My God does all things well!

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Victim: Yours truly.
Perpetrator: The Holy Spirit
Time frame: October, 2012.
Location: Warrenton, Missouri.
Incident: The fear of becoming the prayer Coordinator

It was the State Directors conference at the CEF International Office®, most widely known, back in the day, as the Home Office. It was and still is a favorite place of mine. The servants of the KING there are fantastic and friendly, always making me feel like it’s home away from home. Not to mention, it’s the hometown and work place of one of my best friends. Always one great motivation to stay as long as I can. No matter how I am feeling, she makes me laugh. We laugh a lot. That is a real treasure in a friend.

This particular conference was a first for me. It was my first time being the wife of a state director, or interim director. It was my first time being a wife!

Conferences are great for seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It a wonderful opportunity to hear lots of stories of God’s direction and working in the different local, national and international areas. One such story gripped at my heart and demanded my response. A prayer Chairman from one of the states shared about the miraculous changes occurring since she started the CEF® prayer wall in her state. She had established a 24/7 prayer wall, asking people to pray in either 15, 30, 45, or 60-minute increments once a week on a specific day and time. I couldn’t get her story out of my head. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t let me forget it, for He was trying to tell me something I didn’t necessarily want to hear.

You see, CEF Hawaii was in difficult straights. The ministry had dwindled immensely after the former state director had to leave suddenly due to health issues. For a couple years there were only two staff members in the state until I joined. Furthermore, there was no one to replace the former director. As a result, CEF was forgotten in the churches and in people’s minds. The prayer ministry had died. The finances were so bad, the ministry was getting more and more in the red. Almost all the assets were gone. Out of desperation, Tim was appointed interim state director although he had made it clear he did not want the job. Then I joined the ministry after Tim and I were married. Spiritual warfare was hitting from many sides and CEF USA was experiencing more and more open opposition. That affected the Islands as well. There was even talk on the State board of the possibility of closing the ministry down in the state.

I had just come from Canada where a lot of that had happened and the provincial committee chose to close instead of trust. I was afraid CEF Hawaii was going to do the same. But that couldn’t be God’s will, especially with three newly arrived workers excited, motivated, and ready to serve. Two were straight from CMI and full of new ideas.

If there was ever a time we needed prayer, it was then. But I, like Tim with the interim state directorship, didn’t feel adequate for the job. I, like Moses, kept finding excuses not to take on this needed challenge: I wasn’t organized. I wouldn’t know where to start. The job was too big for one person, let alone me. But just like Moses, God didn’t let me off. It would be Him growing the ministry, not me. I would just be His physical hands and feet to accomplish the job He was asking me to do.

So, in November, 2012 Tim announced to the State Board that I would be starting up a prayer wall and they were fully behind the project. The Lord really grew that ministry with prayer partners from all over the world, and many people still pray for Hawaii though we are no longer there. More importantly, the Lord really grew my faith. Exodus 4:10-12 says, “Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” God gives us the ability to do the task He has called us to do. He just wants our willingness.

God has promised to give us what we need for the task He has called us to do. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Wow. He not only gives us what we need, but gives it to us in abundance. Not only that, He gives us the courage and strength to carry out His will. Joshua 1:9 exhorts with these words, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” He gives us the courage we need and the promise that we are never alone. If He is always with us, then He will always supply what we need for the challenge ahead.

When we learn that, then we see that everything that happens has a purpose. Mark 7:37 says, “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well…” My God does all things well. ALL things! I have seen this time and time again in my own life, but I have to be continually reminded of the fact. I am a slow learner! Slowly I am learning to say yes and trust Him especially when I do not feel adequate or up to the task. It’s not me, after all. I am just His physical hands and feet to get the job done.

 So, what is He asking you to do? Are you willing to trust Him in that and take up the challenge?

Blessings, Mari