Are ya burdened?

My heart is so burdened in prayer lately. For friends, family, others in ministry, the body of Christ as a whole, the lost, the broken, the struggling, the numb, I can't fully explain it. The more I pray the more my heart breaks for things going on in the world. I posted a previous link called Pure Bride, and I just think about how short our lives really are. What are we really doing with our time? On the day of judgment, will God look at us and say, "I never really knew you"? Will we have a deep relationship with Christ, that goes beyond just feeling good about life? Will we be able to say that we...surrendered...all...?
I struggle with this daily. I find myself wondering these things often, and wanting my life to matter for the kingdom. If I looked back right now, would I be able to say that I not only gave my all...but that God has ALL of me?
Here's a beautiful song and prayer: I Surrender All to You


I have been reading through the gospels and doing a lot of reflecting on Jesus' last days on the earth with his disciples and the teachings he shared with them.There is so much to learn from those accounts. So as I continue to work through the gospels and soak it all in, I continue to be challenged...in great ways, and all the more burdened.


Most might think of feeling burdened as a sense of being overwhelmed or stressed by life in general...but what about being burdened in prayer? What does that really mean?
For me, I am just finding my heart more and more broken for things around me....and that is drawing me to deeper places of prayer. I find myself continually praying, and focusing a lot more energy into spending time with the Lord. The scriptures really are transforming and the spirit really does intercede and help us when we feel weak or weary.


It is a blessing to be able to communicate with our Lord through prayer....and I know I can't change everything going on around me...but I do know that God never ignores us...he always answers in some way when we call upon him.


My desire is that we will all be able to draw closer to the Lord in prayer...I really believe that prayer is so foundational to our daily lives and staying fully connected to God from day to day, even moment by moment, and not just week by week or even conference to conference. It opens our eyes to see what God sees and how we can enter into a deeper place of living out the callings he has for each of us. Not just in our individual lives, but in a corporate way. God's plans are way beyond our own, and the only way to tap into the way he is leading is to be rooted in prayer.


Here is a neat example of what prayer is doing in a community in Haiti. (The base in this video is also affiliated through YWAM, the organization that I'm going through for my upcoming Discipleship Training School. There is even a chance that our base in the Dominican Republic will be working alongside them for our outreach phase.)
Prayer Room- YWAM Haiti- Community Transformation through Prayer


Henri Nouwen has a really neat way of discussing prayer and how it can draw us deeper...Check it out. 
"To pray, I think, does not mean to think about God in contrast to thinking about other things, or to spend time with God instead of spending time with other people. Rather, it means to think and live in the presence of God. As soon as we begin to divide our thoughts about God and thoughts about people and events, we remove God from our daily life and put him into a pious little niche where we can think pious thoughts and experience pious feelings. ... Although it is important and even indispensable for the spiritual life to set apart time for God and God alone, prayer can only become unceasing prayer when all our thoughts -- beautiful or ugly, high or low, proud or shameful, sorrowful or joyful -- can be thought in the presence of God. ... Thus, converting our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer moves us from a self-centred monologue to a God-centred dialogue." 


May we pray without ceasing! 
Enamorado, 
Abby

Time...

With each day, I get closer to the time where I will begin my journey with YWAM. Technically speaking, I am about 5 months out from my trip; however, once June hits, I will be at church camp for several weeks, a pastoral retreat, and a mission trip with the youth group in July. I will leave about 3-5 days after all of that wraps up. So I really have about 3 months to cover a lot of details before I leave the country. I'm starting to feel the crunch! Times are busy, and I don't see anything slowing down in the near future.


Some things that God is teaching me lately are the following...

• Take one day at a time. 
• "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
• Make time for yourself to stay connected with God. . 
• "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." -Luke 5:16
• Quiet time is much sought after lately, and I have a hunger to know more from the Bible, to be in the Lord's presence, and also to be in prayer for so many things going on all around me. As I am growing  closer to the Lord through worship and reading of scripture, my heart has been even more burdened to be constantly in prayer. One of the things that I long for during my prayer time is explained well through this song: Pure Bride- By: Leeland
• Don't get discouraged. 
• "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:1-3
• A prayer partner of mine was praying for me on the phone the other day, and a portion of this verse popped into my head. She looked up the rest of it, since I was in my truck. The words spoke right to my heart in that moment and I was completely shocked especially since I couldn't remember what the entire verse said. But it was just what I needed to hear at that time. It's amazing how when we cry out to God for his help, that he never fails to show up. I had a long day, and felt drained, but then God provided a portion of his word to encourage me. My weariness almost instantly turned to joy. What a wonderful God...always faithful.
• Here's a song that always helps if I feel discouraged: You are For Me: Kari Jobe
• Don't let the efforts of the enemy detour or distract you from your purpose. 
• Let your eyes look straight ahead;
     fix your gaze directly before you.
  ²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
     and be steadfast in all your ways.
  ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
     keep your foot from evil. -Proverbs 4:25-27
• Just as God has been increasing in so many ways in my life, I feel like the distractions have increased just as much. I'm convinced that the enemy hates when we are on fire for Christ. He'd rather keep us lukewarm, stuck, in a standstill...I am determined to stay focused on Christ and to not let distractions hinder me from growing closer to God and continuing to serve him.
• And ask for help if needed. 
• Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2
• I think sometimes it's easy for me to think that I can handle things on my own, but I am finding that the more connected I am with those around me, the lighter the burdens may seem. It's a beautiful thing to see the body of Christ coming to life as we help each other out. And it not only benefits me, but the body of Christ as a whole will become healthier. It's a win win situation!
• Shelter- By: Jars of Clay is a song that explains why community is so important as we follow Christ. Check it out!

That's all for today...

Estoy Enamorado, 

Abby