Still, we wait. We wait upon the Lord’s timing. Do we trust that God has good reasons for making us wait? It is easy to forget that He works in us while we wait. This is just as important as what we are waiting for. Even though we don’t understand, we understand that He knows what He is doing.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1: 3-8 (ESV)
We wait because we trust in the Lord. We wait for Him to prepare us for what He wants us to do. We wait until He says “Go!”
It’s hard to wait. But while we do, we go on with the tasks that we have at hand. Last week, we removed a big chunk of concrete that was on one side of the house. It looked really ugly and was not level (tilted away from the house at about 30 degrees, or so). As the concrete came apart, a layer of flagstone appeared underneath it. Some of the stones are really nice ones, but they were covered up with cheap concrete. The tilting was from a root that ran along the side of the house, stretching from the tree out front to the back of the house.
This past weekend (July 26) we removed the patio in the back yard. It was broken and tipped away from the house. It didn’t have a root under it, but it was poured on top of an old concrete walkway that went along the back of the house. It extended several feet past the edge of the walkway. There was nothing to support the concrete beyond that, so it cracked and began tipping away from the house.
These both showed problems that are reflected in our Christian life. A small root had gotten underneath and grew, unseen, until it put the walk out of kilter. Proper preparation had not been made before laying the slab for the patio and its own weight brought it down. A little sin can enter our lives, unnoticed, and grow until we are knocked out of kilter with our Christian walk. A proper foundation of prayer, bible study and Christian fellowship can support us when we have replaced our old walk with our new Christian walk.
We are diligently working to be steadfast in our waiting upon the Lord. We are trusting in His provisions for our finances-but it is very hard. We are at the lowest point of our finances since joining Pioneer Bible Translators. We have faith in His leading that PBT is where He wants us. We have faith that, in His timing, our house will be sold soon. Pray for us to keep that faith. To remain steadfast. To be one, together, with the Lord.
Here are some other things for you to lift in prayer:
- Pray for us as we are under attack from the enemy. We need protection, understanding, patience, and renewal.
- Pray for wisdom and discernment. There are still decisions to be made about the house, including the price.
- Pray for our finances. We are finishing mailings for contacting new Partners that we hope will prayerfully and financially support our work with Pioneer Bible Translators.
- Praise for a work situation that has completely turned around for a friend in Albuquerque. He faithfully waited on the Lord and is now being blessed with a new job.
- Continue praying for PBT-the missionaries, interns and teams that are in the field. Their safety and health are always of concern. Pray for their continued work in spreading the Gospel to Bible-less people.
This list is created weekly, not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.
In Christ’s Service
Richard and Josi Ingram
Pioneer Bible Translators
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