By Muriel Walker
Daily Attention to your heart is essential
What an exciting time to commit to go and plan for your upcoming mission trip. Yet, an important detail is not to get so caught up in the specifics of packing and organizing of agendas that you forget to give necessary attention to your heart.
It is said that your heart is the seat of your mind, will and emotions. Proverbs 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” So a very important aspect of your life is the condition of your heart.
Spiritual preparation is as equally important as the preparation of the items you will take, the clinics you will hold and the contacts you will make. Because, if your heart is not right and your motives are not pure, if your inner man has not been strengthened or your spirit fed then you are not fully prepared to go. The results will be empty and not as effective as they could be. You will cheat yourself and the people whom God would have blessed through you.
Why does it make a difference? Here are just a few reasons why your heart needs to be prepared for missions:
- You are an ambassador of Christ. You want to be able to reflect the love and image of our Heavenly Father to all those you come in contact with. Your heart should be guarded from any unrighteousness. The goal should be to reflect His image and not your own. The more time you spend with Him the easier this is done.
- You want to operate from a sound mind. You will be exposed to external influences that may at times possibly be negative or unexpected. In order to respond appropriately, you will need to fortify your heart, mind and soul through prayer, meditation and study of the Word before anything ever occurs.
- You want to keep the right motives. Being of one heart and one mind on a team is so important and makes things go smoothly. Keeping the purpose and vision for what you are doing in the forefront of your mind will allow your heart to remain pure to accomplish a wonderful work.
These were just a few reasons why it is important to have your heart prepared. We all want to be vessels of honor for use in the Master’s hand. When we give up our own agendas and yield ourselves to the heart of God, we become more effective to do a work that will bless so many.
Here are also a few things that you can do to help prepare your heart:
- Pray
- Spend time alone with the Lord.
- Read, meditate and study the Word
- Examine your heart: thoughts, motives, behaviors
On a daily basis seek to keep your heart right, strong and pure.
No one wants to eat a cake half-baked and likewise no one should want to go on missions being half-effective.
Prepare your heart for mission and go be an awesome blessing!!