I want to start off this blog with just a little recap of some things my team and I went through. Last month in Nicaragua, we had some CRAZY spiritual warfare. I’ve never experience it in this way before. Weird dreams are the first sign for me, and multiple people were experiencing the same. The awesome thing is that although the spiritual warfare was so strong, my prayer life was taken to a whole new level. God showed me how much power we have through prayer because Jesus has overcome death.
We arrived to our ministry site in Costa Rica and I slept like a rock that first night! When I woke up in the morning, I kept hearing Hebrews 12:2. It caught me off guard because I woke up almost every morning in Nicaragua exhausted from my dreams. I also have never heard verses pop up out of the blue. So, I looked it up to see if God was trying to show me something. I read it… and was just amazed about how perfect it was for my life right now!
I wanted to just share this with you to show you what Hebrew 12:1-3 means to me, and I pray you can also discover what it may mean to you as well.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…
God reaffirmed me that He has put my teammates and leadership into my life for a reason. They are here to support me, love me, and push me to grow closer to Christ. They are for me, not against me. They are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have the same goal as me: to Love God and share His word.
…let us throw off everything that hinders…
The past 8 months have been constantly ripping things out of my life that don’t belong. This includes lies that I believed for so long about myself, God, and the people around me. I’ve been changing habits that were normal to me, but were not bringing me closer to God. I’ve also been learning what it looks like to take on others’ burdens in a healthy way. We are called to take on our friends (or families) burdens, but not drown ourselves while trying to hold them above the water. God reminded me through this part of the verse to throw off EVERYTHING that does not bring me closer to Him and to not pick it back up either.
…and the sin that so easily entangles…
Sin, no matter how small, hinders my relationship with God. I think about it in terms of an earthly father. If I do something wrong, my dad is upset and disappointed. He knows I can do better and only wants what is best for me. Just as I would want to reconcile my relationship with my earthly dad, the same is for my Heavenly Father. My relationship with God grows everyday, and I don’t need to let the temptation of sin tangle up in my life.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith
I’m on the world RACE! There are 4 more months on the race, and God has planned these months; He has marked out these months for me. After 7 months on the field, my eyes are so focused on God. I think of what my life would be without Jesus… It isn’t pretty. The person I am without Christ is self-centered, lost, wrapped up so tight around pride, and doomed under any temptation. I can run the rest of this race without my eyes solely focuses on Jesus, but there will be no good fruit from that. Just like my last bog posted, I desire to GROW by focusing my eyes on the man who saved me from a life of constantly searching for false happiness.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus’ spirit was solely focused on being obedient to His Father. He endured it all… unbelief, betrayal, temptation, sadness, a gruesome beating, and murder. The MSG version says” Because He never lost sight of where He was headed- that exhilarating finish in and with God- He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.” If that doesn’t encourage you to continue pushing on in the path God set before you, I don’t know what will. The temporary pain of pulling out the weeds in my life will be so worth it because of the eternal life I will receive with God. The fight between my flesh and my spirit will be worth it when I’m hugging my creator.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
When I am ready to give up, and throw in the white flag through whatever situation I may be facing, I remember what Jesus endured during His time on earth. There is nothing that I have gone through, that He didn’t face either.
I have learned so much in just 8 months, and I still have 3.5 more months to go! Thanks for all of the prayers and support while I am on this journey.
