So far, 2017 has been a season of growth for me. It’s been a season of fighting for joy and living in freedom and letting Christ reveal new things to me and remind my heart of things I’ve known but forgotten. One such reminder came during a family vacation to Disney World (and who doesn’t love disney world?!)
Disney is full of all things fun and magical. Disney claims to be the happiest place on earth. I might agree. But while walking around the parks the Lord was whispering to my heart, “Are you living a theme park faith?”
Um. What? Bear with me. We’ll unpack this together.
When you go to a theme park, you want to find the biggest rides, best restaurants, and most fun attractions. You go from one thing to the next, always looking for the next big thing. In Epcot, you can essentially travel around the globe while never leaving the park. You can see ruins in Mexico and cafes in France and you can even meet Anna and Elsa in Norway. Take a ride up Mount Everest in the Asia of Animal Kingdom or or watch a Lion King Musical in Africa.
How much fun, am I right?
But as I stood for a minute one day watching families hurry from one thing to the next, I was reminded of the value of the seemingly small moments. The importance of soaking in and being present in every moment. Sure, when you’re at Disney World you can rush from one ride to another and have a good time, but in doing so I feel like you miss the magic that is Disney.
So often, I feel as if I live my walk with Christ in this way.
I get caught on the “big” moments of my faith. I prayed a prayer, got baptized, and go to church every Sunday. I find “spiritual highs” at big youth events and conferences. I go to bible study every week. In five months, I’m leaving to spread the gospel around the world.
I catch myself living a theme park version of my faith. Living for one big Christian thing to the next.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Lord loves for us to have these experiences. But I think there is a problem when we allow the “important” moments to be the driving force of our faith. Jesus doesn’t care as much that I attended that conference or went on that mission trip or was in church last Sunday as He does that I am walking with Him. Every day. Every moment. Depending on Him.
I can do all the “Christian” things in the world and still not be walking with Him. This convicted my heart. The Lord began to show me the ways I haven’t been depending on Him in the day-to-day, in the seemingly small. He also began to show me again the beauty of the simple moments spent in His presence.
When the presence of a Holy, loving God captivates your soul, you no longer want a lesser, theme park version of faith because you see the beauty of letting Him dwell in you every moment of every day.
It will set a fire in your heart, y’all.
I don’t want to live out my faith waiting for the next big thing. I want to live out my faith desperately searching for more and more of Jesus. And I’ve found this is the best way to live because when I am seeking Him every day, He shows up and rocks my world.
I want to give a huge, heartfelt thank you to all who have supported me and come alongside me in this journey the Lord has me walking. I am currently about 25% funded. So while I’m thanking the Lord I have ¼ down, I still have ¾ to go!!! But I am only about $1315 away from my first fundraising goal of $5000! If 66 of you reading this could simply give a one-time donation of $20, or if 13 of you could give $100 I would meet this goal and be that much closer to my total goal of $14951. Another way to give is doing an online monthly donation of $100, $50, $20, or even $5 for the next 3, 6 or 9 months. There is no support too small and every bit God will use to further His Kingdom. I am trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness and provision, and I’m praying that perhaps He would have you walk with me on this journey of trusting Him every day. Thank you again for all your support and prayers.
