Letting the Devil Win

A few months ago I posted about a great mission conferance where I heard 4 native missionaries preach and sing. The next week I wrote the missionary to Chile to tell him what an encouragement I recieved from seeing him. I knew he wouldn't be back to his country until May, but I guess I was hoping his wife would write back. Weeks passed and I heard nothing. I started to think I shouldn't write the other families until their father/husband was back. Then I started to wonder if it really mattered. Would they care that a young girl from America took the time to write them? Does a little letter make any difference in thier busy life? Don't they have more important things to do anyways? As bad as this sounds, I was starting to think this way.

At first I prayed for them every day. Sometimes I would even think about a certain family throughout the whole day, praying for them diligently. But . . . the devil slipped in once again. I got busy and my mind started thinking about other things. Although I didn't forget them, I did forget how much they had blessed me and how much I desired to be a blessing to them. I went from praying for them every day to praying for them when I thought about them.

Today while I was out side washing the van and my car with Bethany, the missionary I had wrote called from his home in Chile! I was a little dissapointed that I didn't hear the phone ring, but I did get to listen to the message he left on our answering machine. I was absolutley thrilled that he took the time to call! It was such a blessing! The letter I sent must have been a blessing to him, not what the devil had been telling me.

At the same time that I was rejoicing over this blessing from God I also felt convicted for not praying for them as I should have. Now I can't wait to write the other 3 families and try to be an encouragement to them . . . I know they'll be an encouragement to me! Praise the LORD, the devil didn't win this time!