A Heart Made New
Malik’s heart felt like a solid block of ice. He had become so upset with the Lord that he didn’t feel there was any way back. It hadn’t always been this way. Malik grew up in his homeland of East Africa and became a believer in Jesus in a land where only 9.5 percent of the population is Christian-adhering. He later learned to play guitar and became a worship leader in his local church. But one day he began to lose his ability to grip, and his muscles felt weak. When he got a checkup, he was diagnosed with muscle atrophy. He stopped going to church, and he could no longer even grip his guitar. Over the past 13 years, as his condition worsened, he secluded himself more and more. In the process, his heart became cold and secluded, too. He felt the Lord had abandoned him. Not only that, but his one and only friend - the one he had leaned on all these years - had just told him that he could no longer help him. His words echoed in Malik’s ears, “I can’t help you anymore. You should seek the Lord. The 50 Hours is going on, you should go...” Malik’s spirit was already in the cold and depressing depths of winter. He was at the end of his rope. What more could he lose?
Malik walked into the prayer room at the MAPS Global East Africa Missions Base. The 50 Hours of worship and prayer was in full-swing, and melodies filled the air. Malik felt self-conscious. This was the first time he had stepped foot in a church in 13 years. Someone in the room noticed him, and walked over to him. As they began to speak, Malik was taken aback by the accuracy of what they were saying. They were speaking a prophetic word to him with incredible accuracy and insight into his life. Malik felt his heart begin to thaw, like ice exposed to a ray of sunshine. He, in turn, shared his story, and three more believers gathered around him. They sat with him for more than an hour. During that time, they listened to his story, prayed with him and ministered to his spirit. Malik began to feel the presence of the Lord grow stronger and envelope his heart with fire, melting every last bit of ice. For the first time in many years, he was reconnecting with the heart of the Father. His endless winter was turning to spring.
After the 50 Hours, Malik went back home and decided to seek the Lord again for the first time since his diagnosis. He had a fresh vigor, and a burning desire to know his Father who cared about him so much that he had patiently waited for him to come back all these years. He was once again hearing the spring robins sing their hope-filled songs. He had entered a new season. Today, Malik is nearly a year into his new walk with the Lord, and has been meeting regularly with older believers at the East Africa Missions Base. He continues to encounter the Lord in His word and in prayer with a heart filled with love for God!