Be encouraged!
David Brainard (1718-1747) was a colonial missionary to the American
Indians. He rode about the woods for three years, slept on the ground,
enduring bad weather, and actually died in bed of tuberculosis, age 29,
in the home of his mentor, Jonathan Edwards. He was known among the
traders and trappers and his stories of Indian conversions were amazing!
I’ve been reading his diary lately and came upon this entry today. I am
sure we can all relate to what this early American saint was wrestling
with. Yet, despite our natural flaws, God desires to work with those who
are available and obedient anyway. What a MIGHTY God we serve!
Be blessed,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
www.YourTown4Jesus.com
Aug 12, 1742.
(Near Kent.) - “This morning and last night I was exercised with sore
inward trials: I had no power to pray: but seemed shut out from God. I
had in a great measure lost my hopes of God’s sending me among the
heathen afar off, and of seeing them flock home to Christ. I saw so much
of my vileness, that I wondered that God would let me live and that
people did not stone me; much more that they would ever hear me preach!
It seemed as though I never could preach any more; yet about nine or
ten o’clock the people came over, and I was forced to preach; and
blessed be God, he gave me his presence and Spirit in prayer and
preaching; so that I was much assisted, and spake with power, from
Job, 14:14. Some Indians residing here, cried out in great distress, and
all appeared greatly concerned. After we had prayed and exhorted them
to seek the Lord with constancy, and hired an English woman to keep a
kind of school among them, we came away.”
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