Happy New Year People of God,
I would like to begin this New Year with some encouragement for you that has helped me in the past few months. It all began when I made public what I heard privately from the Lord that the street ministry was to expand to Benton Harbor. Not long after that I knew that I was to finish school a.s.a.p. so that I could begin working there full time. At first this was fine, but then the enemy attacked and helped me to meditate on all the implications my obedience would have.
I started to think about how I wouldn't have enough money to drive back and forth every day from Kalamazoo to Benton Harbor. Next I started to think about how I didn't know anybody in Benton Harbor and how much work it would be to start the ministry over from scratch in a city I was unfamiliar with. And as I allowed my mind to wander, doubt and unbelief washed over me like a flood and real fear began to grip me. I couldn't shake it. After I got quiet before the Lord, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "Consider Jesus." What was the Spirit saying?
Well, in speaking of Jesus Hebrews 12:3 says, "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." That word "consider" can actually mean to star gaze. In order for us not to lose heart we are directed to star gaze at Jesus. So I began to gaze at Jesus and the words He gave to us. I gazed at the promise in Deuteronomy 31:6 which says, "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." I meditated on Matthew 6:26 where Jesus assures us, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" And slowly but surely the fear melted away and trust in the Father returned.
E.W. Kenyon said once, "Faith comes by continually considering Jesus. Doubt comes by considering circumstances and environment." I can affirm this wholeheartedly. If you're going through something difficult or a circumstance you are feeling anxiety or hopelessness about, check your gaze. It may be that you are considering something the Bible hasn't asked you to. Checking my gaze helped me. I hope it can help you too.
I love you all,
N8
4 comments:
Thanks Nate
So grateful to begin the New Year being included in the extended Vanguard family.
Someone once told me that "Worry is ingratitude ahead of time." When I was struggling with something recently I asked God what the opposite of worry would be. He/She gently showed me that the opposite would be "gratitude ahead of time" and then was revealed to me that this is a definition of faith. "Faith is gratitude ahead of time." I have found strength walking in this definition of faith and am glad to be re-reminded of it here today. Hope it can be a blessing to others as well.
I am so glad that you are following the spirit and leading VSM to those who might otherwise be untouchable. The beautiful aspect of the holy spirit is that it ignites all it touches replacing the darkness with ever-lasting light. The work that you and VSM do is deep and pure and that in itself is worth all the love and joy that you are bringing to those who truly need you. :)
Good to see you in school, bro. Keep up the good work!
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