Bali, Indonesia. Month 11. There’s a stereotype associated with month 11 and the World Race—burnt out. How is possible to sustain 11 months of ministry living out of a backpack and eating rice every day? Is month 11 the final stretch in which to just push forward and finish strong? What does finishing strong look like? Is finishing strong meet with a wave of exhaustion? Or is month 11 just another month of our lives as a follower of Christ? How do we break the stereotype and be known as strong finishers?
I have recently been listening to a sermon series titled ‘Stride’ by Pastor Michael Todd. In the series Pastor Mike talks about how we are to walk with long, decisive steps towards God’s purpose for our lives. We’re not standing, we’re not running, we ARE WALKING. We are walking in God’s footsteps, because He goes before us.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” —Deuteronomy 31:8
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:6
Imagine yourselves in a snowstorm with a couple feet of snow. It’s so hard to make a trail in any direction, but here’s the good news. We don’t have to make our own trail, because God has made the trail. He has determined the direction and the pace at which we must walk. All we have to do it matched our steps with the footprints that God has already made. And that’s how you stride, you settle into the pace that God has created for your life. When you walk at God’s pace you wouldn’t become exhausted because He knows the path. He knows when to slow down and when to speed up. Striding is walking forward, fully assured and trusting that God’s path for our lives is the correct path.
Finishing strong does not always mean sprinting towards the finish line. I can finish strong by being obedient to the pace and the path that He has set before me and not trying to forge a new ‘better’ path. I can finish strong by simply walking in God’s footsteps.
I entered month 11 of the World Race determined to not let ATL (Ask the Lord), our ministry this month in Indonesia, become like ATL was in Thailand. I didn’t want to squander the last month on the Race. How do I make the most of this ‘second opportunity’ in Indonesia? How will I finish strong? There is not a one easy answer, but I know that I can and will finish strong by being obedient to what the Lord has called me to.
This month I am finishing strong by obeying what the Lord has given me. This month being obedient to the Lord looks like:
- prayer walking up and down the beach
- writing blogs and posting pictures
- doing listening prayer for my teammates
- playing soccer on the beach with the locals
- asking to take sunset pictures for tourists
- creating personal value backgrounds for teammates
Walking at God’s pace on God’s path isn’t always easier, but it’s constant, it’s trustworthy. It doesn’t matter what season of life I am in whether it’s month 11 in Bali, Indonesia or month 12 in Rapid City, SD, I am still walking on God’s path. God’s stride for our lives is always best. It’s what allows us to keep moving forward without getting overwhelmed and becoming exhausted, because He goes before us and gives us strength. Being obedient and walking in God’s stride allows us to always finish strong.
