This Very Moment

We talk a lot about our Wycliffe partnership development. You may be wondering, "What does that mean?" We have a certain number of hours that we work for Wycliffe each week. So, what kind of tasks do we do?

As you may have surmised, speaking at churches or having other meetings with potential partners is part of it. Other tasks include composing newsletters, blogging, reading, researching, graphic design for outreach materials, and planning for trips. Who knew being a missionary could sound so... normal?

It is our prayer that this work will not only draw others into partnership with our Wycliffe ministry, but also ignite passion in others for missions. Our greatest prayer is that God might use it to bring others to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We remind each other often that we are not waiting to be in a certain place or to fill a certain role. Our mission is here and now.

With these things in mind, I would like to share this entry from My Utmost for His Highest. It touched a deep need for encouragement in my own heart. Yes, even now we face fear. We face inadequacy. We face sin. We face apathy.

The Never-forsaking God

By Oswald Chambers

What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

“I will never leave you…”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.

“I will never…forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful — just the everyday activities of life — do I hear God’s assurance even in these?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing — that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.