This Valentine’s Day I fell in love. I fell more in love with God. The day was spent on a 13+ hour bus ride from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana. That is a lot of time for personal reflection on life and everything. A time I reflected and processed month one of my Race in Côte d’Ivoire. A time spent praying and listening to God for answers. A time of being super uncomfortable in my seat next to a tall African stranger but still had a big smile. A time of no sleep. A time of no conversations with no squad mates. A time to fall in love with God even more.
How amazing is our God? The love that He pours on us no matter what we have done or do. A God that loves us unconditionally, that gave everything for us. One of my favorite and the team’a favorite songs is Reckless Love by Corey Asbury. (Seriously listen to it if you haven’t heard it)
“Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God. Oh it chases me down fights til I’m found. Leaves the ninety nine. I couldn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it, still you give yourself away. Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.”
I should seriously write down all the lyrics but that would be a lot. Just promise me you’ll listen to it. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE
I don’t deserve God’s love. But yet He still chases me down. Leaves the ninety nine until He calls me home. Why shouldn’t I be majorly in love with Him? Why shouldn’t I love Him in return? Why shouldn’t I spend every waking moment praising Him for the things He blesses me with. Why shouldn’t I read His Word and pray to Him 24/7. Why shouldn’t I serve Him. Relationships are not just one sided. Communication, acts of service, and praise and adoration are needed on both sides of the relationship for it to be healthy.
God has done so much in my life this past month that I didn’t even know He had do it. My relationship with Him can only get stronger.
I challenge all of you to recklessly pursue Him like I am this year. Recognize His love and power through His Word, and people and things around you. God gave Himself away for you, even when you don’t deserve it.
Oh, and I have also fallen in love with another thing. AFRICA. It has officially stolen my heart. I don’t know how to describe it, but this place is beautiful. The people are beautiful. The culture is beautiful. The simplicity of life is beautiful. And I’ve only been in two countries. I want to see the whole continent. Anyone up for a road trip??
