Have you ever heard of the expression, “You can’t put God in a box”? Well, I’m here to tell you that you can’t in any way, shape, or form. God charismatically and joyfully reminded me of this today as I stood in pure awe as God’s plan for my day unfolded right before my eyes.
On most days living a life radically on mission for Christ, in intimate pursuit of His heart doesn’t make much sense, nor does it fit into the cookie cutter Christianity box we Americans are used to passing out on Sunday mornings. You can try all you want, but my God won’t fit in that box, nor does he want to for that matter.
Let’s back up…
… About a week ago God gave me a vision of a Yoga Studio. I spent most of that day searching Kuala Lumpur high and low for said yoga studio without any success. I went on about my day and chalked up my vision to a lack of sleep and a misunderstanding between me and Jesus.
… A few nights ago I had visions of me doing back bends over and over again. In my vision I felt light and free. Then reality set in – I haven’t done a back bend since prior to my diving accident in 10th grade. I too chalked this vision up to lack of sleep and assumed it was a manifestation of the pain radiating through my bones at 2 a.m. after 35/36 days of fasting.
… Day 40, I wake up after getting the 4 hours of restless sleep I have grown accustomed too during this fasting period. I enter into a time of prayer and ask God what he wants me to do today. How would you like me to spend my last day fasting? What do you have for me today, Jesus? What do you want to teach me today?
Are you ready?
His response…
… I want you to go to the gym!
Ummm… okay. Why, Jesus? Unfortunately, his answer didn’t provide much clarity. Instead of explaining himself, he simply said, “Get up, get dressed, and go to the gym from 9:00 – 12:00.“
At this point I thought he had lost his mind, but if I’ve learned anything during my time of fasting it’s that it is not our job to question God, it is our job to trust and obey.
So, I not so enthusiastically got dressed for the day ahead.
… On the World Race we have a dress code to abide by out of respect for our ministry and the culture in our current country, so I knew I couldn’t wear my H&M work out shorts that I had slept in the night before. Instead I searched for my oversized basketball shorts to wear on the train as I traveled to KLCC in order to get to the gym (you know since my 20-30 minute body weight work out on the roof wasn’t going to cut it). Guess what, I couldn’t find my shorts for the life of me. I ended up throwing on my cotton capris and headed to catch the train.
… I get to the gym, do a 20 minute warm up on the bike, and head to the Body Pump Class. I was going to be here for a while … might as well get a good work out in, right? Wrong. The class was completely full and there was no where for me to put my stuff. Slightly bummed I walked into the next room to find a place to stretch prior to heading back over to the weight lifting machines. When I entered the room there were hammock-like contraptions hanging from the ceiling with people sitting inside of them. I had just walked into what I later learned was an “Aerial Yoga Flow” class.
Immediately the vision of the yoga studio flashed before my eyes and I let out a giggle at God’s ultimate humor. Well, the teacher heard me, stood up and led me over to my own personal “Aerial” for the next hour. As class proceeded and I maneuvered through the air, I thanked God I wasn’t wearing my oversized basketball shorts! Later in class, the instructor walked us through a series of, you guessed it, back bending exercises. As I completed these exercises, all of the pain that had accumulated in my body from poor nutrition over the past 40 days left, and I began feeling light and free. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and saw a joyful, radiant smile spread across my face. I was right where God wanted me to be.
… After class three separate individuals struck up a conversation with me about life, work, Malaysia, and even, wait for it, Jesus. I got to share in relationship with these seemingly insignificant strangers. God placed them each in my day for reasons known only to him. At this point I am HYPE! I end up getting back on the bike for 40 minutes (because what else was I going to do until 12:00). I was going to be interruptible, that’s for sure.
… I ended up connecting my phone to the Fitness Center Wifi. I typically don’t hook up to wifi during ministry but today seemed different, and I’m glad I did. During my last 40 minute bike ride, I was able to engage in 3 separate spirit-led conversations with individuals about how God was working in and through their lives.
All of this to say, if I wouldn’t have listened to God’s series of very specific request that made absolutely no sense to me at the time, I would have missed out on one of the most life giving days of ministry I have had during “Ask the Lord” so far. I went to my favorite local coffee shop to visit my Malaysian friends and squad mate with an extra kick in my step – ready for whatever else God had for me!
The day is far from over and I have seen God be ever present and overflowing in each interaction. My team and I have many more exciting spirit-filled plans for the rest of the evening leading up to breaking my fast at 12:01 a.m.
I will be interruptible. I will trust in God’s provisions on my life. I will follow where he leads. I will not put God in a box, and I hope after reading this blog, neither will you!
Love,
Kace
