My wife and I had been working overseas for more than 20 years when we decided to take a one-year, stateside furlough. At the time I remember feeling that I was in a pretty good place spiritually because I fed myself the Word and people in my life considered me the “Bible guy” and a fairly good teacher.
Looking back, I now realize there weren’t many people exhorting and encouraging me to go deeper in my walk with the Lord. Many times missionaries serve with few other believers and little—if any—good Bible instruction. During our furlough, we found a church to antidote the poor teaching and lack of iron-sharpening Christian fellowship we had on the mission field.Throughout Psalm 119, we’re told that God revives us through His Word, and that is exactly what I experienced on furlough… a soul revival I didn’t know I needed. Weekly my wife and I sat under sound Biblical teaching. My fire for the Lord was further flamed in home groups centered on the Word and fellowship with men and women whose lives were revived by it. I was hungry for more alone time with God, and—as the Scriptures saturated my life—the Holy Spirit applied it to my heart.
My revival was inexorable and inevitable. Difficult to measure and clearly evident. When we set out on our next missionary adventure I was a changed person—my soul was revived by the Word of God.
God, revive the weary through Your Word. Show us where to create margin in our busy schedules to spend alone time with You and in fellowship with our brothers and sisters. Amen.
-written by a missionary to the Middle East
Field Worker
East-West's missionaries and national partners are stationed in nearly 50 countries around the world that are categorized as unreached or restricted access. For security reasons, we do not disclose their identities.