Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Warrior Generation
Promises for the Spent
What’s up, fellow warriors?
Recently came across some cool verses in Isaiah, and they reminded me of you, God’s soldiers on the ground in Native America. They come from chapter 58:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Some cool promises here! If you “spend yourself”, and I’ve heard no better description of what a youth leader for Native young people does, what you do is going to get noticed! He’ll give you all you need, even “strengthen your frame” – make your health better! He’ll protect you as your “guard”. He’ll “guide” you with supernatural wisdom, and meet your needs whatever the environment you’re surrounded in. He’ll hear your prayers more, “the Lord will answer” when you spend yourself on behalf of the people you’re serving!
God loves it when, in the midst of our teaching ministry, we are also meeting physical needs. When we do that, I believe he meets ours in supernatural ways. The next time you’re counseling a young person, why not ask if they’ve got enough food at home? Why not ask what they need, then do all you can to meet it?
How about gathering a few of your young leaders to regularly do food/blanket, etc. drives so you “let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). People can argue with your words. It’s hard to argue with “no strings attached” help!
Please…be sure to get on the forum boards and share your experiences! We need each other!
In Him,
Doug Hutchcraft