It’s hard to believe, but we’re near the halfway point of our trip around the world. It’s been an incredible journey thus far. God has brought me to meet people from different walks of life in the Caribbean and in Asia. I’ve met mighty men and women of God along the way that have given me encouragement in my own walk. I’ve also crossed paths with people that greatly need to know and believe in Christ’s love. There’s definitely a world of need out there. But, God is teaching me that it’s not me that is going to save people from a life without hope and an eternity roasting over the devil’s coals. God will reveal himself to them as He wills, perhaps through me or through another willing believer in Jesus Christ.
At the same time that God is at work in the world, and believe me, I’ve seen Him at work in the five countries we’ve visited this year, He’s at work in me. God has pulled me out of the “normal life” back in the States to a year of genuine God time. Before the Race, I would read my Bible when my day would allow me the time instead of making it a priority in my day. My prayers would consist of telling God my frustrations of the day and my list of requests for myself and for others. My heart of thanksgiving was weak and I talked so much that I wouldn’t give God room for a word before I closed with an ‘amen’. After nearly five months, my heart seeks after the Lord and the truth found in His word. I’ve been taught so much from living examples on this Race, from fellow Racers, from our coaches Mike and Patti, and from books. I believe that God can communicate to us through books and people, but there’s something about His written word. Power and truth exist in each and every verse. I’ve read the gospel of John a number of times before, but I just finished the book up again and found so much amazing stuff in it that I couldn’t believe I missed them the first 10 times. This goes to show me that His word is indeed living. How awesome! God has taught me so much about myself including my selfishness and self-righteousness that battle against His will. He’s also teaching me a lot about obedience and the power that the Holy Spirit can have in my lives if I just surrender my will to His. Before the Race I didn’t really give God a chance to point out areas in my life that I haven’t relinquished control of yet. I’m not sure what I was thinking. It is stretching and painful at times, but I know that letting the reigns go is for my best. What’s more, God can now make this vessel that I am into something that He can use for whatever purposes He desires. And I want nothing more than to be used by Him.
The more that God reveals to me, the more I come to realize just how much I still don’t know about God, His character, His love, His plan for this world, and His plan for me. But, I trust Him and I know that He really has everything(bold) under His control. And I really can’t wait to see what He has in store for the rest of the Race and beyond.
