Promise Keeper

I remember one day when I was in elementary school, my mom and I went to pick up my sister from practice.  She hopped in the car and told us how her day was, and proceeded to tell us about how that morning before school started, she told someone about Jesus under the bleachers.  I thought to myself “how. freakin. COOL.”  I had always wanted to tell people about Jesus and they always told us in church to share the gospel with others, but I didn’t fully understand what that meant and I had NO idea where to start.  

When I was about ten years old I had a very clear dream; there were 3 young people, about my age, standing on a porch.  We got on the topic of Jesus and they didn’t really understand who he was or what he’d done, so I got to share the gospel with them.  My mom helped me to recognize that this is one way the Lord speaks to us.  A few weeks later, I stood in front of the congregation on a Sunday at church and told about this dream I had, and the hope it sparked in me.

That same year, I went on my first mission trip, where I fully expected to tell someone who had never heard of Jesus alllll about him.  Unfortunately, this didn’t happen as I thought it would.  However, a young woman that poured into and discipled me while I was a kid wrote me a letter about the ways I showed who Jesus is.  It opened my eyes to the fact that I can be an example of who he is without explaining.  I thought maybe the dream wouldn’t pan out exactly how it was in the dream…maybe I was just supposed to be a light, an example. 

I share this dream every time I share my testimony.  This excitement and hope to share the gospel out of a genuine and loving heart.  But it wasn’t till today that I saw this dream, this prayer, come to fruition. 

This month we have spent quite literally hiking up mountains and through valleys to reach people.  Many who have heard Jesus’ name but don’t understand or know his significance.  I’ve watched people light up after it clicks, I’ve seen more people accept Christ as their Savior this year than I have my whole life.  I’ve seen the Holy Spirit show up and work through me as I leave places not able to remember a word I just said.  Today there were several people that made the decision to choose Jesus!  But there was one house in particular that felt different.  We walked up and I sat down.  As three young people (the first time I’ve seen young people in the villages), about my age, wandered over and sat on the porch.  One a believer, two that didn’t understand who Jesus is.  We shared, encouraged and prayed.  The moment we walked away, my dream came directly to mind.  There was a question that was asked to me last week in a Bible study that read “What promises has God fulfilled in your life this year?”  In all honesty, I answered it quite vaguely, not taking the time to really sit and reflect.  But in this moment he showed me a direct promise and prayer that he answered, from when I was 10 years old.  The three young people in my dream were directly in front of my eyes.  A little bit older now than they were at the time.  I spent a long moment in awe, reflecting on the dream, reflecting on how good he is.  My God is a promise keeper.