By Kathi Gable

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I trust God. Do I do this well? Do I trust that He will answer my prayers? Do i trust that he is always with me? Do i trust that He loves and cares about me? do i trust that He will provide? Am i in tuned with the Holy Spirit? Or do I give him lip service and go my own way?

Jan 21 has been on the Love Walks schedule for some months, as our January trip. Since we have a trip every month, its generally posted on the website well in advance. I had it on my calendar and had rearranged my work schedule to be able to go. Each ministry is posted; kids, food distribution, construction, Fiesta. Shortly before each trip, the month’s devotions are posted, contact is made with our friends in Mexico, supplies are purchased.

This month was quite the same. Until….. Some information was made available to us and some strong prodding came from the Spirit. Through much prayer and discernment, it was decided that the January LW Mexico crew would not be going to Mexico. This was not a decision made lightly or as a result of fear. But in humility, obedience and surrender. We packed up the cars and drove North instead of South. We spent the weekend in submission to the Holy Spirit, in continual prayer Saturday from 6am till 6pm. There were sign-ups in 30-60 minute increments but this schedule did not last. The prayer room (ok, actually it was a shed) was filled with 3-5 people continually, no one staying less than an hour at a time. We were committed to pray for our neighbors; the people who live in Puerto Penasco; our brothers and sisters who deal with poverty and drug cartels, and the far reaching affects of those things. We prayed by name for those we know, and we prayed for those whose names we don’t know, including the people involved in the violence of gangs and drugs; we prayed for the government, and we prayed for LW and the other Americans who have ministries in mexico. After that we had a time of fellowship, Scripture study, worship, and communion.

Its funny, i prayed for a week prior that the weekend in Mexico would be Holy Spirit led. How little my faith proved to be when i was SO amazed at how God answered specifically; how He worked in each of us through the Holy Spirit.

I was blessed beyond measure to have been able to have these folks at my house. It was a blessing to me, a blessing to my husband, and a blessing to my church (we doubled the population of the church on Sunday!) I am excited to see how God continues to use LW and to see the way our hearts have changed as a result of having the privilege of spending this concentrated time with Him.

Scripture says we are not to be fearful. I believe that. It says too, that Satan prowls around like a hungry lion waiting to devour. Only through a close relationship with Christ are we even able to hear and discern His word apart from Satan’s schemes. It was not fear that kept us from Mexico this weekend – but we also would not be defiant in forging through with “our” ministry and “our” agenda when we heard His leading. I think that throughout our lives, sometimes we hear but don’t listen. Sometimes we listen but don’t heed. God’s ways don’t always make sense to us, nor do his plans always seem to fit ours. I don’t want to have an agenda and ask God to come along. Its way better to follow Him.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9