Hearing His Voice #363

I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2:12

The woman had been noticing a trend, and her heart was burdened by it. Single parents from an economically challenged neighborhood would drop their children off at church on Sunday mornings and leave. Some in the congregation were offended—“The church isn’t a babysitting service,” they would say—but she saw it as an opportunity. The kids needed God, and by investing attention in them in Sunday school, the church would also have an avenue into the lives of the parents. This was not an intrusion; it was an open invitation from God.

So the woman told the pastor and asked if the church could expand their Sunday school to meet the specific needs of the children and their families. Wisely, he deferred action back to the one who had the vision for it. “Sure, we can help them. Why don’t you develop a plan for it?” At first intimidated, then inspired, she grabbed hold of the vision and ran with it. God had put the burden in her heart for a reason. She was the one He was calling to intervene.

As Nehemiah affirmed before moving to Jerusalem, God puts His purposes into the hearts of His people. He gives a sense of mission and calling to those who can take the lead in meeting the needs around them. We may think our burdens are for others to fulfill, and others may certainly be involved. But our burdens are usually the prompting of the Holy Spirit—not for someone else to do something about the problem, but for us to address it ourselves. Where there’s a strong vision to fulfill a Kingdom-oriented purpose, the Spirit has been speaking. And no matter how intimidated we may feel, we’re to begin walking in that direction and follow as the Spirit leads.

Holy Spirit, help me sort out the burdens in my heart. Are they all Yours? Which ones should I follow? Lead me to fulfill the purposes You have placed within me. Clarify my vision and secure my steps. Lead me through open doors to accomplish Your Kingdom mission wherever I can.