A friend of our ministry works in a food pantry dealing with people every day from the dregs of society. Many have no stove, no refrigerator, little of the necessities of life. She ministers to them but struggles with the bitterness and rebellion she often sees as they demand that she serve them on her terms. She asked this question:
“How do I pray for them and still lay this down and not carry that burden…”
Here was my answer: “How to lay down the burden… I have a apostle friend who stands before 10’s of thousands in Nigeria and South Africa. The blind eyes are opened, cripples raised, miracles daily – – he made a statement one day – “you can’t move in pity”. Pity extinguishes your peace and your anointing because in pity you identify more with the person than the Lord in your life. It’s like the shortest verse in the bible “Jesus wept” over the rich young ruler – but as my dad says in his sermon on this subject “he loved him but he let him go …” You can’t be God to them or have a Messianic complex. You do what you see the Father do and hide your heart and your emotions in God – not allowing others to manipulate or guilt you into serving their agenda – which meets their need but doesn’t require change. “
Kathy Lacy Caughron says:
Great word for me.