10 days later and training camp has officially come to a close! I have spent the last 10 days in Gainesville, Georgia training for the World Race (7 weeks away y’all!!!!)
I’m not going to lie, the first couple days of training camp I was ready to go home. I woke up each morning counting down the days until I got to go back to my “normal” life. I did not know anyone around me and the devil was attacking me with insecurities and doubts about what the heck I was doing there.
BUUUUUUUUUT, Thursday I left training camp changed. I left more joyful, excited, covered in love from my 24 newest friends, a sense true identity, and a more clear understanding of the Lord’s voice.
Let me expand on a couple of these real quick because I’m sure you are oh so curious 😉
* Growing up, I never knew much about the Holy Spirit. I knew He was real and that He lived inside of me once I gave my life to the Lord, but that was about all. I was challenged this week to sit in stillness at the feet of Jesus and let the Holy Spirit speak to me. Sit, be still, and listen. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical…. and even more honestly, I still am a little at times. But the Lord is growing my faith daily. I sat with the Lord and tried to deny and doubt that He was speaking to me, but was affirmed again and again of the Truth that His voice was speaking over me. Whaaaattt?!? God wants to speak to ME and guide me daily?? Life changing.
* Identity. A topic so frequently talked about in my life, yet never truly taken to heart. This week, I saw the reality of the false identity I have put up for so long. I have put so much worth into what the world thinks of me and how I look for the world. I learned about this new identity, well the true identity that has been there all along from the Lord, just waiting for me to let it shine through. My true identity is in the Lord and who He declares I am and who He has called me to become. Yes, my insecurities, anxieties, and fears are there, BUT I refuse to let them overpower me any longer. On the last night of training camp, they had the opportunity for us Racers to get baptized or rebaptized. I saw this as a time to symbolize that my old, false identity of who I desired to be in this world was put to death with Christ in His burial and my new sense of self as a bold, confident, worthy daughter of the Lord was raised to life in His resurrection. This was my declaration to walk in who He calls me to be alongside Jesus with a “yes” in my spirit, following wherever He leads me.
Training camp was 10 days of fun, growth, friendships, and the Lord calling me to more…. not simply for the next 11 months, but for the rest of my life.
