So many times I wish that my vocabulary expanded as far as Webster’s Dictionary. So many times I just want to tell God how good He is and the greatest words I can think of don’t do Him justice. Good? Ah, He is so much more. Magnificent, so much better. Glorious, even better than that.
But this month I’m learning that the Lord is not impressed with fancy words. He’s not impressed with trying to doctor Him up. Trying to wrap Him up in a nice word package with a bow on top.
So many times I want to tell people about Him but I feel like I just don’t have the words to say. I just can’t say His greatness. I just can’t put into words the grace that He’s shown me and how He wants to show it to others and then you know what He does?
He takes me to 1 Corinthians 1:17 where Paul gives me encouragement:
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
Y’all, I love words. I love reading the Word because it takes my breath away. I love books and I love quotes and I just love words. I feel like they shouldn’t be wasted because they are beautiful.
But right there in 1 Corinthians the Lord is saying “your words interfere with my power.”
Dang.
Those words that I can’t think of are actually a blessing in disguise because when I can’t think of my own words, His power interferes and He speaks through me and makes His cross known.
I’ve realized this month a whole lot of dependence on the Lord. I’ve learned that I can’t put my dependence on people back at home, I can’t put it on my best friends on the race and I can’t put it on my team. They are here to walk with me through things but they are not here for me to put my complete dependence on. All that I need is the cross. That is all.
So, I’ve been able to talk to some kids in the home and to our contact and to teammates and to my parents about how the cross is powerful and it’s powerful without the words we think that we need to say. Because those words are literally taking away the power that the cross has. They are a hindrance.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Choose your words wisely.
Don’t try to puff them up with eloquence because it doesn’t matter. The cross doesn’t depend on how well we know the dictionary. God would still be powerful if we couldn’t speak a word.
I’m not saying to be silent and never speak of the Lord and His cross but I am saying that there is no reason to dress up it in a fancy present for the holidays. The cross is not fancy. The cross is holy. The cross is power. The cross is freedom. The cross is more than Christmas presents and bows. The cross is everything.
I want to give a shout out to everyone stepping into the holiday season! Remember the reason, my friends. Remember to be thankful that perfect love casts out fear. Be thankful that years ago God decided His world was worth saving.
The team and I are on our last week of ministry here in Malaysia! It is going to be a hard one to leave behind but we are all so excited for a new continent. Africa is next on the list and I CANNOT believe it is already almost to the halfway point. It almost makes me sad that time is flying so fast.
If you would like to keep up with my adventures please subscribe to my blog to get email alerts. Also, I have my FINAL deadline coming up in December and how about for my 26th birthday and Christmas you consider donating a little bit to the cause? You can click that support me button at the top or to the left of this page. While I am SO close to being fully funded, I still have some on-field expenses that sometimes add up. Thank you so much to everyone that has been supporting me throughout this race!
