Day 15: Living James 1:22

Poverty can be overwhelming. And, I don't mean not having money to pay our bills this month, although that can be quite overwhelming as well! I'm talking about true poverty, as in not having any money at all, not having access to clean water, not having food to eat, saving a can of Spam (a gift from a missionary) for Christmas dinner. So, what does this have to do with James 1:22? For me, everything!

In April 2011, my husband and I sponsored our little Beatriz in Brazil and we absolutely love being her sponsor! But, I felt that God was calling me to do more, to be more, to help more. I just didn't know what that might look like. Then, I took Beth Moore's bible study on the book of James. My Sunday  school class at church had gone through the book of James a year or so before that, and it really spoke to my heart, so when Beth Moore's study came out, I jumped on it. And, I liked it so much that I took it again that next year.

In the meantime, God was working on my heart to become more involved with Compassion. I discovered that I could become an advocate. So, after much prayer to seek God's will, I submitted my application and went through the training. During that whole time, one verse kept popping up...James 1:22.

"But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Up to that point, I had served at church with the women's ministry and a few other areas, but I felt that God was calling me to something more. Going through the book of James, this particular verse stabbed my heart every time I read it. I knew that God was calling me to do something with my advocate ministry.

Let me repeat that...God was calling me to DO something with my advocate ministry. 

You see, I had gone through the training, and started talking about Compassion but not really doing anything. One reason was that there was already someone at my church who handled the Compassion ministry and Compassion Sunday each year. There wasn't a lot of room for me to do anything at my church, for that reason and a few others. Then, God called her and her husband to another church out of state and that left a big opening. No-one had stepped up...until I took that step and followed God's will.

This verse speaks to me in ways that I can't even explain. It's the verse that comes to mind when I seek God's will in the area of service.

Be doers of the word. Don't just listen and say you'll do something "sometime". Do it now. Pray for God's direction in your life, ask Him to tell you how to serve and then obey. God's plan is the best plan to follow. Be doers of the word and serve however the Lord leads you.

In His peaceful presence,

Sharon