The last couple of days have been game changers. I kinda felt like the honeymoon phase was over with me and my squad mates; we’re all facebook friends, we’ve chatted and emailed and read each other’s blogs and I just felt like it was time to be real. So I took a leap and shared with them a really hard struggle I’ve had lately. And of course, they all lifted me up in prayer, encouraged me, spoke truth over me, texted me daily and were just amazing. It just made me fall in love with them!!
And then we all decided to group chat together. And that’s when things got REAL. We’re all typing, laughing, sharing and just enjoying each other and talking about real-life topics. And that’s when it all really hit me: I’m about to meet these people in 3 months. I’m about to do life with them for 11 months. We’re going to travel together and sometimes be stuck on a bus for 24+ hours together. And guess what? I can’t think of a better group of people I’d rather be stuck with!!! So happy!
After talking to my new family, it’s so clear that God intentionally hand-picked us and put us together on this journey together. I’m so honored and humbled and blessed to be on a squad with these mend and women.
So, the ladies on my squad have a chat for just the girls so we can just have girl time and sistercipleship 🙂
Today, some girls were discussing their initial fears of sharing their pasts with everyone because it’s difficult and uncomfortable. And others were able to encourage them and speak truth and give Scripture that shows them that their stories aren’t really their own, they’re scenes in God’s story and ALL of our testimonies serve one purpose: to show the glory and grace and loving kindess of God! And it was so great to be vulnerable, loving and encouraging with my sisters.
Shortly thereafter, some girls were talking about past relationships and other girls were talking about how they’ve never had boyfriends and I was immediately hit with something I learned from Allison Good at the disGRACE Womens Converence:
Redemption Wins!
What does that mean? It means, there’s no shame in never having a boyfriend and there’s no shame in having had many boyfriends. There’s no shame in having a past full of sexual promiscuity or risky behaviors just like there’s no shame in being a 28 year old virgin. God’s redemption makes us ALL beautiful and worthy and clean and blemish-free in the eyes of Adonai.
So don’t believe the lies the enemy would want you to believe like: because you’ve had lots of boyfriends(or girlfriends) in your past that you’re not worthy or attractive or worthy of a future significant other who will want to marry you. Because who’s to say that the struggles you have now wouldn’t still exist if you’d stayed single or abstinant? You get me? Like, there’s no use “shoulda-coulda-woulda-ing” your past; because guess what? No matter WHAT you did or didn’t do, JESUS HAS REDEEMED YOU AND YOU ARE MADE RIGHT WITH THE ONE TRUE HOLY GOD. So walk with your head up and a smile on your face. Don’t choose to let the past haunt you; instead, choose joy. Choose Jesus. Because He’s chosen you.
Redemption Wins.
