Weekly Prayer Posts from Thailand
Becoming God’s Game Changers
December 31, 2020
Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
Have you ever wondered why Mary was chosen to become the person through whom Jesus would be brought into the world? What was so special about this particular teenager? It is obvious that Mary was someone who met some very specific requirements pertaining to the Law which governed the children of Israel — God’s chosen people.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “ Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Galatians 4:4-7
Without a doubt, Mary was — the right person — who was at the right place — at the right time. Yet, this was only half of what she had going for herself. The account of her life indicates that she possessed qualities that far outweighed her outward circumstances. Her inner qualities clearly marked her out as someone who could be used mightily by God.
Mary’s self-awareness — combined with her response to being “chosen” for God’s special assignment is nothing short of astonishing! Mary’s comprehensive response to the angel’s announcement certainly hit the ball out of the park, by covering all three of life’s primary bases — body, soul, and spirit.
Mary’s initial statement, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), followed by her subsequent declaration, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47), reveals her deep understanding about our need to be in alignment with all that God desires to accomplish through us. God’s desire is that we make ourselves available to Him. God wants us to bring all of ourselves to the table — body, soul, and spirit.
Mary realized two things simultaneously — that it was God Himself who was forming the child in her — and that this “Son” that she would be giving birth to was her personal — Master, Lord, and Savior!
If we can live our lives around this core understanding — letting this mode of life become our daily reality — we will surely be able to live victorious Christian lives.
We become God’s game changers on this earth as we bring every dimension of ourselves to bear on fulfilling the mission that God has given us. Each of us has been given a role to play in carrying out God’s overarching work. It is the combined contributions from everyone that advances the great work that God has placed before us. I can’t do God’s work alone — you can’t do God’s work alone — we can only do God’s work together.
Like Mary, each of us will also need to bring ourselves into alignment with God’s purposes for our lives. Half-hearted measures will not do — God wants us to commit ourselves — body, soul, and spirit. This level of commitment to God has great influence — with God, and with people.
The influence that Mary was able to exert on Jesus while they attended a wedding at Cana is just one example of the kind of influence that believers can have with God (John 2:1-10). The Bible provides many other examples of people who had great favor with God (Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Elijah). These are not mere isolated tales confined to the past — they are stories that testify to the power of prayer — even in the here and now!
Praying people are God’s game changers — Let’s go forward determined to be one!
Joni & Nangsar
🙏 Prayer Requests 🙏
- Let us close out the old year with grateful hearts.
- In spite of the great difficulties and sorrows so many have experienced during 2020 — let’s nevertheless thank God for the many blessings we have received from His hand!
- Let us welcome the New Year with great expectations.
- 2021 not only begins a new year — it also begins a new decade! Let’s pray that this new year that we are entering into, will set the tone and trajectory that will positively influence the course of the next ten years!
- Let us seek to become “God’s Game Changers” for a hurting world.
- here truly is so much good that can be done in the world. Let us ask God to open our eyes, so that we will be able to see what He sees. Let us ask God to equip our hands, so that we will be able to do what He does.
