What does it look like celebrating your birthday on the World Race? It’s definitely different for each person, but here’s my pretty fabulous experience.
To give some context and backstory— becoming fully grounded in my identity has been a key aspect of my World Race journey. Before even beginning, the Lord had been showing me in numerous different areas how I was not living out of my identity in Him. I have head knowledge of who God says I am and the freedom of living from that mindset, but it’s been challenging to transform that to heart knowledge. Generally I’m living out of my own strength and mostly chasing selfish ambitions. The World Race is an opportunity for me to ground myself in Jesus. If this is what I believe and am committing my life to—let’s be all in. No wishy-washyness. Firmly grounded in the belief that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and because of Him I am redeemed and part of His family. Who cares what other people think?
Okay— so I’m on the World Race, how do I actively start living out my identity in Christ? It doesn’t just magically start happening without concerted, intentional effort. But I already felt a bit stuck.
After we finished our last day of ministry at the Mendoza YWAM base, our squad had two days of leadership development training. Meaning several members of our squad gave talks about whatever topic they wanted. And beautifully and perfectly, without any coordination all the topics tied together and built on each other. Starting with the magnitude of God’s grace, calling us to action and lastly vulnerability. One of the nights our squad leaders was brutally raw and open about her past and the amazing journey of God’s redemptive grace in her life. She then opened up the floor for continued vulnerability from the squad. An opportunity to share aspects of our past that hold us in shame; opportunity to walk in freedom from our past and find acceptance among our brothers and sisters in Christ on the squad. With quaking knees and an uneasy stomach I shared parts of my shame with our squad.
While I deeply value vulnerability, recognize the importance, and could list dozens of reasons how it’s beneficial and healthy—it’s something I struggle with!! But I could feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit beckoning me to walk in freedom and share. I enjoy most people thinking of and seeing me as a picture perfect Christian. No dark parts, no struggles, just smiles and joy. Unfortunately that’s not accurate and I let that be known. It’s something I’m slowly working on—but I’ve made some progress!
Anyways! The last night and session a squadmate spoke specifically on living out of your identity in Christ. Perfect! However, he started at 10pm and I was already exhausted, needed to finish letters to staff we were leaving the next day, pack my stuff, and it was the night before my birthday. It was an immense struggle to keep my eyes open. You know the painful feeling of having to sit still and pay attention but your eyes keep closing? It’s miserable! However, it was exactly what I needed to hear.
Where does our identity come from? What people say about us? What we own or do? On average a person processes 1,400 words a minute. What are you telling yourself? What are you believing? We want to act on feelings first, but that’s a trap because feelings lie. We need to put truth first! Truth of our identity that’s going to counter the lies we are fed by the enemy.
Activation: At 11pm we began writing our own identity statements. Words that have been spoken over us, words from scripture, aspects of our head knowledge but not heart knowledge, lies we need to combat with truth, how the Father sees us. It was tricky crafting my statement; it never felt perfect. As each person read theirs aloud, I added valuable words I wanted to embody and include. Mine still didn’t feel exactly like I wanted it—but it included what I needed. As rain poured and pounded on the roof, I stood up to share mine with the squad and group of YWAM staff.
“I am the chosen daughter of the Lord Almighty. Exuberant. Cheerful. Adventurous. Desirable. The helper of mankind seeking only to delight her Heavenly Father. I have integrity. I belong. My depth of emotion is after God’s own heart and His treasure. My thoughts and feelings are worthwhile and have relevance. I am redeemed and lavished in grace. The joy of the Lord is always mine to grasp. Seeking His face is greater than my own comfort—every time. My contributions are worth submitting even if not perfect. I can rest in stillness and peace; I am never alone.”
With perfect, God ordained timing as soon as I finished my squad mates clapped and called out happy birthday. Sure enough, I glanced at my FitBit and it was 12:05. The very first thing I got to do was proclaim life and truth into my 28th year. It’s a powerful statement of what I pray to become a deeply ingrained belief. It was a beautifully empowering experience!
Following our identity proclamations began all-night worship. It was a final squad activity to bring glory to God and bless a number of the YWAM staff who attended as well. There is something so powerful of gathering with a large group of believers, feeling the passion and pulse of good music, and proclaiming the name of Christ together. I was so blessed by getting to spend the next hour of my birthday worshipping (I only lasted an hour before needing to sleep).
The next morning at breakfast I walked in to bright balloons tacked to the rows of benches filled with squad mates. They sang happy birthday and to my good fortune, they served handmade croissants. It felt like a quaint morning birthday party! The party continued when at lunch I got another rousing rendition of happy birthday and was presented a chocolate cake my team handmade. My team also got each team to individually write a message to me on a card. Seven cards filled with numerous individual messages. In the afternoon after some hard goodbyes to staff, we boarded the party bus! Then began our 24 hour bus ride to the Argentine/Bolivian border. But it was way more fun to think of it as a party bus. It’s one of the large double-decker busses and I got the front seat at the top. It’s like living out an IMAX movie. Birds eye view of the beautiful scenery and plenty of leg room. A bit exhausting, but later Bolivian bus ride experiences have made me appreciate it much more!
All in all it was a powerful, thoughtful, and wonderful day. Bring it on late twenties and year 28! We’ve got this.
