A wise man by the name Mahatma Ghandi said something that struck me with intense curiosity. The quote is:“To believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest.” And the more I repeat that to myself the more I begin to understand his meaning. To me, Ghandi was speaking about not taking action, not taking that next step toward my purpose, a step I often had trouble taking. I never wish to be dishonest, not to the people I meet nor to myself. I aspire to continue pushing forward into the next big thing, and to be honest with myself about what that may be. For this season of my life, the next big thing that I believe in is the World Race.
Several weeks have gone by and it still doesn’t feel real to me, yet. As evidence of this blog, I have been committed to going on the World Race, in August of 2017. The World Race consists of travelling to eleven different countries over the course of eleven months, spending one month in each country. One year of serving, healing, and loving the people of this world. One year of walking in the footsteps left behind in the sand by Jesus Christ, loving and serving as He once did.
I’ve always struggled with the idea of future; in no way am I considered a futurist, but rather the opposite. I’ve constantly feared and been anxious for my future. It wasn’t until recently that I learned to trust in God, to keep my faith in Him to provide me with a sustainable future for my life. Much of this stemmed from my past suicidal thoughts, and deep struggle with depression. Despite spending nearly three years in college, I had no clue what my future even relatively looked like. I was lost, confused, and desperate for someone to lay out a path for me to follow.
That was until I spent six months of unemployment in constant prayer and patience that God would provide a promising future for my life. I prayed every day for Him to provide my every need and to take away my worry and fear. I also prayed for the Lord to ignite a passion in my heart for something to strive toward. Truly, my prayers became answered after much patience with a great new job, and an unquenchable thirst for a reachable future.
I was given a burning desire in my heart to live out a future for missions. You see, I’m not satisfied living in a safe and routine lifestyle because I’ve been called to do more for the world than I do for myself. To forward the Kingdom, where there is none. To shout the name of Jesus to people who’ve never heard it said before. To meet people broken-down on their knees, and raise them up to their feet. To bend down, wash their feet, and bring them to a new life in relationship with Jesus.
I’m now joining the World Race, August Route 4, in the pursuit of furthering the Kingdom in places that yearn to know the heart of Jesus. To go on this mission trip, I first must raise a large sum of money, but because of my previous victories over fear and worry I have no doubt in my mind that when God calls He also provides. I would love for you to be in prayer for me, and my team, as we begin to explore what the Lord is doing in preparing us to further His Kingdom. I’m pursuing the desire that has been placed on my heart, I’m living in the action of that which I believe, and so I go forward faithfully into whatever it is that God has prepared for me.
I don’t go on this adventure in missions for my own sake.
I go, not for my own glory.
I go, not to forward my own sense of adventure and travel.
I go, not to see the landscapes of foreign countries.
I go because God has called me.
I go because I desire the unloved to feel the true love of Jesus.
I go because God has laid on my heart a mission to forward His Kingdom in lands I’ve never been.
I go because I recognize that our world is bleeding and in need of healing.
I go to bring the truth of Jesus Christ, of his death and resurrection, to the nations of the world.
I’ve had a fire ignite inside of my heart to race the world on missions, and so I go.
