Truth (Intern Insights)
This month is quickly coming to an end; only a few days left until August, can you believe it? If you have been reading along with my posts these past four weeks then you’ve been informed of some of the many issues West Africans face and have been enlightened as to the areas in which they are in desperate need of our prayers. If this is the first day you’ve stumbled across this series, welcome. I encourage you to go back and read some previous entries. My hope is that you will be excited about what God is doing in Africa and through Project Hannah and that you will feel convicted to pray for His children there while being strengthened and renewed in your own walk with the Lord as well.
Some of issues I’ve covered this month include West Africa’s lack of health care and clean drinking water, their illiteracy problem, domestic violence, female status in society, and many others. And despite all the wonderful Women of Hope and prayer calendar testimonies as well as the many tales of transformation and growth in the Lord, it’s still easy to get discouraged and caught up in all the bad. It’s easy to convince yourself that your prayers for West Africa aren’t big enough to make any difference to God. If at times you ever feel like this and allow lies such as these to begin to take root, turn to God’s Word instead. Silence those thoughts and immerse yourself in the ultimate source of truth.
Read Day 17 about the scarcity of sanitary drinking water in Africa. If you feel disheartened about the situation, remember what the Bible says about the Lord being the most important water there is. Our souls can be completely satisfied when we let the Heavenly Father quench our thirst.
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
Read Day 22 and the doubts I reveal I sometimes have when bringing a massive prayer request to God. If you ever feel the same way and lack faith that the Lord can change even the hardest of hearts, rest in what He tells us. The Bible is very clear that nothing is beyond our Savior’s reach.
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)
Read Day 19 and learn of the heartbreaking reality that so many people are walking in spiritual darkness due to the lies told them by their culture, customs, or religion. There is hope, though. Look at what God says in His word! He is always there, a gentle voice guiding us down the path of truth.
“Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
We have no reason to fear the trials of this world or to be scared of what may lie ahead. We have no grounds for doubt because we serve a perfect and Holy God who promises to take care of us. The Bible has already revealed the end of the story. And guess what? Jesus wins! Isn’t that wonderful? It’s a spoiler I don’t mind hearing, because that truth means I can live in freedom. It means I can dwell securely on this earth knowing my soul will reside for eternity in Heaven.
God left us His undisputed, irrefutable Word to impart this knowledge to us and to offer comfort when we can’t see the whole picture. So don’t be discouraged. Read about the problems in West Africa not with a spirit of defeat or resignation, but with a spirit of boldness. Go forth in confidence and pray, because our God has promised us that He will answer. Rely on that truth.