“And now, I am compelled by the Spirit to
go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits
me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in
city, after city that jail and suffering lie
ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work
assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the
work of telling others the Good News about
the wonderful grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 NLT
Most people will withhold their judgements on my decision to pause school once more and go “wondering off”, chasing something that will push me back in the time line of expectations that America has set for young adults.
I can see it in their eyes; the look of uncertainty and the quick passing judgements & doubts on my free spirit.
However, it causes me to pause, search my brain for an outstanding explanation on why and how, then quickly jump to my plan for school upon my return from an 11 month mission trip. Then before I know it, I find myself self conscious of my decisions and overwhelmed with a feeling of defeat because I let satan’s sly attack win once more.
That’s exactly what it is, you know? A sly, sneaky and disguised attack by the snake – trying to bring me down and get me to second guess my calling that the Heavenly Father has given to me.
satan tries to con me into believing that
I am not adequate enough.
Its gross, really. The jealousy that rots in satan because of his own pathetic defeat. He burns in his own anger to a point where he wants to bring everyone down with him, passing the weight off to the ones that he tricks into his misery – using the back doors, the looks, the postures of others, the feelings of defeat, self-conciousness and fear.
Satan hunts for the ones that are hungry for the Lord.
But there’s something extra special about recognizing this situation when it is presented. Want to know why?
Because the ones that are hungry for the Lord are most likely fulfilling their thirst by drinking the living water and communing with our Creator everyday. That kind of relationship is automatically setting us up to win the battle where we victoriously slay the dragon. There might be a great fight, but we will always win because we have the mighty hand of the LORD fighting for us and carrying us through it.
I win the battle that was painted in the previous paragraphs, by the majestic power of the Lord.
Jesus and I rebuke those sly comments and slam the back doors because I serve a God that will do nothing less than the best for me in my life.
I follow the path that is narrower because it leads to a greater life.
I look past the uncertain eyes because I will only follow what the LORD has told me to do, not a mere human.
I walk out boldly because that is what I was created to do.
I consider my life worth nothing, unless I am to carry out what the Lord has given to me.
And to me, that is the sweetest and most rewarding place to be in. I am okay with satan trying to attack me because I know that in the end, Me and my Lord will win. I am okay with my life being unworthy, unless I am doing the great works of the LORD and following His path.
It is a great honor to lay down my life so that I may pick up His cross and mine and walk with Him to the top of the hill.
There is no greater joy to me than that – thinking that
I get the honor to serve His Nations and
“testify to the gospel of God’s Grace.”
And Friends, that is why in my eyes, because of the LORDS vision placed upon me, I get to fight in the battle, I get to go serve and I get to witness the Lords works upon His earth.
To wrap it all up & put a bow on it,
I believe I stubbled upon Acts 20:24 because I needed the reminder of how privileged I am to be called by the Spirit to embark on the race and start the task of testifying the Good News of Jesus Christ.
There is no need for me to be self-concious or to worry about how others may think that my life is worthless because I am not getting a degree or starting a family. But rather I get to be reminded and affirmed by scripture and by the Holy Spirit that my life is everything but worthless.
My life is full of worth because I am proclaiming the Good News and having a relationship with my Creator and Savior.
Humbly, with Joy and great love,
Gretchen
