A Purified Heart and Readiness to Meet the Lord
On July 19, Elena Mileeva, Director of Women’s Ministry for the Association, was the keynote speaker at a women’s gathering held at the Evangelical Christian Church on Olympic as part of the Southern Region Women’s Ministry. The women’s ministry at the church is led by Galina Konopelkina.
The gathering took place in a very warm, sincere, and trusting atmosphere. Around the table, the sisters were able not only to enjoy a delicious meal but also to openly share their testimonies, personal experiences, and what the Lord has been doing in their lives. It was a simple and heartfelt time of fellowship in which every woman could feel that she was among close friends.
The main theme of the gathering was purifying the heart and being ready to meet the Lord. Elena Mileeva spoke about the importance of having a pure heart and of worshiping, thanking, and praising God.
Referring to the biblical example of the high priests, who purified themselves and burned incense before entering the sanctuary, Elena emphasized how important it is, first and foremost, to spend time in God’s presence. Every prayer and every quiet conversation with our Heavenly Father should include worship, thanksgiving, and praise.
One particularly important point was that our ministry to others must begin with spending time with the Lord. The high priest first entered God’s presence, purified himself, was filled, and only then went out to the people. The same is true in our lives: every day we care for our children, husbands, parents, homes, and jobs. We serve others and are often ready to give everything we have, even when our own strength is nearly gone. But we cannot continue to give if we ourselves are not being filled.
We need to come to Jesus, be renewed in His presence, and only then go out to serve others.
Elena encouraged the sisters to learn to establish personal boundaries around their spiritual lives and to set aside time for the Lord, so that their souls would always be ready to meet Him and their lamps would never be without oil.
At the conclusion of her message, Elena invited each woman to reflect on several practical questions:
- Have I cleaned my lamp today?
- Is there oil in my lamp today?
- Is the fragrance of prayer rising from my heart?
- Have I spent time with the Lord before going out to serve others?
These questions became more than simply part of the program; they gave each woman an opportunity to personally reflect on her relationship with God.
“Remember that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Your life belongs to the Lord, and every new day should begin in His presence.”
May the Lord give every woman the wisdom to guard her spiritual life, make time for fellowship with Him, and be filled daily with His presence, so that with a pure heart, a burning lamp, and an abundant supply of oil, she may be ready to meet the Lord and to serve others.
Svetlana Iotko
