It’s easy to get discouraged by what’s going on in the world. Almost everywhere we look, we see conflict, criticism, confusion, and chaos. There’s no shortage of opportunities to point fingers, grow bitter, or give up. But a kingdom-oriented mind sees something else: plenty of opportunities to engage. There’s perhaps no better time than right now to stand out.

Many believers wonder how. In a world with so many needs, you can’t invest your life in all of them. Which ones are God calling you to meet? It’s a hard question to answer, but here’s a clue: What breaks your heart? Which cause gets under your skin? What stirs you up? That will tell you a lot about how God is leading you to invest your life.

Nehemiah’s heart broke when he received news from Jerusalem (Neh. 1:4). Things were going great in his own life—he held a prestigious position as the Persian king’s cup bearer, far removed from the holy city and its problems—but the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild it were suffering, and God’s purposes were not being fulfilled. The walls of the city were in disrepair, the people were discouraged and harassed by enemies, and God’s promise that the temple would be restored to its former glory seemed lost.

Many people don’t want to be disturbed by someone else’s problems, but Nehemiah felt the full weight of this one. When he heard the news from Jerusalem, he sat down and wept. More than that, he fasted and prayed—for days—about what to do. To him, this was not a distant crisis for others to deal with. It was personal. He was overwhelmed by the huge gap between Jerusalem’s condition and God’s promises.

If you’ve struggled with knowing what to do, where to fit in, and how to advance God’s kingdom with the gifts He has given you, here’s where it begins—with a dislocated heart, a passionate concern for God’s people and purposes. If you want God to use you for greater impact, that’s the first prerequisite.

So let me ask you, do you have a dislocated heart? Are there people in need, or a problem that needs to be solved that moves your heart?

If not, ask God for one. Tell Him, “I want to care more deeply. Please move me with Your desires.” You’ll discover that your heart begins to connect with His on something, and you’ll find yourself aligning with His priorities. It may not happen immediately, but it will happen. He will place His desires in you where your heart and His calling intersect.

This is how we, as a ministry, have chosen to respond to the hurting world we see around us. We are passionate about equipping Christians to live in ways that transform individual lives, families, churches, and even entire communities. We want to reach as many people as possible in a broken world that desperately needs God’s truth.

Your partnership is instrumental in making this vision a reality. By supporting our ministry, you are actively participating in the transformational work we undertake. Together, we can bring healing, hope, and the light of God’s love to those who are desperately seeking it.

Let’s be difference-makers who care deeply for those in this broken world. Thank you for your giving this month; you’re making a real difference in lives every day.

Pressing ahead together,

Chip Ingram
CEO and Teaching Pastor, Living on the Edge