It's Working!

I was talking with another pastor about my work as a city school bus driver.  I mentioned to him of the challenges that the children represent and my assignment to pray for them daily.  I told him that I pray for their salvation, for their parents, for their safety, and that God would change the destructive cycle of broken families.  He also has a passion and the sweat equity of working on the West side of town.  He responded to me and said, “It’s working. Brother Greg, it’s working.  I can tell you, it’s working.”  He was not responding about my prayers, rather he was speaking about the changes that he saw.  He has some stories, but he was speaking by faith…those things that are not presently, but that are real in the future.

When I first heard his response, I thought, “you are wrong, I am with the kids every day.  I see very little change in them.  Many have filthy mouths, they bully with words, and they don’t stay seated.”  Then I heard the words again…”it’s working”.  I knew that God was realigning my thinking to HIS perspective.  As the school year closes, He wanted me to know that intercession mixed with compassion- WORKS.

I think of some of the middles school boys from my bus that I coached basketball during the school year.  Several responded during that time with commitments to the Lord.  That bus route atmosphere has changed drastically.  I think I earned some street cred by investing in their lives.  It sure changed my interaction on the bus in a good way.

I think of the little boy who leaned his head on my shoulder as he exited the bus.  He felt safe and loved, quite unlike his broken home experience.  This is the same child that I have to repeatedly ask to sit down and intervene in his disruptive anger fights…It’s working.  I think of the girl that is bullied because of her weight (she responds defiantly with words and hand gestures) who left the bus crying saying how much she hates riding on my bus.  The next day her brother physically had to put her on the bus.  I told her…”stay near the front, and I will protect you”.  I did.  She smiled as she exited to go to school.  I told her it was going to be a good day…it’s working

Honest, I am not just rambling about stories on a school bus…God wants you and I to hear….ITS WORKING.  Mom and Dad…keep praying for your child that is rebelling and going the wrong way.  God hears your prayers and is making the adjustments in you that will impact your child.  As a wife, trust again and again that God is changing your husband.  God can break the addiction or he will break the man…but God is at work.  Keep praying for salvation for that loved one…if it’s on your heart…its on God’s heart.

Faith is so necessary to walk this life with God.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  This means that we stand on the last word that God spoke about our situation until we see it come to pass.  In humility, we allow God to make all the changes in our own lives as He is bringing about our answers.  We may need to become more forgiving, less judging, more compassionate, and more patient in our responses.  These could be keys to seeing the change in those things that we are praying for to come to pass.

Jesus said, “My Father is always at work.”  Be encouraged, if God is on the job….IT’S WORKING.