prepare for the mission

Being that I am a 21 year old female, raised in a Charismatic Christian home and currently attending a Christian university, the fact that I have never gone on a mission trip might be a surprising discovery. It’s not that I am against foreign missions or have never been interested...missions are at the heart of who I am. I am just awaiting the appropriate time for me to go. I’ve heard it said many times that young people just need to go on a mission trip and become aware of other surroundings and circumstances, living conditions, religions, and brokenness. But in my opinion, don’t go if your heart’s not in it or if your heart’s not where it should be. I’m not gonna go on missions just so I can say I’ve been. I will go, but God hasn’t given me to “go-ahead” yet. I am still in the preparing stage. 

I’ve talked with several people who have been involved with mission trips and heard the extraordinary tales of how God worked and moved. It’s so incredible to hear of the ways that God showed up. In some cases, the team saw lots of spiritual manifestations and many miraculous signs and wonders. Most of them made a difference in the community in which they ministered. Lives were changed. The people received a glimpse of the hope they have so desired. 

Weeks of preparation go into getting ready for a mission trip, and seeing as I have never gone, I am unaware of the actual amount of preparation needed. I know for a fact that hours and hours of prayer are spent each day, faces to the ground, crying out for the deliverance and salvation of the country at hand. Every spare moment is spent basking in God’s presence and seeking revelation. 

But I can’t help but question...why is this kind of preparation only important for mission trips? If we truly are “in the world, not of it” (John 15:19), shouldn’t we be spending every waking moment at the feet of Jesus, ready for service? Why don’t we see the remarkable acts of God in our nation? Why is it surprising to hear that someone saw an angel in Puerto Rico? Or that someone was raised from the dead in Djioubti? Why is that unusual? 

It shouldn’t be unusual, but it is. We don’t see signs and wonders in the same way that we don’t see any of the Gifts operating in todays churches. What’s happened to prophecy? It’s not dead, but we’ve certainly wrapped it in burial clothes. What about healing? Miraculous power? Tongues and it’s interpretation?  

I want to see these things happen here, NOW, at my home, in my church, on my campus, IN MY LIFE. I want to see God move! And better yet, God WANTS to move! He’s longing to do the impossible in YOUR life. He’s waiting for the moment when He can reveal Himself in ways that we’ve never seen. PRAY! Call on the name of the Lord! Spend hours in His presence. Seek His face on behalf of YOUR nation!

Please understand that I am not dissing, or belittling, missions trips. I am continually realizing the rising desperation for prayer for the salvation of other countries. I know that there is a need. I stated earlier that I am longing to go. I’m just asking ”what if...?” I’m asking that you consider the spiritual state of your own country, of the broken people around you. I’m urging you to pray.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and I will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

God, you know my heart. You know that I am willing to go wherever you send me, to the ends of the earth or around the corner. Let your will be done in my life. I am Yours, no matter what. Don’t give up on my nation. Bring her back to You.