You are the solution
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:15-16.
As I read this Psalm, I understand that I am more than just the beautiful result of my parents coming together. This passage equally revealed to me that there is a book where my name and days are mentioned BEFORE I was even created.
Here is the truth: God didn’t create me to find a solution, He created me because I am the solution and so are you.
Yep…let me repeat that again ..YOU ARE THE SOLUTION, the weapon God has created to bring changes and impact earth for generations to come.
Last year I was thinking on how I ended up in England and how it seemed so random to me..but it wasn’t random to God. As we are called to advance the Kingdom, we need to get a revelation of the authority we have and realise that we have been given a domain, a territory: where you live is where community starts.
Right now, invite the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal to you why you live where you live and what assignment God has for you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that as You are, so are we in the world. Your Holy Spirit lives in us, and through His power, we are Your representatives. Jesus, You said that we would do the same works that You did, and even greater, through the power of Your Spirit. As we make ourselves living sacrifices, pour out the power of Your Holy Spirit on us and enable us to see what works you have for us, what problem needs solution.
As followers of Christ we should all be involved in the Great Commission, to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) in every part of the world and it starts with our neighbourhoods, our community.
Being missional includes embracing the posture, the thinking, behaviours, and practices of a missionary without having to go to nations in order to reach others with the message of the gospel.
Despite the pandemic God wants to display His creative power and here are few ideas on how you can engage people around you. They might not know the bible (yet) so you are His image and likeness.
Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. My prayer is that you would do these things with the intentions of letting your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Stay outside in the front longer while watering
Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighbourhood
Sit on the front porch and letting kids play out
Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)
Invite neighbours over for dinner (after lockdown of course)
Do a food drive or clothing collection in winter and get neighbours involved
Have a game night and invite neighbours
Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbours
Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbours.
Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute
Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety
Host a coffee and dessert night
Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)
Start a walking/running group in the neighbourhood
Be intentional about sharing the gospel within your community and tune in to the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working. It is not about pointing out or convincing them of their sins, it is about introducing Jesus’ ministry to new people. It is about boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed wherever you live.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Prayer: Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my capacity to love until I love you with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love my neighbour and my community as I love myself. In Jesus mighty name. Amen!
By Nadia Tan Panza