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Just call me the Velveteen Rabbit. My hair hasn’t been “loved off,” but it’s turned a wise shade of gray. My eyes haven’t dropped off, but I can’t see much without donning my glasses. The ugly black tennis shoes I wear to help with heel pain might make you think I’m “loose in the joints and very shabby,” but I’d rather be comfortable than cool at this point in my life. Loving difficult people has ripped the stuffing out of me, but “these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

My external frame is running a bit ragged, but my heart still beats with passion and purpose. Some people might even think I should be put out of commission soon, but I believe greater things are yet to come. I want to be a Velveteen Moses who helps lead people out of captivity at age 80. I want to be a card-carrying worshiper like Anna and give my all out of love for my Jesus until the very end.

I might not win a million souls to the Kingdom before my life comes to a close, but I can make an eternal difference in simple ways…

Latch on to Love

Press into community and be a present help to those in your circle of influence. Someone you know needs a hug today. Just picking up the phone or sending an encouraging card can brighten up the day for a weary-hearted sister in Christ.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it” (Colossians 3:12-14, MSG).

Persevere in Prayer

Prayer can transform your city. Ask God to show you the needs in your town and begin a ministry of intercession. As we fight on our knees, God will help us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and stay faithful to our purpose.

“The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer–staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him” (I Peter 4:7, AMP).

Plant Seeds of Peace

In a world where people run over each other and demand their way, we are called to sow peace. Daily, we interact with lost souls who are adrift in the tumultuous sea of darkness and unbelief. We must walk in humility and point them to Christ, the Anchor of our souls.

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.… For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:13-18, NLT).

Paul reminds us that the lines of purpose in our lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to our future in heaven, kept taut by hope (Colossians 1:5, MSG). Stay tethered to hope in Christ, my Velveteen friends. The God of hope will fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him so that the hope within you overflows to others and changes our world.

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Lord, I’m looking up to You in hope.

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Let’s Talk:  What helps you stay tethered to hope as you Pray Big?

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This year, my desire is to lift up holy hands and “Pray Big.” Want to join me? I’ve created a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for like-minded sisters to share their stories and surrender each one to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s cry out to God together.

I am sharing “Tethered to Hope” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday,Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, and Three-Word Wednesday,

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