Tuesday, July 16th, 2024
As I was writing the last blog it felt like there was another component of being mission-minded and I didn’t want the blog to get too lengthy, so here is part two. From the last blog I shared the phrase that God had given me about Him creating us as mission-minded people. It’s helpful for us to see our existence in that light so we know that everything we do has purpose. It’s how God made us and it’s why He created us. We are not just here passing the time until heaven. There is real work to do, and God wants us to look to Him to guide us on every step of the way.
So what’s the more part? Any of us who have been on this earth for any length of time know that this life is not easy nor is it perfect. There is a very real and present darkness that is constantly trying to dim and snuff out our light. We face difficult challenges such as anxiety, fear, depression, loss, anger, pride, bitterness, infirmity, etc. What if we were able to see these battles through our mission-minded lens? Instead of seeing these things as if they were surely going to take us out (I’m preaching to myself!), what if we confidently knew that God was in the midst of them, wasn’t going to leave us to battle on our own and would use all of our trials for our good and His glory?
We (maybe just me) tend to wallow in our difficult seasons. Some of our thoughts may include: “Why me?”, “How will I ever get through this?”, “What did I do to deserve this?”, “God, where are you?”, or “Is this ever going to end?” Every single one of these questions puts the focus on us and our problems. Here is what some mission-minded thoughts sound like: “God, I don’t understand, but I know You know and I am trusting You”, “Lord, I know that if there is something I need to repent of or break off of me, You will show me”, “God, this really hurts, but I know You will never leave me and Your love can carry me through anything”, “Lord, please help me to keep my mind on You because then I know you will keep me in perfect peace.” Can you feel the difference in your soul and your spirit between those two different mindsets? For me, it really is night and day.
Here are a few scriptures about being mission-minded in our battles.
Exodus 14:14:
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Deuteronomy 20:4:
4 for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
Psalm 35:1:
1Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Jeremiah 1:19:
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Psalm 18:39:
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
Final Thoughts…
These are just a sample of scriptures confirming that we will all face battles, and that we already have victory in these battles. We can choose to see our struggles as greater than our God, or we can embrace the mission that is before us and trust in the God that is charting it for us. Whatever knee-deep challenges you find yourself in, take up the victorious, mission-minded thoughts for which you were created. Take captive the thoughts that leave you sinking below a burden you were not meant to carry. Your invitation to the mission-minded life still awaits!