I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7
When I was 13 years old, the Lord gave me a heart to know Him, and oh what a beautiful journey it has been since then. New to blogging, I have decided to begin with a story. We all have a story, made up of smaller stories, that connect us to an even greater story found in Genesis through Revelation and then continuing in the church today. All that to say, I am here to share with you a part of my story.
Growing up, I was a smart kid. I loved knowing things and memorizing facts. I was raised in a christian home, so reading the Bible and knowing the “christian lifestyle” was imprinted in me at a young age. I learned how to act like a Christian from the beginning. I loved helping others, doing good deeds, and telling others stories what I had learned from the Bible. Essentially, my outward appearance was very early on that of a Christian image. My soul, however, was in disarray. I longed for something, not understanding what it was that I was looking for. I, like the rest of humanity, was broken.
In middle school, I began asking the question of purpose. What is my identity? Crying out to the Lord, I realized I was following some useless religion instead of the beauty of a relationship with our good and perfect Creator. Christianity means nothing without a raw and imperfect relationship with Jesus, our savior. There is so much peace in understanding this, friends. So I sought Him, only to find that His arms were open, waiting for me the whole time.
A few years later, I reevaluated the question originally bringing me to my savior- what is my purpose? This time, I asked the Lord with a new perspective. If I am a follower of Jesus, allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven as an adopted daughter of our Father, than what am I doing waiting around on this sinful earth? Psalms 84:2,10 says, “My soul longs, yes, FAINTS, for the courts of the Lord… For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” This Psalm uttered truth to every inch of my being, yet here I was wandering this world. There MUST be some reason I am here before I am allowed to enjoy the beauty and riches of heaven. God had begun tugging on my heart to the point of an unbearable burden for those around the world without the knowledge of my Jesus. God was clearly calling me to a life in missions. Each day since, He has been molding me and introducing me to a daily life on mission, beginning at home and in my direct circle of influence and ending as far as the East is to the West. There is no corner of the earth that doesn’t need Jesus, friends.
Fast forward in my journey, and here I stand. I am a recent college graduate, seeking next steps from the Lord. I had known about the World Race but never considered it a reality. A friend urged me to apply (whats the worse that could happen?). A few weeks later, I was accepted, and there was immediately no question. God gave me overwhelming peace over the decision to join the World Race, and I haven’t looked back since. Here is my journey thus far, and I encourage you to respond in sharing yours.
*While reading this, if you felt like the Lord was leading you to give financially, you can click here to donate!
