I don’t believe my Lord operates in the realm of coincidence. In fact I’m quite convinced He is a very intentional and purposeful Father. That’s how I know that it was on purpose that He placed Isaiah 61 at the precisely perfect, and rather poetic time in my life. Here’s the deal, this past year has been one of the most insanely undeserved season of abundant, overflowing, blessing after blessing from the lord. If I’m honest I’m getting tired of keeping it all to myself and simply need to proclaim it from the rooftops. I think I spend a lot of time caught up in what the Lord might do or even is doing, but yesterday the Lord reminded me the gift of looking back on what he has already done.
Context time!!!! Yaaasss (my favorite!)
I was sitting on the balcony if my room here in Costa Rica watching the sun rise over the mountains when the Lord (as clear as the view before me) said “Isaiah” now I know my Dad’s voice when I hear it but found myself sitting wondering where in the labyrinth that is the book of Isaiah He was calling me. Trusting He would reveal it to me sooner or later I flipped my Bible open, which believe it or not opened straight to Isaiah 61… I read it in awe as the Holy Spirit painted colorful pictures in my mind, I was reading all that God has given me the opportunity to do this past year as well as all He has done for me.
The title of the chapter: The Year of the Lord’s Favor
Truly that has been what this past year has been. A year of the Lords favor. He has placed a command in Isaiah 61 to “proclaim the Lords favor” so that is what this blog will be. A proclamation of all that the Father has done for me in 2018.
Let’s begin, this year of 2018 the Lord:
took the pain, fear, and frustration that went along with being a 2nd semester senior and traded it for joy and trust. After a four year battle I finally graduated high school even when it seemed an impossibility, I have the diploma (its real I swear (I checked… twice)) I asked my Father for a job to help me pay for the world race, and the very next morning I was offered a job nannying in Hawaii over the summer, with tickets payed for, a place to stay, groceries, and paid on top of that. Beyond that, the Lord allowed my older brother an opportunity to join a summer internship on the same island as me. It is through that connection where I met other on fire people who poured so much into me. This past summer was one of the biggest gifts I’ve been given. Upon returning from such a grand adventure, I was met with another $5,000 deadline for the race, which the Lord provided within the same week. Before I knew it I was off to Thailand with forty other people who have now become like my second family. In Thailand I was stretched and challenged like never before. I saw the pain that comes with the absence of the King of Kings, as well as the overflowing joy that comes with the presence of Him. I got to play with elephants for a day, climb waterfalls, see jaw dropping views. I also dug trenches, went into red light district bars to minister to women, prayer walk , and finally hurt the way the Father hurts. I was then on my way to Malaysia where the Lord wrecked me with blessing. My ministry was my absolute dream where I got to work in a cafe. It was there where I was in communion with the most amazing people. There I met Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, and Christians. There I met refugees and heard their stories and their hearts. There I met Malaysians, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, and more. I was able to go to a jungle where I white water rafted, went tubing, caving, and repealed down a waterfall. Finally, I became closer with my team than ever before. Then it was off to Costa Rica… Costa Rica which is an absolute answer to prayer on its own. I just got back from living in one of the twelve indigenous villages here in Costa Rica where I got to be a part of one of the most beautifully tight knit and on fire for the lord communities I have ever encountered. It was there that I shared my testimony for the first time in front of people. I got to worship the lord in Spanish and walk out in prayer. I ate copious amounts of tamales and learned how to make them by scratch. Now I am here writing this blog a completely changed young woman.
I’m here to say that the world race hasn’t changed me like I initially assumed it would, instead I have the pleasure of being completely transformed through the spirit. The Lord answered my biggest prayer which was to become His steadfast woman. Because of all the things I have seen this past year I have found myself all in. I have been so intensely spoiled, and I can confidently say every single blessing has come from my Heavenly Father and nowhere else. Each blessing came from a bold prayer to the Lord and the bravery to trust His provisional ability’s, He delivered every time even when he didn’t have to.
So as the new year comes around this is the joy I get to sit in. As I sat reading the command the Lord gave through this chapter: to spread His same love to the broken and in pain. I realized that His favor isn’t over yet. These are the things I get to walk in 2019 and beyond. I get to use my blessings to become a blessing to others and walk out in encouragement. I get to show others the joy that comes with serving the Father, and in turn “they will know everlasting joy”
“I will greatly rejoice in the lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness”
This has been a proclamation of the lords favor, and with that… 2019 here I come.
