Some of you might know this already, but each month we are given a new word. Every month we see God show up in incredible ways, often times through the words our squad leaders pray & speak over us.
This month we get two words 🙂
Draw near.
The first thing that came to my mind was the verse in James 4:8 – “draw near to God & He will draw near to you.” There have been countless times in my life where I have sensed God is “further” away than I would have liked him to be. Often during those times I realize it is me who has shifted further away from God. God does not move away from me, it is not in in character. He is ever-present & all knowing.
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up, You know my thoughts even when I am far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.
Psalm 139:1-6
What beautiful promises the Psalmist declares. Because God is all-knowing & ever-present, David reminds us through his writing that God deeply cares about, knows his children & desires for us to seek him & know him in return.
It simply amazes me that not only do I have a relationship with God who knows me this intimately, but he knows every single person he created that intimately. The stranger on the street corner, your best friend, each of my teammates, the woman who is begging for her child to be fed. God sees each person He created. He knows their hurts, their brokenness, their hearts & their desires.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered.
Psalm 139:17
Draw near.
Draw near to God today, in all you do seek what he has for you, wherever you are. Sometimes drawing near means growing close to those around you, whether these people are present for just a season or for your lifetime.
PC: Wesley Chandler
Draw near.
…
This month our team has had the opportunity to not only draw near to one another but to draw near to God as he draws near to us. The beginning of this month was difficult in ways we haven’t faced before. One teammate wound up in the hospital with a parasite & another teammate was facing the anticipated death of her beloved grandmother. With Wes’ recovery from sickness & Nano’s passing, we had a choice as a team. We could choose to press into one another & God or we could choose to face outward, away from our team & keep things inside, isolated & separate.
As hard as it is to choose community, especially when it is not the familiar community of home, the Lord has each of us here for such a time as this. God not only wants to teach us, he wants to grow us & lead us closer to himself in the process.
PC: Wesley Chandler
We are given choices each day to press into one another, to seek one another & to love one another. It doesn’t come natural to love 4 people who are so vastly different than yourself, that’s why this choice is so important.
We had the beautiful opportunity to hold a memorial for Nano (Sarah’s grandmother) on the same day her family did back at home. Sarah made a bold choice. She chose to press into community & allow us all in on her pain as she processes & grieves her loss, far away from her family. It has been beautiful to watch Sarah choose to let us in everyday.
How incredible is it to be known so deeply by your creator? It amazes me.
When I am so desperately tired of serving, building kingdom, loving others, loving myself, why is my knee-jerk reaction to withdraw from my father who knows me best & loves me most? Our tendencies, being human, often include us thinking we have nothing to offer, or feeling like we have to handle things on our own.
When it’s hard. Press in.
When you want to throw in the towel & quit, take a look around & see how far you’ve come, how much you’ve grown. Hang in there, friend. Draw near.
