The best way to describe my time in the ISeed program is – The Lord is faithful! The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Ps 126:3, NIV). Inspired by Dora’s challenge to spend more time in adoration in her post last month, this post will simply be one of praise to God for all the blessings He has showered on me this past year. He is worthy of praise.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Ps 23:1, KJV)
I praise God for so beautifully working out my OPT, for directing my steps and satisfying my hearts desires as He led me to serve among people who are experienced in doing ministry and gave me opportunities to grow in my understanding of discipleship. As is His nature, He even blessed me with surprising lessons to take away from my experience.
We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19, ESV)
I praise God for the staff and volunteers with IFI who invested in me and truly desired to bless me and see me grow in this year. I praise God for the interns who blessed me through their testimonies of God’s work in their lives and their genuine longing to follow God. I praise God for my mentors who graciously listened to my woes, wisely shared from their experience and lovingly prayed with me and encouraged me.
Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt 28:20b, NIV)
I praise God for opportunities to grow in my love for Him and my neighbour through classes and through ministry. I praise God for equipping me to serve Him and His people and to bring Him glory. I have been stretched and challenged and felt tempted to get discouraged, but the comfort of being in Christ and having God’s presence with me in all circumstances, the truth of His Word and the reminder to keep relying on Him in my weakness and to trust in His Spirit to work through me and in the hearts of those I serve have given me strength to continue ministry.
Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Cor 3:7, NASB)
I praise God for the students I have met and gotten to know. I have seen God’s work in their hearts and been reminded that this is His work not mine. He has encouraged me and blessed me through these friends. From fun parties to serving together to deep spiritual conversations, we have been able to grow in friendship and explore important questions of faith.
The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14, NLT)
One of the greatest blessings of this year has been the opportunity to participate in Yeshu Satsangs and see how faith in Jesus can be celebrated within my own culture. I have come to appreciate the beauty of worshipping Christ through Hindi bhajans and traditional forms of worship. I have also been challenged to think about difficult questions that must be answered as we learn to contextualize our faith.
Finally I praise God because I know even now as I prepare to leave, that He is the one leading me and that His Spirit is in me. Apart from Him I can do nothing (John 15:5b), but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26b).
Some of the IFI staff who invested in the lives of the interns this year.