I don't know if any of you noticed, I was really not enthusiastic about the 100k challenge at all, when the church first proposed it. To me, it really felt like yet another project that the church wants. And yet another project = yet another opportunity for the leaders to see what a failure I am in evangelising to my friends. To me, it just seemed like, oh great, yet another reason for my leaders to pick on me and ask me why I did not invite any one to church, and perhaps it is this reason that I am not growing. Being the naturally rebellious me whom is inclined to think too much, I was most definitely tacitly against the idea. In fact, I had no intention to sign up for it, up till the day that Sarah gathered us with the rest of the sarah's tribe. She said something that really hit home to me, and it was the fact that she felt that to her the 100k was not just yet another project. Perhaps, I don't know, I can only form conjectures regarding this, other leaders in the church treated it as yet another project, but she said that the 100k is really just a starting point for us.
A NEW starting point for us, especially for us older Christians. Because, the notion of blessing our friends with prayers, is not just yet another evangelical MLM thingy to get our friends to rara with us about how exciting the Christian life is. What she said, really struck me, that being a blessing to our friends by first praying for them, and offering to intercede on their behalfs though they do not know Christ, is a fundamental thing that many of us Christians often forget that we should do.
It dawned upon me, that I have neglected this aspect of my Christian walk so magnificently. I felt like the biggest wretch around at that time. Prayer. Is it not a powerful tool? You are interceding on behalf of your friends unto the Lord, to show his powerful ways to them. It is not by any strength or might or super powers in eloquence that you have that you are able to persuade your friends that Christ believes. When we pray, the most fundamental thing happens. It is by your faith that God goes before you to work miracles through your friends' lives. It is not by your own strength that you convince your friends to become Christians. It is by God's supernatural intervention, because you feel God's heart beating for them.
So anyway, on my third day into the 100k blessing thing, I still had not blessed anyone. Nope, no alarms ringing yet, no gasps going "gasp! you are such a failure, scum of the ground." But instead, today God led me to pray for my very good friend whom has always resisted Christianity cos of certain reasons. I was quite... hesitant initially, apprehensive about her reaction. And I was very shy, yes I really am shy about such things you know.
So instead of approaching her directly when we met up just now, I prayed for her over msn just now. I felt really really really blessed in turn for blessing her with this simple prayer over msn. Because, I know, she felt my sincerity in the prayer. And I'm not being thick skinned or what, I guess we all know the difference between sincere prayers and otherwise. She was actually, I could tell, very touched by the prayer, and maintained a mood of reverence after ward, agreeing with the prayer by affirming Amen at the end of it. It really felt wonderful, to be able to pray and trust God for my dear friend's future, and that she would really have God's hand upon her every step along the way. I trust God for my friend, cos I know, his promises are forever. And with that, I felt so blessed praying for her knowing that MY GOD would look after her and reveal himself to her in his time. I am really trusting God for something big and wonderful to happen in my friend's life, because I know, he has gone before us in triumph.
Ok, very long already, so here's my 'little' update on what has been going on for me with the 100k. I am so touched, that I'm tearing as I'm writing this. I really think God is working deeply in me even as I'm being blessed, blessing others.
So here's an encouragement to you all :) Don't despair! God has made a way, and he will provide.
posted by Nessaa @ 3:23 AM
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