When I wake up tomorrow morning, I will have just one week to be ready to go to Uganda. I have just one week, just seven days. I have read that God can accomplish a great deal in seven days, even allowing for rest, and at this point I feel like He is going to need to do something miraculous in me for me to be ready.
Over the last month of preparation I have been challenged by many things. I have had numerous memorable experiences. I have felt pretty clear direction in my preparation to teach. I have watched my family connect and fall in love with Ugandan children. I have purchased almost everything I think I will need. And yet, in many respects I wish I had another month to prepare myself.
I know deep inside that even if I had another month, I wouldn’t think I was ready then either. So instead, tonight, on the Fourth of July, I am content with one more week. I am not sure exactly how I will spend it. What would you do? Really, I want your advice. If you had one week to get ready to travel to the other side of the earth, to have the attention of hundreds of people, and to have the opportunity to teach them about God, how would you spend your last week?
I mentioned that tonight was the Fourth of July. The two words that stood out for me today, and I shared at SouthEdge this morning, were “freedom” and “independence.” As I look ahead to this final week of preparation, I am praying to experience freedom from my own expectations and freedom to dive in to this opportunity without fear of doing it wrong. In addition, I am praying that the feeling of never being fully prepared would help drive me to the place I need to be, living in dependence on God and not me.
I ask you to please join with me in prayer for this week ahead. I ask you to please pray for me while I am in Uganda. Specifically, I ask you to pray with me that I would get the privilege of experiencing the supernatural work of God in a way I have never experienced before. And, I ask you to pray for my family and my church and their lives while I am away.
During this last month I have witnessed many wonderful changes in my life and the lives of my family. One of the coolest was highlighted tonight in the answer my two oldest children gave me to a pretty standard question. We were sitting, waiting for a fireworks display to begin and I asked them what one thing would they like for me to bring each of them from Uganda. The first response out of my 14 year old son and 11 year old daughter came almost in unison. They both said, “a little brother.” I am so glad God has made this trip possible!
Walter
1 year ago
Jay,
Please know that we have been praying for you and will continue to pray this specific prayer as you are in Uganda:
Father, I plead that Jay will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will daily walk in His power (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16).
Please grant Jay Your specific direction for his ministry (Psalm 37:5).
I pray that you would guard Jay from every evil,
please guard his life. Guard him when he leaves leave and when he returns. (Psalm 121:8)
I pray that Jay will speak the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31; Ephesians 6:19).
I ask that Jay will present the gospel clearly to unbelievers (Colossians 4:4).
Lord, I pray that Jay would be accepted by the natives, the believers, and the missionaries in the area where they are laboring (Romans 15:30-31).
God, I plead that You will protect Jay from the attacks of Satan and his demons (Romans 15:30-31; 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3).
Father, I ask that You would open doors and hearts to receive the gospel as Jay ministers in Uganda. (Colossians 4:3).
I pray that You will make Jay ’s ministry exceedingly fruitful and that You will glorify Yourself through this ministry (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
Father, I plead that You will deliver Jay from loneliness and frustration (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 18:9-10; Hebrews 13:5).
Lord, I pray that You will bless Jay’s servant’s heart (Philippians 2:5-10).
I ask that Jay will live and labor each day for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Father, I plead that Jay will be a vessel through which the love of God can flow to others (Romans 5:5; John 13:34-35).
I ask that Jay will have a growing and intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:4-5).
I pray that Jay will have a deeper and clearer understanding of the Word of God (John 16:13).
Father, I plead that You will continually protect Jay from all harm and ask that You would strengthen him physically (Genesis 2:7).
I ask that You would grant Jay peace and assurance about the care of Sherri, Zane, Hope, and Quinn who are left at home (1 Peter 5:7).
Lord, I ask that You would bless and strengthen Jay ’s family (Ephesians 5:22-6:4).
Fill Jay with Your joy in all situations and let this joy sustain him in all situations (Nehemiah 8:10).
Father, I pray that Jay would see people and things from Your perspective (Proverbs 3:5).
I plead that Jay will have a renewed and growing zeal to share the gospel with unbelievers (Romans 1:15-16).
I ask that Jay will be completely yielded to Christ and willing to die to self in all matters (Mark 8:34-35).
I pray that Jay will be growing in humility (1 Peter 5:5-6).
Father, I plead that Jay will endure any persecution in a Christlike manner.(1 Peter 2:21-23).
I ask You to create a thankful heart in Jay especially in times of difficulty (Ephesians 5:20).
I pray that You will raise up prayer partners for Jay (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
I plead that all of Jay ’s needs–physical, spiritual, emotional, and spiritual–will be met by You through Your grace and power (Philippians 4:19).
I ask that Jay will labor from godly motives and not from a desire to please people (2 Corinthians 4:2).
I plead, O God, that the strong believers you have built up around Jay will encourage him in the tasks that God has given to him. (Philemon 20).
I pray that Jay would long to be holy and live a life of obedience to the Word of God (1 Peter 1:15-16).
I plead that Jay would be salt and light to the people to the Ugandan people. (Matthew 5:13-14).
Father, I pray that You would enable Jay to pray for those who persecute him and for those who spitefully use him. (Matthew 5:44).
I pray that Jay would not lag in diligence but would be fervent in spirit. I plead that Jay will rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and continue steadfastly in prayer (Romans 12:11-12).
I ask that Jay would not lose his focus in ministry but that he would have his priorities ordered by You.
I pray that Jay will set his mind on things above and not on the things of the earth (Colossians 3:2-3).
I plead that Jay will be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that his labor in Uganda is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).