Childhood dreams

As a child, I wanted to be a missionary.  Now I know that I am no more equipped to preach the Gospel than I am to fly to the moon without assistance.  I do not know what is in the hearts and minds of other people, nor do I know the words that will touch them and bring them to know and trust in the one God, abandoning the gods of the universe to whom they now give allegiance.

What I could not know as a child is that there are "powers and principalities" (Eph. 6) of this world that hold men in their grasp.  Satan is a liar and the father of lies, but he appears as an angel of light to those whose minds and eyes are blinded by what he promises.

Jesus had to fast in the desert 40 days and 40 nights to come to the end of Himself and to be endued with the very wisdom and power of God to overcome the prince of this world.  Be we think we can do battle in our own strength and wisdom.  Paul advises us to "put on the armor of God: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God), and the shoes of the Gospel of peace."  And then he tells us to stand, knowing we are clothed with the power of God Himself, given to us in Christ.  He (Christ) has already met and defeated the prince of this world, and the battle is no longer ours to fight.

Conversion is the work of God.  We must, like Abraham, speak with God about His plans for the souls of those we love.  Abraham could not save Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah -- the angels themselves had a tough go of it--- but he could and did trust God to protect and draw out his family from the destruction of the city.  We pray to the God Who hears our prayer and Who is not powerless to save. We know that when we pray according to His will, He is ready to answer us and to grant our heart's desires.  Will He refuse us anything we ask according to His own Spirit of truth and righteousness?