Small Perspective

As I looked out the window early this morning, I saw the moon, bright in the morning sky. I thought of how powerful our God is. How steadfast throughout eternity He is in His purpose and His creative flawless character.

With this I thought of my personal paradigm of life. My part in life seems so small at times when my eyes are open to the vastness of my Father in heaven. Katie and I have an assignment here in KC at the International House of Prayer and more specific at the International House of Prayer University here (IHOPU). Often it seems so small! However with all the events of this last week globally I see how significant all the small parts we play are. Let me break this down into small bites and maybe the small explosion of my mind being blown will bring you into a moment of encouragement.

I think of all the small tasks it takes for IHOPKC to operate and function day after day. We have six main campuses of operation here in the ministry, including IHOPU, Hope City, Children's Equipping Center, The Red Bridge Center (the 24/7 prayer room), Forerunner Church, and the Herrnhut apartments. Each location is filled with laborers that carry a specific assignment. Without going through the thousands of points of contact each person has to the overall mandate of this ministry I want to show the value of our Father in heaven's ultimate purpose in even the smallest of one of these points.

Our foundational mandate here in KC is the Prayer Room itself. Think of it, an event arises in the earth; the tragedy in Afghanistan for example. Where else can a group of people (intercessors) be mobilized to pray for a global catastrophe in a moment and cry out to God 24/7 with words He gives them to pray and come into agreement with His heart for justice and truth. In the midst of this cry, a gap is bridged between the global body of Christ and the righteous will of God.

Now I look at the thousand points of labor to maintain all the angles of support for this "Prayer Room". The seemingly most insignificant job has a far reaching value to the intentions and heart of God. How can keeping one room cool during a hot summer day be important to the will of God or cleaning up a coffee spill in a hallway carry much value? All together through relationships and the carrying of a task we move the body of Christ further into the intentions of God our Father. We flow and wrestle in the journey of life together, exercising each part of the body to perform the eternal purpose of the Head.

I look even deeper into our personal calling here. How would we even be able to maintain our place on the wall of intercession here without the strength of all the supporters we have from around the planet? The support we receive both financially and through prayer month after month is foundational to our ability to carry out our assignment and purpose here for this time in history. I believe we will look back a thousand years from now and be amazed that even in our weak frames here on earth, the small part we played was so powerful and significant in the grand purpose of God's ultimate intention. He is building a Family and His desire is that all would be saved and be a part of this family as sons and daughters. No son is insignificant! Matt 10 says: whoever gives a cup of cold water.. shall by no means lose his reward! The labor of this temporal life seems so insignificant at times but is it truly a waste of time to give all we have to the seemingly frivolous, incidental efforts in our journey of life? I think we will be amazed as we enter the day of the Lord just around the corner and beyond, just how valuable we are to each other and just how taken God is with our "one glance" as individuals and corporately!

I for one am seeing more and more the eternal worth of each part of the body of Christ! Maybe it's just because I am getting older, or maybe it's because my heart is being awakened more and more to the heart of my Father in heaven, but I find myself becoming tender about the smallest of things in life. Those cups of cold water when given from a heart of love that is given to purpose of the Father often move me to tears. Is there a higher standard or way to live life? Living from the perspective of the Father in heaven who has designed it all with flawless intention. What did He know of each of us before the foundation of the world? What are His thoughts of us in this time of man? What does He see in us as His eternal inheritance in the future? I think as we begin seeing from the perspective of our Father in heaven and Christ Jesus, His Son through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we will begin seeing life from a higher perspective and invest our time, money and energies differently in the seemingly weakness of this moment in time!

"Father in Heaven, move on our hearts today to step into your paradigm of life! Cause us to see and hear from Your eternal worth and perspective! Save us from the accusations of our adversary that temp us to live "lesser than" and help us to live in the eternal purpose found in even the smallest yes we can muster up".