In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)In just under six weeks the noise level at Tejas will begin its ascent to the roar that accompanies each summer. On May 19 the 2008 Summer Ministry Team will arrive to begin training. What that means on this side of April is recruiting, planning, recruiting, preparation, recruiting...
With just under 40 hired, we are ahead of where we were at this time last year, but still quite a distance from the hiring goals that we set. In my weaker moments that translates to what is commonly referred to as panic. The beautiful thing, however, is that in His grace and infinite wisdom, the Lord had me study and memorize a section of Romans 8 in the Fall. Among other things in the passage that He has so faithfully used in my life, verses 26 and 27 have come to be a rallying cry for me.
I don't even know how to pray most days. He has made it pretty clear that He is not about my comfort. So, when I ask that He bring staff (and bring them in a timely manner), my motivation is mostly selfish. I mean, it would make my life and job easier, not to mention that little issue of job performance, if we had more staff than we knew what to do with. The truth is that this is His ministry. He's got a plan. So, recently, in the light of Romans 8, I have been praying not for staff to come, but for Him to be glorified in all that happens here: in my work, in my attitude, in my walk with Him, in the way that college students are ministered to -- all of it. Because, even when I don't know what or how to pray, I can rest in the fact that the Spirit Himself is interceding for me according to the will of God.
Some of us on staff have started to meet on Tuesday afternoons to pray specifically for the summer, knowing that the Spirit is able to interpret our whines and sometimes panic-stricken pleas into the will of God.
Natalie West - Summer Camp Director