You Are An Answer To Someone’s Prayers
I recently went on a mission trip to Ixtapa, Mexico. As we were getting off the plane, my pastor leaned over to me and asked me to present a devotional to our mission group two days later. This was my first mission trip, and I didn’t know what to expect and being asked to do a devotional took me by surprise. I had no idea what I was going to say.
We spent the first day at a church plant in the mountains just outside of the city. The area was extremely poor; no running water, no heat with clapboard houses of squatters. The church was an awesome place. It was a carport with plastic chairs with old sheets hung up to block the sun. Although these people had no material possessions, they certainly had the love of God.
Our mission trip was planned for us to preach the Gospel and to do a vacation bible school, medical assistance and for us to help with painting and electrical wiring that needed to be done at a local seminary. The more I thought and prayed about what I was going to say during the devotional, the more I was struck by the fact that we were there for a purpose and that we were actually an answer to someone’s prayers.
Imagine that; an answer to someone’s prayers. How do you prepare for something like that? What an awesome responsibility. Would I say the right things when I witnessed? Would I do the right things? I decided that God put me here in this place, at this time for a reason and that he would provide what I needed. So, I went to the Bible and here is what I discovered.
Acts 1:8
[Jesus said,] “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
1 Corinthians 2: 4
My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power.
Ephesians 6:18-20
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
As I read this scripture, I came to realize that God’s purpose is for us to grow our relationship with him and to spread His word. He gives us the tools and the confidence to do exactly that.
I now had the confidence to know that I would say the right thing because God was with me on every step. I had what I needed for our devotional time and I also had what I needed to witness on the mission trip.