I am overwhelmed with the blessings and affirmations of our sweet Father. I have never felt more confident in the plans that the Lord has placed before me than I do right now. God showed up in a place I did not expect to see Him, which is something He has made a habit. Today I witnessed His workings in my school, within the building of my college, somewhere that I for some reason had ruled out as a place where He would be present.
How naive am I? How small is my perspective of this GREAT God?
“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?" — Deuteronomy 3:24
Nevertheless, despite my assumptions of where God is active and where He is not, He made His presence known in the middle of my last day of college classes. One of my greatest weaknesses is asking people for money. I was not raised to ask for help in this way, so this process has been humbling. But today, God encouraged me in the most gentle way that only a Father can. He reminded me that I need to simply open my mouth and talk about the plans He has made, the glory that He is receiving and all that He desires to do; through proclaiming His great works and plans, He will take care of the finances. I am learning that fundraising is not just about raising money, in fact, money is the smallest part of it. Instead, it is an easy excuse to talk to loved ones, peers and strangers about the great plans and purposes of our Heavenly Father. Then, through their donations, they get to partner with me in the Lord's journey for my life and the people He will have me encounter.
We are told that everything belongs to the Lord, including money. So, if God wanted to rain $15,500 on me as I sit inside my house, He could do it! Instead, He gives us all a chance to partner together as a community, support each other financially and in prayer, and become a part of each other's story.
This is such a beautiful truth that the Lord has laid out before me. He is encouraging me to never let my mouth be silent when speaking about His will, despite what fears I may have of offending people by asking for financial support. If I am quiet, I am denying people the opportunity to partner with me in this journey that is not my own, by all the Lord's.
This all leads back to the verse that has guided me through this journey and has now become my theme verse for the World Race and my life as a whole, but with a new twist, it's from the ESV Bible:
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." — Proverbs 19:21
Prayer Requests:
- Peace and reassurance in the promise that the Lord will provide the funds
- Boldness to talk about the Lord's plans and the World Race
- Strength, comfort and peace in the Lord's plans for my high school mentor who is battling ovarian cancer
- Praise for the Lord's consistent presence, He will never leaving us!
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." — Joshua 1:5
