Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Traveling on my Knees

Episode Transcription

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and thanks for joining me today on Joni and Friends 

I am on pins and needles right now waiting for our Wheels for the World team to come home from Cameroon tomorrow – that nation may be one of the poorest in all of Africa and I know the needs among disabled people there are so desperate.  Well, the team has been there for a couple of weeks and the stories I’ve been hearing on email are nothing short of miraculous.  Not only are the lives of disabled people being reached for Christ, but I know that these volunteers, these physical therapists and seating mechanics will never be the same for having gone on this trip. 

One of the team members is Katy and in her breast pocket she tucked away a little poem to not only keep her inspired, but to remind her of the importance of praying as she worked on each wheelchair and ministered to each disabled child.  Katy has had this poem for awhile, and when she showed it to me, I just had to pass it on to you.  And this is the way it goes.  Just listen to this…   

 

   Last night I took a journey to a land across the seas.  I didn’t go by ship or plane, I traveled on 

   my knees. I saw so many people there in bondage to their sin, and Jesus told me I should go, that

  there were souls to win.  But I said “Jesus, I can’t go to lands across the seas.”  He answered 

   quickly, “Yes, you can by traveling on your knees.”  He said, “You pray, I’ll meet the need.  You 

   call, and I will hear.  It’s up to you to be concerned for lost souls far and near.”  And so I did; I

  knelt in prayer, gave up some hours of ease. And with the Savior by my side, I traveled on my knees.

   As I prayed on, I saw souls saved and twisted persons healed.  I saw God’s workers strength renewed

   while laboring in the field.  I said, “Yes, Lord, I’ll take the job.  Your heart I want to please.  I’ll 

   heed your call and swiftly go by traveling on my knees.” 

Isn’t that a powerful little poem?  And it underscores a wonderful fact about evangelism and global missions – that if we don’t pray, if we don’t pave the way with lots of intercession, if we don’t knock on heaven’s door on behalf of lost souls over there, then hearts simply won’t open.  You can look for yourself in the New Testament… Paul was constantly asking his friends to support him in prayer when he shared the Gospel.  Paul knew that the God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers… he knew that the hearts of those unsaved were stone-cold toward the Good News, but prayer, prayer opens blind eyes… prayer softens stony hearts… and prayer moves the Spirit of Christ into action. 

You may know of a friend who is getting ready to travel overseas to do missions work, and I’d love to send you this little poem to give to him.  It’ll remind your Christian friend to keep intercession, keep prayer, front and foremost when giving the Gospel in a foreign land.  So be sure to look me up today at joniandfriendsradio.org or you can always call at 1-888-522-5664 and I'll send you this beautiful little poem right away.  Oh, and speaking of prayer, would you please join me in praying today that God will impress on people’s hearts the seeds that were planted by our Wheels for the World team over in Cameroon this past week.  Ask the Lord – please ask Him -- to keep these new converts safe in His hand… and join me in praying that they will grow in His Word. Thank you for partnering with me in prayer today, because as you pray you’ll see souls saved and twisted persons healed. You’ll see God’s workers’ strength renewed while laboring in the field. 

 

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