When we keep our line of communication open, we sometimes get indications of things that we could do to change a negative situation in our life, make someone's day, or create a breakthrough in our personal growth. And we entertain it for a while, then we get tired, busy, or distracted and it falls by the wayside. Is this God? What would happen if we answered every such "prayer" that God sends through to us?
A note. An email. A Facebook message. A visit. A call. A "pay-it-forward." A random act of kindness.
Great moves of God are in the little things. What if we all answered every little prompting of love that we get? All those little things could end up to be HUGE. I used to run in circles where people waited on God. Waited on a move from God. For a revival from God. When would He come? When would He move? Meantime, we often ignored the still small voice in us that begged us to encourage that certain someone, or stop that unhealthy habit, or to forgive. And we wondered where God was.
This isn't religion. It's relationship. And that indeed is (or at least should be) a two way thing.
About a week ago, my brother-in-law emailed me to share a powerful desire to reach a certain segment of people a certain way for God. He was hoping for ideas and a bit of iron-sharpening. I looked at the note a few times, and wondered how to respond. At the time, I was very tired and distracted from various one-on-one ministry and career pursuits. So I responded honestly. I needed a boost. I was nowhere near where he was at the moment, and could he "come & get me" because I just wasn't there. He said he'd pray. A few days later I got a dvd in the mail. It was a documentary of a little town in Appalachia with a history of bootlegging, crime, feuding, and drugs. At one point in recent history, a large percentage of the population was enslaved to coke, oxy, and meth. Hope was nearly lost. The narrative focused on two families in this town and the heart break of slowly losing one of their own to drugs. It then showcased the deep corruption in law enforcement and civic leadership that not only allowed this suffering, but fostered it, drawing it from miles around. It seemed hopeless.
Then one day God showed up. Church people, up until now sad but silent, finally decided enough was enough. They began to pray. And when they did, God prayed back. He wanted them to unite, and act. They were afraid. Some were threatened. Drugs were big money and some did not want to lose it. Even some church people were obstacles, they were so afraid that they created pressure to keep things as they were. But as they prayed, they were even more moved to act. In the cold and the rain one Sunday, cars came, buses came. They walked, they biked, they hitch-hiked. The march happened, amid the threat and risk. It was huge! And they continued moving. In the months and years to follow, city leaders were indicted, new leaders were put in place, and hundreds of dealers (and lawmen) were also brought to justice. Volunteerism increased manifold, with involvement in schools, jails, and civic places. The two drug addicts, one a hardened, vicious criminal and the other, a young woman nearly been beaten to death by such persons, each found Jesus in special ways soon after. As did many more like them. The relief and jubilation of their families (and the town) was a joy to behold. And now the criminal ministers to inmates, rescuing them by the scores. The name of the town was changed to "City of Hope." Now, even wildlife in the lovely wooded area flourishes, with new species never known there before. It is a feel-good story with a real-life happy ending. But the moral is everything.
The spin on the story everywhere is that somehow this town attracted God's attention. But I have yet to hear one person spin it the way I do: God attracted theirs. Despite risk and threats, this town answered God's prayer. You could lay a big backdrop of mystical glory behind it, but God's love is a practical thing. The overwhelming turnout for the march is explained by the fact that undoubtedly everyone marching knew someone at that time who was a prisoner to drugs and wanted to fight for them. This is love. God is love. This is simple stuff. People stuck up for each other, finally. It was THEN when God could really move.
And this is where I am today. God talks to me. A lot. It may be a song on Pandora. A fleeting picture in my mind. An idea. A wish. I'm not good with resolutions, but I'm smart enough to know that these things happen one at a time. And my heart's desire today is to answer God's prayers in my life, one at a time. Then see where it leads. There's fear. There's risk. There's distraction. But there are some things to start with even today. So please pray for me. "IF my people..."
