The war in Ukraine has displaced and affected many there. And yet I believe God is sending me there.
As I prepared to go to Ukraine, I was thinking about my greatest need. What is the biggest prayer request that I have? Finances? Safety? Connections? Health? Miracles? God to do mighty things? Many to be touched by the love of God? All of these I would love to see and have- but none of them are my greatest need.
Traveling Can Affect Our Relationship With God
I have been to missions trips to Ethiopia, Mexico, Poland/Ukraine- and realized that traveling can affect our intimacy with God. We get out of our routine and sometimes it is hard to make time for God- to just be with Him- in His Presence, at His feet. Strange how we can be on a missions field- doing things for God, and yet neglecting God Himself.
And when I realized how easily I can get distracted and not spend time with God Himself while traveling, I earnestly prayed,
Lord help me to never neglect You and Your Presence, especially when I am traveling and out of my routine. Help me to make time for You and Your Word, to be with You, and to be in Your Word. Empower me to make time for You whether I am in a group or alone, in a car or in airplane…
Jesus is Our Peace
You see, We can be in the safest place on earth, have all the money we need, have perfect health, and great relationships- and still be fearful, anxious and full of worry. I don’t ever want to be fearful, anxious or full of worry- even when there is a war, and bombing and scary situations.
I realized that my number one need is not safety, finances, health, connections, or relationships. What I need the most is to be with Jesus, at His feet, in His Presence. I need Him.
Because you see, when we have been with Jesus, we start to smell like Jesus. The sweet aroma of His presence, His peace, and His love robs off on us and we carry it throughout the day to others.
No need to strive to have peace- just be with Jesus and accept His peace and you will walk in it.
As we gaze upon Jesus and adore Him- we are changed from glory to glory to look more like Him. More conformed into His image. Jesus is love. He is peace, He is more then a conqueror, He is patient, He is hope.
And the more we gaze on Him -the more we walk in His love, peace, patience, hope and as conquerors who can face any challenge and overcome!
Grace and peace can also be multiplied to us through the knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:2).
In other words, the more we get to know God, who He is and His character, the more peace we will have. No need to worry if you truly know Him as Jehovah Jireh- Our provider, Jehovah Shalom- Lord our Peace, Jehovah Rapha- Lord our Healer… etc.
God will also keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
So if I lose my peace it is because have forgotten who God truly is or my mind is not stayed on Him.
My Greatest Need
While I would love others to pray for my safety in Ukraine, for provision, for divine connections, for will of God to be done in Ukraine through me, and for many to receive divine healing and come to knowledge of God- all these things are not my greatest desires, and not my greatest prayer requests.
My greatest need- is God Himself.
My biggest prayer request is that I will not get too busy or too distracted to spend time with God- to be at His feet- adoring Him. My biggest need is that I don’t get too preoccupied with news or circumstances around me.
My biggest need is that no matter where I am, and how inconvenient the time is or unsafe, that my focus would be on God, that my mind will be stayed on Him always.
That I will never neglect His Presence. That I will never neglect God, even while serving Him.
In all the ministry and in being a Martha, I never want to lose the heart of Mary- that longed to be at the feet of Jesus, adoring Him, listening to Him, gazing at Him.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
In 2017, I wrote this poem, and want to share it:
One Thing is Needful
One thing is still needful- to be at Your feet
And yet I neglected that time at Your feet
I chose entertainment, and Facebook and blogs
I chose other stuff and not You, my God
And I noticed not, how dry I became
How restless and anxious, how empty and vain
I tried to find comfort and peace for my soul
Outside of Your goodness, outside of You Lord
The Enemy also, did whisper to me
“You are so unworthy; He just you won’t love”
I tried to find comfort, I tried to find peace
For I have forgotten the Gospel of grace
For I have forgotten my riches in Christ
That Christ is the answer, His righteousness- mine
For I have forgotten how much He me loves
In Him I am worthy, with Him there is peace
That grace is abundant; there’s grace upon grace
That Christ is sufficient and sin He forgives
And I have forgotten, that I am God’s child
That I now have access to God’s throne of grace
And I have forgotten how great is this God
How glorious, majestic, how holy, and big
That it is a privilege to walk with this God
Yet I have neglected, neglected I God
I could not find peace in all other stuff
I came back to God, repented and bowed
And I was reminded: His love never stopped
His grace is abundant, and always He loves
My soul now has peace, it’s filled with His love
My sin is forgiven and I am washed clean
My heart is now joyful and I now have rest
For Christ is sufficient and He is enough
And I can now worship; I worship and praise
I praise God for mercy; for love and His grace
I worship this God, I bow at His feet
This God who me loves, has grace and forgives!
8/15/17
Y. Gorelova
If you will be praying for me, the most important prayer that I need is to never neglect God. To never lose intimacy with Him. And that all my ministry will flow out naturally out of my relationship with God.
Yes, pray for other things… but most importantly pray that I stay full of God, and carry the sweet aroma of Jesus no matter where I go.
Perfect Peace is only found in Jesus. I want Him. And if I have Him and am filled with Him- I will have perfect peace… and perfect love… and everything else.
And to conclude, I would like to share one of the songs that I love when I spend time with Jesus. Maybe this song will disturb the religious people. But it is precious to Jesus and my relationship with Him:)