This year, I got to go to the Global Missions Health Conference with a group of people from Lawndale Christian Health Center. I had gone previously two years ago and forgot that during the last plenary session, there is an altar call where people go to the front and drop their commitment cards on the world map. Claude Hickman spoke at the last session, and he talked about how some moments are more special than others. Claude spoke about various moments in history when God touched the hearts of individuals, and they responded to him and became missionaries and martyrs and basically lived with reckless abandon serving the Lord. Towards the end of his talk, the worship band came on stage and started playing and I sat in my seat, heart beating wildly. Tears started to fall down, and I looked up and saw that old-time missionaries and seasoned healthcare professionals and young students were making their way to the stage to commit their lives to the Lord. I saw Megan up on the stage, and my heart grew so warm. How do I describe what I felt as I looked out at the body of Christ, at individuals laying down their lives and choosing to follow Christ? Tears continued to fall and I found myself making my way up to the stage, commitment card clenched in my hand. It's true that I had no idea where I was going to place my commitment card - I don't know what part of the world the Lord is going to call me to. But as I made my way up the stairs towards the stage, my body began to tremble and the intensity of my crying increased by about ten-fold - I can only describe the next few moments as the Holy Spirit within me interceding for the nations, particularly for the nation that the Lord is going to call me to serve.
I don't think I will ever forget what happened on the stage - I felt this irresistible pull towards East Africa/the Middle East region and my heart continued to beat rapidly as I walked over and dropped my card down. I walked back to my seat, crying and crying because this is what usually happens to me when the Holy Spirit touches my heart and when I encounter the Lord: I turn into a broken fire hydrant.
More than finding the answers to my questions regarding the future, I delight in experiencing the Lord and experiencing affirmations from Him regarding missions. It doesn't matter where or when - I know that He is in the entire process and that ultimately, I am living out His will for my life.
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