On my sixth birthday, I remember blowing out my candles wishing for the perfect pink Barbie jeep I could ride in. I felt that would bring so much happiness to my life to have that. Today, it is my 23rd birthday and I got exactly what I wanted. I got the most loving hugs and sweet encouragement from my team, got sung “Happy Birthday” in Serbian and English, a homemade Serbian cake, and a kiss on the forehead from my Lord. A kiss with a tender message.
I am reading the book Captivating, written by John and Stasi Eldredge. It is AMAZING to say the least. As I was reading last night, The Holy Spirit was coming through the pages and literally changing and healing my heart. I just have to share with you.
Jesus came to this Earth to save us. To die the most horrific deaths for fulfill the prophecy so that all of us can have a way to live for eternity in Heaven along side Him. The thing that we need to know is that Jesus wants FAR MORE for us than just salvation. He is not finished with us after He forgives us… There is so much more. They gave an example in the book that discussed if a daughter was in a bad wreck, do you think the father would be satisfied to know she got to the ICU? Would he just leave her by herself instead of staying there at the hospital? Of course not! Jesus wants that for each and every child of God.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of Beauty for ashes , a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. -Isaiah 61:1-3
Jesus doesn’t just want to save us, He wants to RESTORE us. He wants to set us FREE! Free from our broken hearts and our shame. He wants to do that to me and you and EVERYONE ELSE! But, we have to let Him. By letting Him have the opportunity to restore our hearts, we have to turn our entire being to Him. He has also sent us to help deliver that message to others! We have to be obedient and listen to the Holy Spirit so we can help restore hearts. He is restoring my heart, healing all the wounds from my past tenderly each day.
>>STORY TIME<<
The last night of camp, the campers were sharing their testimonies here at camp. After doing dishes, we went to sat down to listen. They spoke Hungarian so we couldn’t understand but the Holy Spirit does not speak a certain language. You could FEEL the Holy Spirit all over that room. Teenagers with tears flowing and hearts opening up to what Christ has done in their life. One girl walked up and started talking and couldn’t stop crying while she told her story. I did not understand what she was saying but the Holy Spirit and pulling me to her. Right before she walked off to the bathroom to cry, a girl translated to me that her parents just recently divorced and she wasn’t ready to go home. I knew exactly what Jesus was telling me to do.
Campbell and I followed her into the bathroom to show our compassion over her. Just then, three other teenage girls with uncontrollable sadness and weeping joined us. When the leader translated again that they all came from divorced parents, I instantly wrapped each one in my arms. Being Hungarian or American had absolutely no meaning in this room. We were all daughters of Christ who had struggled with the enemy of divorce. I instantly felt so connected to each and every one of those four girls in that circle. I was able to hold each girl more tightly and kiss their heads more sweetly while they cried in my arms because I was feeling the same emotions they were. Empathy and comfort consumed me. My parents divorced once again came back into my memory but this time, it was a positive memory. The sweet memory of my mom, dad, and stepmom all praying hand in hand over me at launch. (Launch is the 4 day training session before we left America in Georgia, which all 3 parents went to.)
“Pray Nicole. Pray for healing and tell them to keep praying because I hear my daughters’ prayers.” That is all I could hear when I was holding them. In that moment, the translator took me by the hand and translated my prayer.
Jesus allowed me to get on their level and connect to them by my parents divorce. I was able to say I have been there and I know how badly it hurts. The amount of pain they are feeling makes it hard to understand why BUT Jesus loves them more than they could ever imagine. He loves them and is listening to their prayers so keep praying and do not give up. Even though they can’t see it yet, healing does come and it does get better. I was able to say these things while looking straight into their eyes and holding their hands. Christ used my struggle and put strength behind it to help His other daughters.
When walking out of the bathroom, hand in hand, all I could think or say was…
THIS IS WHAT WALKING IN THE WILL OF GOD LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT!
Jesus is here to restore our hearts and He has also called us to restore the hearts of others through His name. Remember Isaiah 61 this next week and see how Jesus can use you.
