You patiently fell in line at the break of dawn as you waited for your turn to grab your own passport. When that long hours of waiting was finally over, you excitedly went home and felt so contented for you now have a passport.

Many of us considered a passport as means of traveling. But for world changer Christians, a passport is partnered with a bible which served as the starting point in accomplishing God’s Great Commission in every nation.

I myself had my own experience in missions because I was ministered with this verse: Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

With a bible and a passport, I took a step of faith and signed up for Ten Days missions. For two consecutive years, God faithfully provided for my short meaningful trips to Laos and Vietnam. Both are Buddhist-Communist nations where preaching the Gospel of Jesus is a taboo.

But there was a creative way of engaging the locals through conversations in English. Local Laotiens and Vietnamese loved to speak to foreigners because they learned English language through a conversation. Whenever I hangout with locals, I shared my testimony on the greatness of Jesus Christ in my life and somehow, these locals were receptive.

Today, every time, I see my passport and bible, I am eager to use it for God’s glory. Here are three reasons why Christians should actively participate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20):

1. Our calling is to share the gospel to every nation – (Romans 10:15)
2. Our vision is to see transformed lives in Christ Jesus – (Galatians 2:20)
3. Our heart is to love the lost and shepherd them – (Matthew 9:36)

Do you have a bible and passport? Are you intentionally and purposely using it? Do not wait for your passport’s validity to expire. Do not wait for your bible to be rotten. Use them to reach every nation. After all, the nations are your inheritance; they are waiting for you, your bible and your unused passport.

You know it was real this time. At first, you didn’t mind your single status as it was your choice, you said proudly. But when you started attending the weddings of friends, the hope of being the next in line elicited so much anticipation; until you got to the christening of their children and you started wondering where you missed the bus.

What to do when being single hit you like a hot, searing pan? When waiting became a dreaded road than a happy journey?  Let me share to you, the things I did to somehow ease the tormenting  feeling of being ‘left behind’ (uh-okay I’m kidding!).

But seriously, here are things we can consider while in this particular phase of our journey:

1. Know your season. Cliché as it may seem but the fact is there is nothing wrong with you. You don’t need to look for reasons why you still haven’t gotten hitched. There is a season for everything. Where you are at the moment is exactly where God wants you to be. Where God wants you to be is where you are at your most potential to be used by Him.
2. Find your niche. What is it that you are good at? Your passion is the ticket for your self-esteem. Find a hobby. Nurture an interest. Once your mind is focused on something other than your being single, you will forget what you think you lack.
3. Surround yourself with single friends. Admit it. There are times when loneliness creeps in and haunts us on certain nights. Go out and mingle with people who have the same free time as yours. Their presence will assure you that you are not rocking the boat alone.

4. Seek counsel from Godly, married people. They’ve been there and surely they know where you are coming from. Married people will also open your eyes to the reality of being married. Maybe you get all giddy at the prospect of having a husband or a wife that you forget the process of preparation. All my married friends tell me the same thing: Enjoy your singlehood while you can.

5. Pray to be a better person. Work to be somebody your future husband or wife will be proud of. Are the fruits of the Spirit working in you in increasing measure? If not, what are the characteristics you need to improve on and ask for more grace with?

Lastly, always remember that each waking day is one step closer to God’s fulfillment of His promises in your life. So if He promised that you are destined for marriage then you will be. It’s only a matter of time. The good thing about time is that it does not operate on human standards but it adheres to the sovereign will of God. So relax, He definitely knows the way you take and has not forgotten you.

Oh I’m never, ever alone!
Through God’s grace I can be on my own.
I tell my heart to never, never fret,
God’s promises have come to pass yet.

He woke up at the same hour each day. The route may be unfamiliar this time, having traveled to different places, but the routine remained the same. Outside as the night gently crept out into the break of dawn, he walked alone into the mountainside, he was excited to meet the most important person in his life: His Father.

Prayer was the priority in Jesus’ life. The greatest demonstration of Jesus’ divine power was not when he performed miracles before people but when he dropped on his knees to pray. Alone, with His Father, he knew that though he had limited time to do the things needed to be finished, he understood that communing with His Father was as important as doing His will.

If prayer was so important to Jesus, the Son of God, how much more should it be important to us?

How do we pray like Jesus?

1. Pray in solitude. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
2. Pray in faith (Matthew 21:22).
3. Pray continually and do not lose heart (Luke 18:1).
4. Pray for yourself, that you may be fully submitted to the will of God.
5. Pray for others. Jesus’ ministry of intercession is still not finished.

Today, as you pray, remember that your prayer is a pleasing aroma to God (Rev. 5:8).  He delights in a heart that seeks Him and for those who seek Him, He promises that He will be found (Jeremiah 29:13). Finding Him is the most rewarding, if not, the ultimate fruit of our prayers.