When the ordinary becomes extraordinary

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

As I was making my bed one morning I thought about what a routine it is. It's mundane work that must be done each morning. I guess the same could be said for washing the same dishes day after day or doing the same laundry week after week. Most of those daily chores can be done without much thought. But that particular morning I heard God's Spirit speak to my heart. With the sun rising each morning and setting each evening, God has been doing the same routine within the universe for eons. The sun comes up each morning and the moon goes through its phases each month. The seasons change each year and the cycle has continued since the beginning of time. 

What does that tell me about God? He is faithful and He expects His children to be faithful also. Psalm 136 reminds us over and over that "His love endures forever." 

Years ago God's Spirit prompted me to begin praying for the lost people in the world. I initially started with a map from an old atlas. I marked off each country as I prayed for the people who lived there. In time, I found the Every Home for Christ World Prayer Map and began praying around the world each month. I don't know how many editions of the map I have used, but I can honestly say that I have prayed around the world for at least 10 years. 

I suppose you could say that I have been faithful in prayer for the lost people of the world, but the trouble with that kind of prayer life is that you have no way of gauging answered prayer. It hasn't stopped me though, I continue to pray month after month, year after year.

While reading a devotion in The Upper Room one morning I had the distinct impression that God was showing me an answer to prayer. The devotional was written by a person living in Estonia who came to a belief in Jesus Christ only recently. As I read the devotional, I sensed that maybe this was one of those people I had been praying for faithfully for so many years. 

My ordinary prayers have been heard and God is constantly answering those requests without my being aware of the answers. The ordinary has become extraordinary. I think sometimes our Heavenly Father gives us a glimpse into the kingdom as a reminder of His faithfulness and encouragement for us to remain faithful. 

Some day I'll walk through the gates of heaven and be greeted by those who entered the kingdom because I prayed for God to reach them. I pray for Him to reveal Himself to those who are seeking Him. I know that His will is that none would perish and so I continue, in faith, to ask that He rescue the perishing and give hope to the hopeless. 

God is faithful in keeping the universe in motion, He is faithful in providing for all my needs and the very least I can do is remain faithful in prayer.