Delight

Traveling happens to be something I enjoy doing. I love seeing God's handiwork and I look for it everywhere I travel. However, traveling can be difficult with my motorized chair and most especially if I'm traveling with a group. Chartered buses and airplanes are not exactly wheelchair friendly. Since I know these facts, I, typically, make my own travel arrangements and join in all the group activities that I can.

The church I attend is very active in foreign missions. We've sent missionaries to the Ukraine, Dominican Republic, Africa, China, and the list goes on. Not until last year, did I start considering a mission trip with my church to one of these countries. I prayed about it and was so excited about going. But then, I got sick with complications that come with being a tetraplegic. I started asking questions about the medical situations and other concerns with which a person that is paralyzed would need to know. You know, third world living conditions are not exactly ideal for the healthy, let alone someone with slightly compromised health. I didn't go. And, I was bummed about it too!

I have a dear, sweet friend and sister in the Lord that has been serving in the Philippines for 14 years. I thought that since God closed the door for me to go with my church on a foreign mission trip then I would go to the Philippines. After all, it was my desire to go on a foreign mission trip and I've wanted to visit my friend in the Philippines. It was only logical. And surely, I could do something "in Jesus's name" while I was there. Problem is, I need a traveling companion. There went my bottom lip and folded arms again. I pouted and whined until I found a traveling companion. So we started praying about when we were to go to visit the Philippines and hold a women's conference. (By now, we knew what we were going to do while we were there).

We began praying and fasting in the fall for the upcoming year's trip. We sought godly counsel and someone said, "I will pray, because you don't need to go if you haven't been called." Little did I know that statement would come back to me months later.

Something started happening. The Philippines were still on the globe, my love for my sister in Christ was stronger than ever, the women still needed the message of hope in Jesus, but I was changing. I was seeking Him more and He was exchanging my desires for His. I dared ask that He begin exposing the motivation of my heart. And, He did.

I began praying differently, more specifically. I knew God was aware that we needed to confirm our plans by a certain date and so I asked Him to please solidify our direction by the first of May. He answered me specifically in Romans 1:13. Paul wanted to go to Rome, but "he was hindered". He answered my prayer with His word. I asked again the next day that He confirmed what I thought He was saying to me with His word again. In my Bible study, He took me to Mark 16:15,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation".
"Huh? But I thought You said…" Very gently the Holy Spirit nudged my heart and said, "Kendra was called to the Philippines. You were called to America." "Oh, yeah… America is still part of the world."

I was not disappointed that I wasn't going on a foreign summer mission trip because God made the desires of my heart change. They were reflecting His desires more. I was sad that I wouldn't see my friend and meet the children she has "adopted". I was at peace knowing I was walking the path God desires for my life.

When God says "No", how do we typically react? Why? Our knee-jerk reaction is to poke out our bottom lip, cross our arms, stomp one foot, and cry "why not"! More often than not, if we are asking God for something outside the boundary of His will for our lives, then that's what we want. Our behavior following His answer tells much about our spiritual maturity. You say, "But doesn't God give us the desires of our heart?" Yes! Psalm 37:4 says that He will. Notice, He says to delight yourself in the Lord first. Finding delight in God somehow causes our desires to line up with God's desire for our lives.
Maybe you've been praying for God to give you the desires of your heart. A mate. A job. Financial security. Health. Well, then delight yourself in Him and His word and I PROMISE He will deliver.