Holy Discontent

I want to first start by saying that I have known for a while that God has called me to love the broken, hurting and outcast. To love the ones that others pass by and look down on. Not only to love them, but to make myself available to be "interrupted" by them; to talk and converse and befriend them.

I have also known for a while that God has called me into youth ministry. Whether its been involving myself in pastoral leadership or speaking (Gods lately shown me visions of me SPEAKING as a leader of conferences and camps which is awesome).

The two are related because both things are something that I have a heavy heart for. Both of which have been termed "Holy Discontents".

I say all this because today I felt a little bit of how God feels about both of these things in my life; I felt completely broken for them. I love them so much, and God does too. It was like for a moment I caught a glimpse of what God was feeling. My heart, which I've been praying for to be aligned with my Fathers, was actually aligned. My spirit was at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus looking down at the earth and hurting so badly for the ones who are denied love by others. Who are downtrodden and spat on. Who are hurting. Who are naked. Who are homeless. Who are sick. Who are hungry. Who are lonely.

It was like I suddenly realized that I was happy, and everyone was hurting. I wanted so badly to grow extra long arms, or multiply myself, and give everyone a big bear hug and to comfort them, and to tell them that I loved them; even if no one else did and that more importantly GOD their AMAZING CREATOR loves them.

All of this hit me, and I felt so incredibly burdened; in the best way possible.

I know now that I have the capacity to love, that my heart is aligned with God my Father; I'm going to run with this now. I am going to go out and continue to love as only God knows how, because its not going to be me loving, but me just being the vessel for which Christs love will be poured out.

I ask that you pray continually pray for my strength, endurance, and motivation to carry out this "Holy Discontent" like Nehemiah did with the wall, like Noah did with the arc, like Abraham did with Isaac. I know that satan is going to attack me because I have confidence and I am a leader; satan hates leaders with a vision and a love for God. It just means that I'm unstoppable.

Pray that I don't lose motivation.

Pray that I don't fall victim to spiritual amnesia. Because the God who delivered Israel from Egypt, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who flooded the earth, the God who took Enoch, the God who stopped the sun, the God who loves, the God who provides, the God who sent down His only son to die for me, the God who was, is, and will come can do this for me.

Its not too much for a righteous man to ask for help carrying out a task that is too much for him to carry. I need help remembering that.

Know that God will accept your request if you come before His throne humbled; "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16), we are righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior; and if we pray in His name it will be done. Pray with expectancy. Be confident.

I love you all so much and I felt lead to share this with you all.
I hope this excites you as much as it excites me.

that's my time :)
-Josh