Everywhere we look, people are hurting.  This world is full of heartache, there’s no doubt about it.  But because we’re believers we can’t just sit on the sidelines and wish it were different, we have to take action.  We have the answer that the world is looking for and it’s our responsibility to bring it to them, to bring heaven to earth.  If that sounds overwhelming, stay with me.  Today, I’m sharing a simple way we can make a big impact on the world around us every day.

Because we’ve experienced the power of God in our lives, it should stir up compassion inside us to take action on behalf of someone else.  It should be our mission.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” -James 2:17 NIV

Do You Have What It Takes?

Eyes to see the need and feet that walk in obedience, that’s all it takes.  Be on the lookout and be ready to move.  Don’t let fear or intimidation stop you. If God opens the door, his grace is already there!  This quote sums it up and will always be one of my favorites, “When we step out of our comfort zones we step into God’s”.  Don’t you love that?  It’s true!  The first step is scary but once you show him your faith, he’ll take over from there and bring it to the finish line.

When you’re scared, you have to believe in something bigger than yourself and for me that thing is Jesus.

Let me share a quick story with you.  A few weeks ago, I pulled into the Walmart parking lot and saw someone I knew a few lanes over.  I excitedly jumped out of my car and ran over to give her a hug.  Instantly, I could tell something was wrong, so I asked if she was ok.  With the most defeated look on her face, she told me that her son had recently been diagnosed with Autism and that their life has been turned upside down.

She went on to tell me about all the therapists and doctors they see every week and how it had been months since he’d said “mama”.   She was visibly exhausted and heartbroken.  I hugged her and told her how sorry I was.

The Moment of Truth

My grocery attendant came out and waved me over to my car so I told her I’d be right back.  While loading my groceries, I glanced over at her.  Her body language screamed hopelessness.  I could feel her pain in my chest and then I heard God whisper, “Pray for her, she needs me“.

Thoughts of panic washed over me…You want me to pray right now??  What am I supposed to say? Will she want me to pray? What if she says, no?? Are you sure, God?

Am I the only one that has a momentary freak out when God asks for on-the-spot obedience?  Why is it so hard?  The answer is vulnerability.  You have to be vulnerable to put yourself out there not knowing what the outcome will be.  But when it comes to reaching people for Jesus, we can’t worry about how it will affect us.  Ministry is about them.  And trust me, you don’t want to miss the window to serve…I’ve done it and that’s an awful feeling!

When Super Meets Natural

My heart was racing!  Fear stood in front of me like a giant.  Then I remembered something I’d heard just the day before, “Courage is realizing that what people need from you is bigger than your fear to do it”.  How could I say ‘no’?

I took a deep breath, squinted my eyes tight and told God I would do it.  She said yes so I began to pray.  I cried, she cried, her mom even cried.  Y’all, it was so beautiful.  I don’t remember everything the Spirit led me to pray but the Presence of God was so thick I could’ve cut it with a knife! When I finished praying she hugged me and thanked me with the sweetest smile on her face.

God did his thing, right there in the Walmart parking lot!

We said goodbye.  I got into my car and melted into my seat.  I told God how sorry I was for questioning his plan and thanked him for letting me be a part of it anyway.  If I would’ve let my fear keep me from obedience, she would’ve left just like she came.  But God insisted on something better for her.  HE IS SO GOOD!  Can I get an amen?

Small Acts of Obedience Reap Great Rewards

Bringing heaven to earth doesn’t have to mean traveling the world and standing in front of an auditorium full of people sharing the gospel.  It means sharing God’s love with the people that he puts in our path.  He’ll show up every time, all we have to do is trust him and obey.

Prayer is a simple but effective way to impact our communities for Jesus.  If we’ll take the time to really see the people around us, we’ll find endless opportunities to pray, bringing hope into their lives-sometimes with them not even knowing that we did it.

The homeless man on the corner, the girl crying in the car next to us, the inmates sitting in the local jail…the needs are all around us.  People are hurting and we have the answer.  It’s time for us to take responsibility and pray!  It’s time for us to bring heaven to earth!  Are you ready??

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. -2 John 1:6 NIV

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