This past week was training camp for the race and it was AMAZING! I have never been in a place where God’s presence was so present! The entire week was full of peace and love and 50 people that I already call family. I grew so much in the Spirit in only 7 days I cannot imagine how much I will grow in the next year. But I do know that I am extremely excited for it!!
God is so cool. I could tell you a billion things I learned at training camp but that would take forever, so I picked out my favorite 10. Some of them I'd heard before but this was the first time I really heard them. I pray that you hear them too. I found peace in hearing these things and I hope that is what they do for you, bring you peace.
1. I am a daughter of the King.
You are a son or daughter of the King. He loves us and wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t need us to do anything for Him; He can do it on His own. He only wants a relationship with us. My opportunity to go on the World Race is a gift from Him to be able to spend time with me. What does God want to do to spend time with you?
2. The God of the Last Resort vs. The God of the First Degree
In modern society when we are sick or depressed or even too happy where do we go first? Not to God but to medicine. We go to hospitals and doctors before we turn to prayer. Meanwhile God is looking at us like “hey, remember me? I can help.”
3. God makes beautiful things out of us.
God likes to take the ugly and the weak and make them powerful. He loves to take people who He can transform and others will see and think its crazy. God is making me new and I couldn’t be more excited.
4. You don’t have to be holy to walk in the power of God but we have to get holy to survive.
We don’t have to be perfect; God can use anybody. Holiness is the recognition that we are powerless – the recognition that we need God. Our weakness is His strength. It is once we are holy that we can grow.
5. No matter how far we run God is still right behind us.
Imagine a little girl in a grocery store with her parents and all she wants is the freedom to wander away from them. Her dad notices that she is walking away and he follows her not to stop her but to keep an eye out. When she finally realizes she is lost her dad is right behind her to pick her up. That’s God. Picking us up when we are lost only to take us back to our right path. Even when we aren’t pursuing Him, He is pursuing us.
6. Attack means you’re going in the right direction.
Sometimes you hear a little voice inside your head that says “You can’t do this” or “You can’t make a difference in anyone’s life” – that is the devil trying to slow you down. The bad news is this makes you feel terrible. The good news is this means you’re headed in the right direction and he really wants to stop you. Keep going.
7. God loves us just as much right now as He does our finished product.
We will not be perfect until we get to Heaven and God knows that. His love for us is never changing. There is NOTHING we can do to make Him say “Well, see ya later.” Nothing. He knows our past mistakes and our future mistakes and He loves us the same when we are in the middle of them or away from them. God meets us where we are.
8. It is not wrong to have a bad thought, it is wrong to keep it.
It is only human to be sinful, we all are. The things you think are not your identity. The things you do are not your identity. You are a child of God.
9. This is not a one-time deal.
We are growing our entire lives. Everyday is a chance to get closer to our perfect self. God will continue to fill us with the Holy Spirit over and over and over again. And it feels awesome every time.
10. We have not joined an audience we have joined an army.
“Even when you know the outcome of the battle there are still casualties.” –Dr. Ron Walborn
We all know that God wins the final battle but did you know that He wants you on his side? It is not our job to keep ourselves alive in the war, it is our job to keep our countrymen alive during the war.
11. Never take an opportunity from God to let him tell someone He loves them.
This really stuck with me all throughout the week. God doesn’t want us to change people’s behaviors or tell them their choices are wrong. He only calls us to love them. You will never help a person without first reaching their heart. Have you told someone God loves them today? He really, really loves you.
-Christina
