Day 21

Within seconds of sitting down next to my seatmate (on a flight I was never intending or scheduled to fly…to go to a city I was not scheduled to visit for the next year), I asked me (a very exhausted traveler), “Where are you going and why?”  I responded, “I’m a speaker…”  He asked, “What do you speak about?”

This was Day 21 in my/our personal revival challenge.  I had successfully connected with God daily for 21 days, completely eliminated “entertainment TV and magazines” from my life for the previous 21 days, but had yet to clearly present Christ one-on-one to an unbeliever (though I had given a “call to Christ” twice at an event) during the 21 days. 

Within a few minutes after boarding the Boston flight—I knew the reason I was on this unplanned-in-my-itinerary 2 ½ hour trip!  I was prompted to share everything I knew and loved about the Lord Jesus Christ with my seatmate, a professed agnostic, marine biologist who had never read the Bible. 

The unfolding of that conversation was the most remarkable series of questions and answers I have ever had with an unbeliever.  God had obviously was prompting this man to ask me everything he ever doubted or discounted about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit!  And God had clearly chosen me to be His “ambassador” (II Cor 5:17-20) and I was READY!

He (systematically) asked me about: creation, heaven, hell, man’s sin nature, the Triune God, baptism, religion vs. relationship, the disreputable lives of professed Christians, the dividing name of Jesus between every other religion and Christianity, the person of the Holy Spirit, how to pray, my relationship with God the Father, how the Bible speaks to me, the 365 Day bible, the Word of God as my only source of instruction—having no guru’s, Blaise Pascal’s “God-shaped hole in the heart”, sharing both my husband and sister’s testimonies—which directly related to his life, and how a janitor led me to Christ because I was a sinner who needed a savior!  DO YOU REALIZE HOW RARE it is to share even one sentence with an agnostic without engaging in a battle or being shut down/off, much less being asked to share, answer, explain, and convince them THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM AND DIED FOR THEM!?  I was no longer exhausted, but completely en fuego!!!!!!!!!!!

I said, “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but I believe the reason I’m on THIS flight (which makes no sense that I’m going to Boston because I’m really on my way to NY) is because I was sent to meet you as God’s Ambassador.”  He said, “…that does not offend me.”  As we deplaned HE ASKED ME TO SEND HIM A 365 DAY BIBLE.  I was shocked.  I believe he knew what he was asking for…it reminded me of Martin Luther’s comments regarding the Word of God…that it chases and grabs hold of…a man.

I LOVE how God will take your commitments to Him SO VERY SERIOUSLY.  

On DAY 21 of my personal revival challenge, God gave me an assignment:  TO SHARE THE GOSPEL, which is the power TO SAVE.  And He knew no matter how tired I am, I love to talk more!  He knew that I’d be relentless. 

I can’t tell you how many times over the 12 hours of delay in Chicago that I felt opposition to get where I was going.  I knew I had work to do once I got to Boston—to speak at the Onething conference—and yet, God’s plan for me that “travel” day WAS TO PRESENT the Gospel to an agnostic whose TIME IT WAS to open his heart to Jesus.

Friends, give your whole heart to God—time with Him daily, walk with intention to be pure and holy, and SHARE the Gospel daily/often…for the Gospel is the power to save. 

As I close, I want to add that “Revival must begin in me (and you) before a corporate revival will ever sweep over our country.  We must be faithful to be the “hottest furnace” around…to fire up our brothers and sisters in Christ, to call them to accountability in prayer and purity, and to share the Gospel at the prompting of the Holy Spirit—whenever and wherever He chooses. 

I hope this 21 Day challenge has been more than a 3 week challenge, but that it is a launch pad for a lifestyle to be a man or woman with a Burning Heart:  sold out to prayer, set apart in purity, and sent out in purpose.  For more information, visit www.theburningheartcontract.com