This is a new type of blog post that I will try to contribute on a fairly regular basis… maybe once every week or two. As you read the text, please play the song embedded in the article and focus on the picture and what I am trying to relate to you. These “Virtual Walk” posts will attempt to bring you closer into my world as a missionary in the Czech Republic. I will mention specific aspects of the walk and specific prayer requests that the Lord places on my heart to share with you. Some of these virtual walks may include music… some may include short video clips. Mostly, I pray that my use of media in this way will help engage my prayer base in the work that is before us and hopefully help us gain new prayer partners along the way. Thank you and God bless you.
This afternoon I went for a prayer walk in an area close to where I live. On my prayer walks, I often listen to some of my favorite Christian music and simply try to open my mind up to what God may want to speak to me about… the goal is to commune with the Father as best I can. This afternoon, I took this snapshot of an area near a typical Czech neighborhood in Brno. As I walked along, here were some of the thoughts I had:
- I looked at the brightly colored communist style apartment blocks. You will notice them in the distance in the photograph. Not too many years ago, these were all drab gray structures but now, they are being painted nice and bright. However, most of the people who live in them are very guarded about their beliefs and many confess to be atheists and have no trust or faith in any “organized” religion. Pray that God will send a special manifestation of His Spirit among the Czech people to open their minds to the the true and living God.
- Right after I took the photo, I walked through a small city park and tried to make eye contact with as many people as I could. I have only been here in the Czech Republic for about 3 months so I have limited ability to communicate with most people. Yet, you can always be observant and occasionally you will hear someone speaking English… it is then that you try to strike up a conversation that hopefully will be meaningful. In the park I noticed a lot of young women with their children. Also, one older Czech man approached me to ask for the time. I showed him my watch and smiled… he smiled back. As you pray, ask the Father to touch the lives of the young families of Brno and give the young parents a desire to seek out truth about God for the sake of their young growing families.
- While I was walking along, I had my MP3 player on “shuffle” and a wonderful song started playing which is featured if you click on the media player below… “His Favorite Song of All” by Phillips, Craig & Dean. I am one of those people that can be touched deeply by music. As I listened, I felt the Spirit move in my soul in a way that I have not felt in a long time. If you can relate… you can be walking briskly along even in a steamy European afternoon and suddenly feel that rush of coolness that sort of starts at the back of your neck and spreads from there… your steps begin to get lighter and you just know that the Father is taking notice of you and is like whispering a wave of peace into your inner man. Amen, I needed that to be honest. Many days on the field you seem to be struggling continuously to accomplish very little. So, when you get that little extra boost from the Father, you are reminded it is not in our power that anything happens anyway… it is all up to Him. All we can hope to do is simply be obedient.
- Now to the song… it is another reminder of why I am here. It is to do all that I can to help those in my field of service to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel so they will have an opportunity to believe in our Lord Jesus. Then, if they believe… they can join in that beautiful chorus of the redeemed. Amen and amen.
