Despite the hectic world we live in, as confessing Christians, our lives should look different in some ways. I have been very intentional about praying, particularly for others since I felt God calling me to intercessory prayer a few years ago. I let my Bible reading slide and wasn't reading God's Word daily for the last few months, but I realized that is a pitfall I don't want to find myself stuck in. My faith was greatly kindled at a Voice of the Martyr (VOM) Advance Conference. I picked up my Bible again and I asked God to forgive me for not setting time aside to commune with Him and read His Word. I asked my husband to pray for me to have wisdom. God does answer prayers! Here's one thing He's revealing to me:
Don't focus on what you cannot do, watch for opportunities of what you can do.
My husband is gifted as an evangelist. He tells people at his workplace about Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Gospel. He hands out or leaves tracts all over the place. I don't think he leaves home without them. I smiled when I used a restroom in a pool area because I saw he'd tucked one there by the soap dispenser when he used the restroom before me. He leaves them on cafe tables and in porta-potties. He gives them to homeless people, Muslim women and men, business executives, tow truck drivers... He even hands them to the workers at drive-thru restaurants when he pays for his order. Many times he will ask someone he's just met, "Do you know Jesus?" even if the conversation had nothing to do with religion, spirituality or beliefs previously. He doesn't wait for an opportunity to bring it up; he makes one. Sometimes I sulk and think, "I can't do that. I'm not bold enough." Or, "I'm not obedient enough!" Other times I try justify myself by thinking, "I'm teaching the Gospel and the Bible to our 3 children. Certainly that fulfills my obligation to obey Jesus's Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20."
No, it doesn't. Teaching my children to love and honor the Lord is part of obeying God's instructions to me in Deuteronomy 6. I sincerely pray that my children will, as they grow, also spread the Gospel, but I cannot pass the baton off to them even if they all 3 became evangelists like their father (which doesn't look likely.) I can, however, disciple them now.
I must lead by example, not by instruction that lacks action on my part.
Maybe God's timing won't wait for my planning.
Maybe God doesn't want me to worry about making myself more presentable or pleasing before serving Him.
I don't obey God so I can feel good or proud about my actions.
God uses our obedience to produce fruit in our lives. The fruit may not be what, when, or how we anticipate, but it will be good.
Imitate Christ, Who was always mindful of the needs of those around Him.
Do you have a story of how God brought an opportunity to you? Or how He has led you to disciple your children to fulfill The Great Commission?