my path straight. I am encouraged that my path is different from any other, and I am motivated to keep pursuing it. I am praying that you are aiming to live wide awake as well.