APEX: 30 Days Of HeartworkSample

Speak Up!

++HEART++  

Let’s try to imagine, for a moment, being born in the poorest of conditions. Living in a shack with seven brothers and sisters, and at the age of five, both of your parents pass away. You are left alone with no one to look after you, no one to provide for you. Shortly after the passing of your parents, two of your siblings are ripped away from you by disease. You are now the youngest of five children, with no one to provide for your family’s needs. The only place you can turn is to God.

This is the story of a young man from Uganda named Walter Williams. He heard about Jesus when he was five years old and began experiencing God’s love and provision as he led his five siblings. The first thing Walter did everyday was get on his knees and pray for God to provide food for him and his family that day. Everyday was a struggle to survive, but time and time again the Lord answered his prayers.

Walter William’s life was completely changed when a stranger decided to give him a voice. Someone on the other side of the world decided to sponsor Walter and give him an education, food, and a place to live. Someone on the other side of the world decided it was time to defend the rights of the poor and needy. 

Because this person decided to spend themselves on behalf of someone in need, Walter is now a grown man who uses his knowledge and education to tell others about the hope of Jesus Christ! 

There are thousands of others who are ensnared by poverty and do not have anyone who will speak up for them. While there is much that we cannot do, there are things that we can do... things that we must do. John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, once said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” We must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We must defend the rights of the poor and needy. This is the only way to find true life. 

++Work++

Today, speak up to your friends, family, or on social media by sharing a story or a statistic about someone who is in poverty and has been displaced from their home. Pray that as people hear about these things, they would also be moved to learn and share. As you go somewhere today carrying a bag of rice or sand on your shoulder, use it as an opportunity to tell people what you are doing, why you are doing it, and about those in poverty who are walking miles to get their water. 

How has your experience been carrying around a bag of rice or sand? How was carrying around a dirty water bottle? What has God taught you this week as you have empathized with those who have to walk miles to just get food or water?