The story behind "why Africa" involves a young Christ follower asking God about his life. That young Christ follower was me and that prayer was prayed 15 years ago. God answered and I had a vision of teaching smiling African children about the Lord and playing soccer in an unknown village. In 2006, that prayer and vision became reality as our stranded vehicle left me in Ifunda, Tanzania with a village full of children to share Jesus and play soccer. Only God can orchestrate this stuff!

 

This trip will be to equip, train and to provide. We will be building beds, tables and chairs and purchasing mattresses and kitchen supplies for Mamma Tedi's Orphan home. I am amazed at what God is doing. God is continuing to write the story of Covenant in Africa and He is leaving His hand print on everything.

 

 

I can only imagine what He is going to do! So, I wait. I wait on Him and His direction. I pray and then get up off my knees and hustle! There is no magic formula but a simple desire to bless my God that has greatly blessed me. To stay tuned to His heart, I attempt to stay connected to His purpose, plans and passion. It is not a act but a lifestyle. May I learn to do it more.

 

The recipe for a heart that beats like God is not some secret notion or divine power. No, it is the steady and hard work of recognizing who you are and whose you are. We are redeemed people living in a fallen world. If we don't watch our heart we may end up looking more like the world then our God.

 

To stay close to the heart of God we need to stalk Him! When you stalk God you are pursuing His heart, passion and will. One definition of stalking is "the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture" (Princeton University-Farlex). Thus, stalking God is a radical pursuit of what God desires as we pray for "His Kingdom to come and His will to be done" (Matthew 6:8-13). We are attempting to capture the very heart of God!

 

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, was called the wisest man that ever lived. His instructions for staying close to God call for us to "watch daily at God's gates" and to "wait at God's doorposts". These instructions are a recipe for a heart that not only longs for God but acts for God. It is my prayer to be that person. I pray that you may desire that intimacy as well.

 

I know some people will be turned off by the use of the word "stalking" but I really don't believe I have the ability to pester, annoy or harass God. In fact, I am sure God delights in any attention I take off of this world and place on Him. Thus, I want to talk about stalking God!

 

To live the life God desires you need to be waiting on Him and watching for Him. Wait for God in hope, prayer and faith and watch for Him in and through all things. God is always speaking, always moving and always directing. It is us that need to stop the spinning wheel long enough to pursue Him with passion and purpose. He is awaiting our attention.

 

Friend, this week take the time to chase God. Wait on Him! Watch for Him! When He breathes upon you and drops His passion in your heart then run your race for Him and through Him with great passion and purpose. I know you will be blessed in both the endeavor and the outcome. You never know where you will go but God surely does.