“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
SOME THINGS I HAVE LEARNED after 25 years in the mission field.
• Missions is ALL about Jesus (not us).
• Even in the darkest, hardest moments, HE is FAITHFUL!
• God is on His throne. Jesus wins in the end. Don’t lose sight of the finish line.
• The ministry of the Holy Spirit is critical and essential. Don’t ignore it or misuse it.
• No one understands my life as a missionary like Jesus Himself (He gave up Heaven for me) – and no one is better to talk to and get wisdom and encouragement from.
• God’s ways & plans are infinitely higher than mine. Especially for my family. My heart trusts Him.
• God doesn’t need my help.
• Jesus said He would build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The early disciples taught us that God does not exist in a building, and that people who love and obey God, and are surrendered fully to Him, can turn the world upside down.
• God has already figured in all my shortcomings, prior to asking me to do a task. My job is simply to trust and obey, and leave the results to Him.
• Do no resist whatever God is allowing/using in your life to bring you closer to Him. Just surrender. He uses ALL things for our good (Romans 8:28).
• “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
• Nothing, and no one, is more important than my obedience to God. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. “Jesus replied, ‘The greatest commandment is this: that you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ ” (Matt 22:37, Deut. 6:5, 7:9, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27).
• Commandment #1 ALWAYS supersedes commandment #2. Emotions can deceive us – beware.
• “Father forgive them, they know not what they do” – even when you are 110% sure it looks like they do (Luke 23:34).
• The best counsel is from the Almighty Counselor Himself. Take all your cares to Him. Be sure to spend time allowing Him to speak (always in accordance with His written Word).
• Allow God to order your time and day. Be busy in the things He wants you to be busy in.
• Nothing can compare with the peace that passes all understanding that Jesus brings. If your heart is troubled and turbulent, it’s time to turn the world off and get in His presence.
• The most important use of my time each day (for me, my family and all around me) is the time I spend alone in prayer with the Lord and reading His Written Word.
• The sacrifices and offerings the Lord asks of me are nothing compared to what Jesus did for me on Calvary. He alone with Worthy!
• Live your life as a “thank you” to Him (Romans 12:1).
• He (she) is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot.
• You cannot outgive God.
• Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
• Correction and discipline (both giving and receiving) are never easy. They must always be done with the heart of Christ for all involved.
• My testimony has nothing to do with me; and everything to do with Him – what He has done and is doing.
• Always take every thought, emotion, situation and individual to God in prayer. Allow Him to speak His truth (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
• You must know the Truth of God’s Word in order to recognize and counter a lie.
• Evil exists in this world. Abhor it. Stay away from it.
• Don’t just ask yourself: “What would Jesus do?” – DO what Jesus DID. Study His life and ministry. Apply. Apply. Apply
• My citizenship is in Heaven.
• The greatest disciples I will ever have the honor of pouring myself into sit at my dinner table.
• My promised land is wherever He wants me to be at that moment—basking in fellowship with Him.
• Not one ounce of harm can come to me, but that it first passes through His loving hands. He has numbered my days, and I have no one and nothing to fear. I have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, plus 2/3 of the heavenly hosts on my side.
• It is not always easy being in God’s will. What is important is to know His will and DO IT!
• Don’t look back. Wherever you are at that moment, be 100% there.
• Saying “goodbye” never gets easier.
• Don’t try to hang on to things or people God is removing from your life. He knows what is best–and is protecting you. It is far easier to surrender them over to His more than capable hands, than to have to have Him rip them from you.
• Your life is a bigger testimony than your words.
• NO thing and NO one are worth losing your testimony for Jesus.
• Shine your light for Jesus bright. The darker this world gets, the more profound the backdrop for your light to shine.
• Do not grow weary in doing good. It’s all for Him.
• Never, ever, tolerate sin – especially in your camp.
• ALWAYS remain teachable; ask the Lord to teach you.
• The hardest fought battles I have ever faced were spent doing battle in the throne room of prayer. He speaks Scripture to me that I can pray over a situation, gives me direction and wisdom, and fights my battles better than I ever could.
• I hate tests. If I don’t/won’t receive the lessons He is trying to teach me through them, He is going to keep putting me through them until I get the lesson down.
• Preach the Gospel to yourself every day to never forget where He redeemed you from.
• Beware of legalism in your own life.
• You cannot disciple a person who just doesn’t want to surrender all to Jesus.
• Seeing brokenness and hurt in the world never gets easier. Beware of getting a calloused heart, and always pray: “May my heart be broken for the things that break the heart of God.”
• You cannot save anyone. It is God’s job. People who reject your message are rejecting Jesus.
• When you share the Gospel, people either love you or hate you (really, you have just exposed their sinfulness and they don’t like it one bit). Just ask Jesus.
• Remember what Jesus said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
By Coleen Jejeran, CCEA Missionary to Romania