Awakened and Giving Free Hugs

One big desire I have on the race is growth; it’s kind of a given that there will be growth because I’m gone for a year, and who knows all the things I’ll be facing. So far I’ve learned that growth isn’t just given. To experience the growth I desire, it requires me to take action in what the Lord tells me to do, which essentially is being obedient. During an event called ‘Awakening’ hosted by World Race leadership, the Lord was speaking the words obedience to me. At the event 4 squads, including my own, joined together and shared about what the Lord has been teaching us and how we have grown on the race. It’s amazing to hear how much people have learned and grown in their relationship with the Lord.

During Awakening, an area I was able to experience growth in myself as well as others, was evangelism. Man, it feels like that never gets easier, but through the act of obedience all squads went out into the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand and proclaimed the name of Jesus. It was amazing to see each person come back encouraged.

Stepping into acts of obedience is sometimes scary, but there is a special joy that comes with it. Last week in my blog I talked about not doing what I hoped for and getting tired of prayer, but man, the Lord convicted me hard and continues to tell me I need to look only to him. He also was telling me to speak to Him honestly and confidently in prayer. Being obedient to what He said, has been so refreshing to my soul.

This week I’ve been praying that I would have a ‘YES!’ spirit to obey what He tells me to do. So, this week that meant saying yes to getting up at 5:45 to run 1.5 miles to a park and do Tai-Chi with the locals, saying yes to pursue my teammates and have intentional time with each of them, and saying yes again to evangelism.

Evangelism, like I said before, never gets easier… but for some reason it always leaves me encouraged. I think it’s because in my heart I know that I’m not doing it for my own praise or self satisfaction, but out of my love for the Lord and love for the people. That being said, as a form of evangelism,my team and I passed out encouraging notes to college students at the Chiang Mai University and talked with locals. A few days later some of my teammates and I joined our friend Kelly at a pigeon park. There we met a man and shared Jesus. Although he didn’t believe we prayed with him and asked the Lord to reveal himself to him. I’m glad to have loved this man through a hug, prayer and sharing the gospel.

As I step more into obedience it’s difficult, but I’m reminded that I’m growing and it’s an active way of representing my love for the Lord and loving others as Christ has loved me.