I’ve heard it said before by those in ministry that it is often easiest to neglect your personal time and relationship with God while in the midst of carrying out His own work. I never understood this more than now. Here I am, preparing to go overseas for almost one full year as I want to start shaping my life around serving others, and helping to fulfill God’s global mission. Yet, in the midst of everything needed to be completed before I leave (which is so much more than I even anticipated before), I’ve started to find myself so distracted and busy that I’m often squeezing in just a few minutes of reading the Bible right before bed (often with a huge checklist running through my mind as I do so) and often forgetting to pray or even include God in my days sometimes. My days are now filled with work and fundraising (from emails and meetings to calls and events) and little else in between. I know no one is perfect, especially me, and that we all have busy seasons. However, I also know that this trip, and everything else, is pointless without my connection to God and seeking out of His desires and purposes. He is the source of any power or good that will come out of his journey, not me, and that can be hard to fully live by each day….especially when raising $16,000+!
It takes very little in this world to steal our focus, and get us off track and as Jesus states in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” I think we all sometimes question this truth as it completely goes against what see and believe in our very self sufficient culture….always being told that if we work hard enough or do enough, we can succeed. Those who “make something of themselves,” according to us, are often the same people who sacrifice connection and time with others in order to do so. Most of their life becomes that sport or career or personal goal. I’m the first person to stand behind hard work and pursuing one’s dreams and goals as it is something I personally believe in and value. However, as believers, we….I, often forget those goals, dreams and work should always center around God and accomplishing His purpose. That includes fundraising for a mission trip just as much as working towards a career goal.
We are all given different talents, abilities and skills by God, and they are given to us to be used to further His Kingdom and glory, not our own. Figuring out how to do this can sometimes get confusing, particularly if we are not seeking God’s wisdom on these decisions. Otherwise, we are left to simply follow our own feelings and emotions about things, which are often deeply shaped by the people and culture we are surrounded by (moreso than I think we like to admit). I would even argue that much of our view of God, and Christianity, is shaped by the world versus the word as it all comes down to what we use to measure our lives by; satan is counting on such things. That’s why the many dust-covered Bibles sitting in most of our homes today should be cause for concern. Without that lamp for our feet and light for our path, it becomes so very easy to distort, confuse or rationalize thoughts and actions which are in opposition to it. I know because I constantly struggle with this myself. I have allowed my own logic and feelings to dictate my decisions more times than I like to admit, often taking me further away from my intended goals.
My intent in sharing all of this is not to come across as judgmental, as if I somehow have all the answers and live by God’s word in all things. I am simply sharing my own convictions, thoughts and beliefs based on what I believe God is personally showing me through and in His word. Consider it a journal of sorts, a way to share where my heart and mind are on things currently, and document how these things might change and grow over time. I also share these things as some of it may challenge the views and thoughts of others to a place of seeking out truth from God, and God alone. We all must daily learn how to filter everything through God’s words and commands and rely less and less on our own fickle minds. This is not so we can feel good about ourselves or earn anything, but so that we can begin to truly experience some of that peace and freedom that God so desperately wants us to have….that same peace and freedom which shine out like beacons to a dark and troubled world.
So, I commit myself (again) to remember why I am going on the World Race, and for Whom I go. The video below also serves as a beautiful reminder. Please take a few minutes to watch it, for a glimpse of why God calls us all to be involved in global missions. There is so much more to this world than our limited view.
