I know what you are thinking. You think this is another blog about how hard and difficult the World Race can be or how I still need over $1,000 to stay on this incredible journey. But, this is not that type of blog. What I am referring to as being overwhelming is the power, conviction, love, and compassion of the Holy Spirit. (I use the word overwhelming in the most positive and encouraging way.)
Before January, when I launched, one of the only times I felt that I could honestly remember being deep in the Spirit, besides my church in Little Rock, Grace Point, was at church camp in Conway, Arkansas at Camp Beaverfork. I vividly remember being there and feeling like I was so immersed in the Spirit that I was like fruit in gelatin. Surrounded in this thick substance and not being able to get out of it and it was amazing. When church camp was over, however, it was back to a church routine and never really seeking out those “gelatin” moments.
When we began inviting the Spirit into things like listening prayer, worship, and our daily schedules here on the Race, I quickly realized there was a lot I had been missing out on. I had never done a listening prayer before the World Race and quite frankly it is becoming one of my favorite things to do! Music has always been something I love so when I began following Father, worship was fascinating. When I invited the Spirit to lead me during worship that feeling was only intensified. I cannot explain the feeling of freely giving your all to Father during worship.
Here is where I really became “overwhelmed” with the Spirit. Did you know you do not have to be in worship or listening prayer for the Spirit to completely immerse you? Crazy right? Who knew? We started ministry yesterday here in Cusco, Peru at an orphanage. I was very excited to start after almost a week of travel and two days of rest. I walked into the Josephine House at 8:00 yesterday morning and was instantly hit by the Spirit. The Spirit told me to be still with the kids first thing and that I would receive a blessing.
As I walk in, there are four infants sitting on the floor so I went and sat with one of them. As I am sitting there playing, the Spirit rushes in again. It took me off guard because it came at me like a wave and when it crashed into me I became very overwhelmed. As I sat looking at this small child who does not know me or understand anything coming out of my mouth, he smiled.
Why was this so overwhelming to me, you ask? God did not have to get to know me. He could care about everyone else in this world and not even notice I was there. Instead, He chose to sacrifice His son for me and love me. There are times when I do things that do not make sense as a Christian and it is hard to understand but you know what, God still smiled down at me. He loves me no matter what sin I commit or if I stumble around like these small kids. If I fall down, He is right there with such love and compassion to pick me up and tell me to keep going.
Living in the Spirit is not something I have grown up learning. It is still a new concept to me but I am pressing more and more into it because I want to be fully aware of what the Lord is teaching me. He used a child to speak to me and flood my soul and it is the best overwhelming feeling I have ever had. I will continue to seek the Spirit and prayerfully experience many more overwhelming moments.
Job 19:27- “I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhlemed at the thought!”
