As I stand in a hot, sweaty, slightly dark room surrounded by children whom we literally called off the street, I can’t help but wonder at this life that I am living. I stand and tell the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the children. An 11 year old girl, Ashrellia, translates my English into Khmer. I tell them how God protects us and keeps us safe. I tell them that God is always with us and hears our prayers.
God has been calling me out of my fears this month and teaching me that I have a voice and that what I say matters. I was given feedback on the fact that I use the words beautiful and amazing too much. When you use a word, no matter how powerful, it can lose it’s true meaning when overused. So I have taken it upon myself to become a walking Thesuarus. God has been using this time to call me into a higher level of speech, and to use words that specifically state what I mean. Words have power, and I want my words to have the most power they can have by getting their true meaning across.
God has also been calling me to start being bold with my words. If He gives me something to say, I need to say it. The words He gives me are just as important as the words He gives to others. We did a lot of door-to-door evangelism during my week in Poi Pet, and I found that I do not want life to happen to me, I want to happen to my life. So I started taking more bold steps of faith: Praying first instead of waiting for others to go before me; speaking encouragement and life into others; and teaching English to children I had just met. I learned that there is a much greater reward in being bold than in being hesitant and careful.
As I leave Cambodia and move on into Thailand, I am praying that He continues to help me conquer my fears. I yearn to walk in more boldness every day. He is with me. What can man do to me? Whom should I fear? My God is the King of the universe!
“Therefore, we may boldly say:
The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”
~Hebrews 13:6~
May the King of Kings bless you!!
~Ashlyn
“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are a bold as a lion.”
~Proverbs 28:1~
The story of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego can be found in Daniel 3.
From left to right:Me, Nina, Madison, Ashrellia, her niece, her brother, and Emily.
