The year was 387 and the young man’s father and grandfather were both church leaders. He was continually exposed to the things of God, but it just didn’t take deep root in his heart. And then, the unthinkable happened. The young man was kidnapped by pirates and sold to a pagan prince in Ireland. He became a slave, working tending to cattle. He said that he experienced both hunger and lack of clothing during these years. But he felt God was working in his heart for the first time. He began to pray and pray constantly and began to know this God whom he had been exposed to in his earlier life. He wrote that he was not a believer in the only God but continued in death and in unbelief and God wore him down. He said that had he not gone through this time with God it would have been unlikely that he would have been concerned for the salvation of others because he wasn’t even concerned for himself before. Six years passed before he had the opportunity to escape with the obvious help from the God he had chosen to serve. He went home, trained for the priesthood and then was undecided as to where God wanted him to serve him. He became convinced that God wanted him to return to Ireland to share this Jesus he had come to know. Others had gone to Ireland before him and were well trained. This young man had missed so many years of training that he did not have the polish that others before him had. The Irish lords had not been impressed by the oratory of others who had come to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. But they were struck by this young man who was dedicated to prayer. He believed God heard him and he wanted to spend time with the God who had rescued him first from his slavery to sin and then slavery to Irish overseers. God used that time that this young man sat cold, lonely, hungry and homesick…to break him down and rebuild him as his chosen instrument for this time and this place. Few people know his given name, but the world over knows the name that he took for his ministry in Ireland, Patrick, and there and around the world he is remembered as St. Patrick. On this St. Patrick’s day there will be parades, partying and the wearing of green. But the real life of St. Patrick is the big story today, it reminds us that God will not waste our days. That even when it seems as though we are just marking time, he is about the business of conforming us to the image of his son Jesus. God used him to reach into a pagan country and plant God’s seeds of love and kindness and forgiveness and eternal life. And if you find yourself wondering what God is going to do with you or when things will “break open” for you, remember St. Patrick and fill your life with prayer every moment you can. Because what you cannot see is that he is preparing you for such a time as this, to be his instrument in the lives of those you might never have expected. Trust God with your days…because he is working in you and through you even when you might not see it. Hang in there…God has a great future for you! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Psalms 31:14-17 ERV LORD, I trust in you. You are my God. (15) My life is in your hands. Save me from those who are persecuting me. (16) Please welcome and accept your servant. Be kind to me and save me. (17) LORD, I am praying to you.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
Psalms 31:14-17 ERV LORD, I trust in you. You are my God. (15) My life is in your hands. Save me from those who are persecuting me. (16) Please welcome and accept your servant. Be kind to me and save me. (17) LORD, I am praying to you.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ