The race is coming to an end. This has been a crazy journey and through the race, the Lord has taught me so much. He’s stretched me, pushed me, loved me, and has showed me things I never could have imagined.
The race gave me the space and opportunity to grow in my relationship with the Lord. Here’s a few of the many things I’ve learned.
Ministry is life
While being on the Race, we have partnered with many ministries and churches. Some of these ministries have been some of the most basic things like farming or painting or fixing cars. Through each of these things/places, the Lord is moving and using people to spread His love and light. To bring Kingdom down. Your ministry could be in your work place. Your 9-5 job. When you’re on your construction site, have a conversation with your coworker and really listen. Ask him/her how they’re really doing. At your night shift at McDonald’s, tell someone that they’re loved. Be the light and joy in someone’s day and create relationships. Imagine how Jesus would be in your work place and then do what He would do. Invite people to church. Love them with everything in you. Listen to what they have to say. LOVE
Take the step
God has been teaching me a lot about Matthew 6:25-34. For so long I worried about the next step and the next and the next. I worried constantly about what’s after and the outcome of every decision I make. I worried about what I wore, about how my body looked, what people thought of me, what food I was going to eat, etc, about the dumbest things! And for what? During these 6 months, God has provided like CRAAZYY! He has always provided us a place to sleep, food to eat, clothes to wear, work to do. His hand has been on and guiding every situation to fit perfectly to His plan. His plan is perfect. There is no reason to worry about anything at all. We are meant to be careless in the care of God. He will provide. He will show up. Always. So, you don’t always need to know the next step, all you need to do is take the step and let God guide you. Don’t worry.
Intercession is powerful
For the first 3 months on the race, my team and I were really big on intercession. The definition of intercession is the action of intervening on behalf of another. We would come to each other with something we could be praying for for them and took action. We prayed constantly and we saw mountains moved. We saw healing and growth in each other and in our families. Prayer is powerful and the Lord hears us. Take your struggles and cares to the Lord, pray about it and trust in Him. He cares for you and your family and whatever area it is that needs redemption. He is redeemer.
My world is misshapen when God isn’t at the center of it
I remember so many times when I wasn’t pursuing the Lord. My world was solely focused on me. The universe revolved around me. I was so focused on my feelings and couldn’t see the bigger picture of things. I would become easily offended at the smallest things and could not see where people were coming from. My world was so warped and discombobulated and confusing. I was so lost. But by putting God at the center of everything, He shifted it all. He provided me the bigger picture. My eyes were refocused. My heart was fixated on Him. My world started falling into place and making sense. My purpose became clear. I encourage you to start taking steps that glorify God and the kingdom. Start pursuing Him and your world/life will be filled with so much purpose and life!! Your eyes will be opened to the world around you and His children. Your heart will break and then you suddenly won’t think so much about yourself. The only thing that matters is His children and showing His love to them.
My life is not my own
Everything I have and everything I am is His. I owe my life to God. The very breath in my lungs is His. I went through a point on the race of complete heartbrokenness for the world. For how lost and broken it is. I realized how blessed I am to know Gods love and have my hope in Him. I am so privileged. I recognize that and now it’s my job to make everyone else feel loved and give them the hope that Jesus gives. It’s my job to love them with everything in me. We love because He first loved us.
So now, it’s almost time for me to come home. I won’t forget everything I’ve learned. I’m permanently changed by God. But you don’t have to go on a 6 month mission trip to learn these things. You don’t need a 6 month mission trip to experience God’s faithfulness and power. You just need to take a step towards Him and never stop. He will lead you to do things that make you uncomfortable and joyful and full of life and feel things. Your life will be so radically changed. He will heal, redeem, refine etc. I love Him!!!
See you soon:)
