Faithful when it’s small

I just returned from a weekend of ministering in Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) as we hosted a onething conference. We had a great conference with nearly 2,000 in attendance and many testimonies of people experiencing the Holy Spirit and committing to walk closer with Jesus. There were several healings and first-time salvations as well. One young many was delivered from drug addiction and born again during the morning session on Saturday! To hear more about the conference and see some behind the scenes videos check out the onething Facebook page or the onething YouTube page.

A highlight for me personally was that I got to speak at Jack Deere’s church Sunday morning. When I was born again 13 years ago there were two teachers that I immediately began to follow and listen to (cassette tapes back then) The two teachers were Mike Bickle and Jack Deere. So sitting there in the front row yesterday morning with Jack Deere a few seats down as I prepared to preach was so awesome and humbling. I cried several times during the worship time as I reflected on the Lord’s kindness and mercy in my life and bringing me along as He has so gently.   There are many believers there in the DFW area laboring in the place of prayer, fasting and worship. They are very sincere and are longing for a mighty breakthrough of God in that city. One of the houses of prayer hosted us for the weekend known as The Prayer Room of DFW. They served our team so well and went above and beyond in their hospitality and labor for the conference. I pray that they reap musicians, singers and intercessors for the labor of building persistent prayer and worship!

I spent some time with the leadership team on Saturday afternoon, saw their current prayer room, the new facility they’re looking to get into very soon and an inside peak of their weekly labor that has been going on for over 5 years. I was so impressed with their steadfast spirit and willingness to give their strength, time and money to building a place where Jesus is praised and adored 24/7 which is their goal.

As I sat with them the word I was sensing from the Lord was faithfulness. Over and over my heart was moved with compassion as I could sense God’s heart for them and a phrase that He was saying over them. That phrase: “you are being faithful in what I’ve called you to do, you are faithful, you are faithful, you are faithful…”

Many times we think that the Lord isn’t really with us in our attempts of ministry until the ministry gets big with tons of people, cool websites, everyone talking about it, etc. Sometimes we think that God’s favor only looks big, visible, growing and thriving. Well for this group of leaders that hasn’t been the case. Their ministry with The Prayer Room of DFW has mostly remained small with not many knowing about them. Many could easily say that God’s favor must not be with them or the Lord isn’t really taking them serious. They are unmoved by this in their reach and work for God.

The Lord is watching during these times of smallness more than we may think. These times matter to God, matter dramatically actually. These are the times we prove our sincerity, our true heart to serve and love God and God alone. These are the times for us to show God that with our without the attention of the crowds, the buzz of the community or excitement for the next meeting we’re going to stay steady continuing on in what He has called us to do.

As I sat with the team and heard of their day in and day out labor of prayer meetings with only a few in the room, at hard times of the day my heart was bursting with the word of the Lord for them! The Lord sees, the Lord knows our labor, He’s watching and He is so moved when we stay steady and remain faithful during the small times. When it’s small He is with us! When it’s hard He is with us! These times matter to God.

Stay steady in what He’s called you to do no matter what the external may look like. If God has called you to it, that’s enough. We work hard, labor with steadiness because Jesus is worthy of the labor of our love.

Be blessed,

Wes