“It is finished” -three little words Jesus said that forever changed the world.
A little more than three weeks ago my squad, and my sister squads, came home from nine and eleven months of missions. We traveled the world, healed the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked and preached in His mighty name. We saw death, we saw life and for many of us, we got to experience a taste of heaven. Whether it was through witnessing His creation or seeing heaven through the eyes of a child, a prostitute, a widow or someone else, we were all touched and forever transformed from our experience on the World Race. For me, it was the shortest, yet longest nine months of my entire life. I realized that the race wasn’t just an opportunity to bless others and make disciples, but for the Lord to bless you and teach you more about who you are in Him. I grew tremendously from hard feedback I received. I learned how to love, I laughed, I cried, and sometimes I even suffered. I dealt with things back home like my grandma being diagnosed with breast cancer or my grandpa becoming very sick from a blood infection. (Both of which satan lost the battle to and my grandparents are completely healed and cancer free) But yet here I am… I crossed the finished line, my “race” is over.
Satan wants me to believe that lie… the lie that says, “I crossed the finished line, my “race” is over.” The truth is… I am powerful beyond measure making me dangerous to the enemy of the Lord. Satan, is a great tactician, one of the best. He will try to find my weaknesses, and once he does, begin to whisper lies over my life. He only has three purposes… to kill, to steal and to destroy. Satan loves to whisper in my ear and tell me that I am unworthy. He so badly wants me to believe that the identity I found in the Lord is a sham and not who I was created to be.
BUT GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN he THAT IS IN THE WORLD.
Our Creator has called us to greatness, He has called us to be warriors…Sons and Daughters of the Most High King. We were made to be Kings and Queens for the Kingdom of God so that one day we can remove our crowns and lay them at Jesus’ feet. What does that look like to be a warrior of Christ? Does that mean we have to go overseas as a long term missionary? For some yes, if that is the calling Christ has on their life. But for many it is being a godly mother, a God fearing father or a friend that pours the love of Jesus out to those around them. You are the instrument that will be used to raise the next generation of believers. It’s in our workplace, it’s at the movie theaters, the barber shop or where we buy bread, that God will present to us the opportunity to spread His love. We are His vessels. There is a whole world out there that needs saving. We have been chosen, we are washed in the blood of the Creator. We are RESTORED, RENEWED, RIGHTEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, BELOVED. These are the words the Lord has spoken over us. We are his Ambassadors to declare the name of the God we serve so that wherever we go or whatever we do, we are the Salt and Light of the world.
So where will He take our feet next? I do not have the answer, but the Lord does. Wrap yourself up in His truth. Put on the armor of God and fight the good fight. You may not know your calling yet and that’s okay. The Lord says ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened. Our Father has great plans for our life. He has made promises to us that He will keep. All you have to do is say ” YES LORD.” Dream big, cast vision, pray often, read the word, listen to the Holy Spirit and most importantly, seek His face. I do not know where He will take me next, but one thing I know for sure is that my race is not finished, THIS is just the beginning.
