"For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten." ~Jer. 20:10-11
When the world is against us, God is for us. I've never been one to easily witness to others face to face. Writing something on the Internet is one thing, but asking someone where they are going when they die and they're standing there in front of you, that's just a TAD bit harder...okay, a lot. That thought while going up to someone's door, "What if they shut the door in my face?" You know what? Been there, done that, it's really not as bad as I thought. Why? Because I was obeying God. When we obey, it's out of our hands and in the hands of our Heavenly Father.
I recently went on a missions trip with my church to help an outreach in Washington and it opened this new door of understanding up to me. While I met new people who were a blessing beyond measure because of their faithfulness to serving God, I also met people whose souls were truly lost and began to completely trust and understand God and His power more and more. God doesn't ask us to save people, he asks us to push against the doors of others' hearts with His Word and Truth. We may never see someone saved at their door or wherever we may end up talking to them, but God says that His word will not return void. He may ask us to push a rock, and we should push with all our might. The rock may not move, but He never asked us to move the rock, just push obediently so that we may become stronger and He can be glorified for the work that is done (an illustration borrowed from a Pastor in Oregon).
People will watch us, waiting for us to give up and fail. If we work in our flesh, we will easily fall. But with God, everything is possible to those who are within His will. He will strengthen us and guide us. And when the blessings come, they will always come in such a way that He alone can receive the glory for what has happened.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~Prov. 3:5-6
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