Elijah Project: Day 7

We've hit a week!

I know it seems like just a small amount of time when you look in the face of 365 days. But what a blessing this first week has been. Having a slow week at work, it's been easy to find time to sit down and blog, but I'm so grateful for it. Every day I look forward to being quiet and enjoying time with the Lord, even for a short chat.

And even greater is being able to talk about something so dear to my heart. (He knows that. He did give me my heart after all.)

It's so easy to get caught up in our own little world here. Even with the passion God's given me for missions,  the heart that I have for the poor and hungry of our world, I often forget that the world is bigger than Buford, Ga. When I'm here, it's like I've crawled into my own little bubble that is so foggy you can only see what's right in front of you.

Talk about losing perspective.

But in opening a book (which I would recommend to any and everyone) that so beautiful displays the needs of our world, we get a chance to step outside of ourselves and actually make a difference. And here's the thing:

Your prayers DO make a difference. 

As believers, when we are speaking to God on behalf of others, there's no geography that can get in the way. My God is the same God healing land mind victims in Cambodia. He's the same God that is putting peace in the hearts of the war-weary people of Angola. And he hears our prayers here in suburbia the same as he hears the cries of the orphans in Afghanistan.

This is how we join together with the saints.

Our mission starts here. It's not when Scott and I go off to continue our education. It's not when we step off a plane and into a country to which we've never been. We can't just look to the future for "the day when my ministry begins." 

This is where it starts: Prayer.

So for day seven, we're going to double up again. 


All of the following information comes from Operation World by Jason Mandryke and is in no way my own work. 

Country: Anguilla 

Anguilla, a British dependency in the Caribbean, is a small little island with full religious freedom. Most have Christian backgrounds. 

What to pray for:

1) That the Holy Spirit will fall heavy on them and that their spiritual traditions might be infused with the daily work of the Holy Spirit.

2) Even slight changes in a tourism year can cause challenges for such a small populated island. Pray for strength to endure the ever changing environment.

3) Unity between denominations

What the Lord put on my heart:

Confidence in how reliable our Lord is

That through the consistent changes, they would remember that you are the rock on which they stand. That it is through this faith for provision that you Holy Spirit falls. And although a small people group and a small country, I pray for great impact through their faith in you. Not just on their own island but to surrounding islands as well. I pray that they would be known as a country of faith and dependency on you. 

Country: Antigua and Bermuda

Two small islands in the Caribbean, both with freedom of religion and high numbers of believers.

What to pray for:

1) Although many have a Christian background, there is a strong lack of biblical morals. It is a country that remains entrenched in strongholds of sin.

·      Gambling, violence, drug dealing, and money laundering are all rich within the country and actually contribute a good bit to the economy. 

·      Pray for biblically righteous authorities that deal with these issues with wisdom and discernment.

2) Unity among the churches and a call to fervent prayer for the state of their people. 

What the Lord put on my heart:

Father I pray for the people that are stuck in these traditions of sin that are throughout the country. I pray that you would turn people away and then create in them a walking message for your gospel. Father we know through your word that you use “the least of these” all the time. And it is through seeing the gospel in someone else’s life that paints such a convincing picture for us. So father I pray that you would create spiritual leaders out of these areas. That you would take the ex money launderers and ex drug dealers to shine your light for you.

And I pray that the church will see these people, and decide to love and disciple them and not judge. But that you would use them to paint such a beautiful picture of redemption.