I prayed a prayer asking God to enlarge my territory of influence. I wanted to go somewhere grand. Africa. India. Cambodia. I had a dream of making a difference and it seemed all the cool stories of difference-makers were from foreign countries.
I never made it to those foreign lands. God instead chose to enlarge my territory by placing me on the streets just 7 miles from my home. Somehow that doesn’t have the “sexy” appeal we all look for while serving God, but I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
It’s time we look in our own backyards.
Caught up in my own comfort zone and daily routine, I thought to be used as a difference maker meant you had to travel to foreign worlds. But that’s not the case. There is just as much devastation here in our own cities, if we will but open our eyes and see.
If you will journey out of the comforts of your own neighborhood and route to work, you will find areas of poverty. Yes, those areas are in your city!
In my backyard, I’ve learned that homelessness is prevalent. People need food, drink, work, and mostly love.
I’ve met the girls caught in sex trade. Here in my city. In a strip club just 2 miles from my home, as well as 7 miles away on the streets.
The dark messy world does exist.
It exist in your backyard, but you have to open your eye to see it. You have to want to see those in need, seeking love. You have to want to know them. You have to learn about their culture and way of life to help them.
Maybe the big prayers you are praying for God to enlarge your territory are going to be answered when you see all the good you can do in your own backyard.
It’s hard to know where to start sometimes…You know, looking for those who need us. Relying on the Father definitely brings them into our lives.
Our backyards are full. You know my heart for girls battling addictions but the Lord showed me a mission field that’s more sad than dark: the elderly, particularly those who are losing their independence. Broken people are everywhere we’re willing to look.