#7 || Practising Dependence on God
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Hey! How’s it going?? :D
It’s been a few weeks since I announced where I’m off to Hawai’i to join YWAM Ships Kona and Holoholo Ministries to help run their Discipleship Training Schools for the next two years. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the previous blog posts, about all of that, then check them out on the Blog page of the site! :)
One of the founding values of YWAM, as I shared ever so briefly in the last post, was value number 16. That being:
Practice Dependence on God – YWAM is called to practice a life of dependence upon God for financial provision.
In this post I’m going to dive more into this, and how I, becoming a member of YWAM, will be living out this value as well. Stick around and find out more! :)
From Antiquity…
This value has been woven into the very nature and being of YWAM; living a life that is totally dependant on God’s provision for finance and everything in between. Loren himself lived upon this value ever since the starting days of YWAM right until his graduation earlier this October. In his books Is That Really You God? and Daring To Live on The Edge, Loren recounts countless times where he has lived out this very value; seeing God coming through at every time.
This value can be seen even within antiquity, within the life of Paul the Apostle; seen in the book of Acts. Whilst it is potentially more common knowledge that Paul worked as a tent-maker with Prisicilla and Aquilla (Acts 18:1-3; 20:33-35; Philippians 4:14-16); Paul writes often about the support he received from the brothers and sisters of the churches in Asia Minor and across the Mediterranean in Greece; thanking them for the majority of those times, and petitioning at others.
A Map of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (c.53-57 AD) Source: SBS Coursework
Whilst Paul did work to gain his support for his missionary journeys, he did largely rely on this financial support from the churches; even during a season of famine in Jerusalem, as is prophesied and fulfilled at the start of the book of Acts. Paul was fully reliant on the Lord and His leading throughout the three mission trips that he took through Asia and across the Mediterranean; even at times where the Lord would block Him from entering one place to instead go to another (Acts 16:6).
…To Now
So, what does that mean for me today in the 21st Century?
Well, YWAM still operates off this value, and it means that in becoming a member of YWAM I too will be living out this value of depending on God for finance also. So for my material needs; clothes, sundries, medicine, food etc. I will be gathering and seeking partners who will come alongside what I’m doing to come and sow into this calling, work and ministry. Similar to Paul in the book of Acts.
I’ve already begun to gather financial and spiritual partners, brothers and sisters who are willing to give in whatever way that they can. Further, I’m currently working a couple of jobs during the last few weeks to also do my own part; also like Paul. Though, I recognise that I can only do so much, and that in the longer-term, working two jobs and being a part of full-time ministry is not something that I will be able to do.
It seems illogical within our own minds to do something like this. I am not unaware of that in the least. Having a 9-5 job, settling down and setting roots is certainly the more physically comfortable option. But spiritually, I would be unrequited in the things that God has given me.
To move nations to live a lifestyle that offers no worldly security or promises for financial profit or even stability. Yet this is the life of a missionary in YWAM, a life that is dedicated to fulfilling His calling and divine-purpose of us. A life that is heaven-sent to make Him known in all the world, and forsaking all things that bring self-contentment, to bring Him greater glory through that calling.
So, What Next?
My initial goal at the moment is to raise £800 a month to cover the first few months of me living over in Hawai’i. The breakdown is as follows (monthly):
£500 will goes towards Monthly Rent
£50 will goes towards Monthly Food Contributions (3 Meals a Day, Monday-Friday)
£50 will goes to Laundry, Ablutions and Meals for the Weekends
£200 will go towards saving up for International Outreach Trips that occur during the DTS; and at other times during my time over there.
This may seem a lot, or rather not all that much to live off; depends on the person I suppose haha! But this my initial goal for what this next season brings; starting at January. At the moment I have £75 a month generously donated from people, and I’m humbled by this amount raised to say the least.
Though, I still need to raise another £725, which I am confident that the Lord will provide for what is ahead.
I hope this brings some insight into what lays ahead for me and for the lifestyle of being a Missionary in YWAM. If you want to learn more, then by all means get in contact and I’d love to chat more!
Or, if you feel led to give, then by all means contact me and I would love to share more with you over a call or through email :)
God bless!
Ro :)
