Thailand - James Yu (6/15/11)

Last-minute prayer requests

These last few weeks after school ended and before the trip starts have been some of the most spiritually sluggish times I’ve had for a while. The sluggishness isn’t because this trip hasn’t been on my mind, but rather, because it’s constantly been on my mind. I’ve talked so much with people about preparation, and ministry, and dying to oneself that these terms have taken on a mundane air. Never for once have I consciously acknowledged that I’m capable of going on this trip and braving it through sheer force of will, but subconsciously, all this talk, preparation, and anticipation have ironically made this trip into a commonplace thing, a “no big deal” that I’ll go to and return from in forty days and already, post-trip plans drift into my head. I know that this trip isn’t to be taken lightly, but my heart has been off and I didn’t even realize it. I now understand that there’s a great danger in over-preparation. I hate the fact that I’m only catching this now, but I’m glad I did, so that I can repent and start praying against this mentality.

Prayer requests:

1. Realizing my error means that I’ll probably start feeling inferior to my fellow trekkers, wondering why they are spiritual giants compared to me. It’s a natural impulse and something I struggle with a lot. But I know that’s not what God wants for me. Pray that I’ll discover healthy humility.

2. Pray that I truly encounter God. I didn’t realize consciously until now that I’ve been making God in my own convenient image. I’ve been putting words in his mouth and he’s been saying what I want him to say.

3.  Pray that this trip changes me for the better. I know that this trip will be life-changing, but the question is whether that life-change is traumatizing or renewing.