Hello, once again friends and family! I hope your summer is going well.
Crazy to think that in just a little over 4 weeks from now I will be heading overseas! I have been so blessed with my team, that I get to serve with, they are so encouraging and truly have hearts of gold.
I’ve started reading a few books in the past couple of weeks. One of them is called “if you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.” Referring to Peter stepping out of the boat and actively pursuing Jesus. Ive been shown something deeper than that though, obedience.
The book begins by challenging the reader to answer some pretty difficult questions, but here is my favorite:
-“Whats your boat? Where is fear or comfort keeping you from trusting God?”
IDENTIFYING MY BOAT.
For a while, I’ve been trying to dig deep and really identify “my boat” or the thing that is keeping me from fully pursuing Jesus. Ive come to the conclusion that “my boat”is being in control. I’m the type of person who tries to please everyone. In turn that causes me to want to be able to have control in situations that I don’t. On the other side of that I’m also a fairly generous person, and I’ve caught myself sometimes doing things for people for the “Thank you” and other affirmation. I’m trying to control how others react to my generosity. Which I know is completely wrong, and I’ve been learning to surrender that over to God. I think this is part of the reason God called me overseas, because I’m learning to do things to glorify Him and further the Kingdom. I will be put into situations where my selfish attribute will turned by Him into me selflessly loving everyone I encounter. I want to relinquish control and allow God to lead me in a new way and show me what it truly means to pursue without hesitation. The big key in this is obedience.
I was listening to a sermon this morning, and it was talking about discerning God’s “knock” Knowing when He is the one knocking your door (heart) and how to respond. A few great points from the sermon where: 1) When we pray we want to control the outcome, like when, where, and how God answers our prayer. In reality God answers our prayers it might not be in our “desired” package. 2) Sometimes we pray for things, but God knows we can’t handle that right now, but it may still come along. Even if God didn’t send it, He will STILL use it, it just might not look like what we thought. 3) The thing that hit me the most, the scripture was out of the book Acts 12:6-9 it says: “The night before Herod planned to bring him to trial, he made sure that Peter was securely bound with two chains. Peter was sound asleep between two soldiers, with additional guards stationed outside his cell door, 7 when all at once an angel of the Lord appeared, filling his prison cell with a brilliant light. The angel struck Peter on the side to awaken him and said, “Hurry up! Let’s go!” Instantly he stands up and the chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel told him, “Get dressed. Put on your sandals, bring your cloak, and follow me.” 9 Peter quickly left the cell and followed the angel, even though he thought it was only a dream or a vision, for it seemed unreal—he couldn’t believe it was really happening!”
My favorite verse is 7 “when all at once an angel of the Lord appeared, filling his prison cell with a brilliant light. The angel struck Peter on the side to awaken him and said, “Hurry up! Let’s go!” Instantly he stands up and the chains fell off his wrists.” I love this verse because it shows how obedience pays off, Peter stood up as soon as he was told, he didn’t stand up after the chains were broken, we stood up in obedience and then the chains fell off. So often I find myself saying “well when this happens then I will” Obedience always come before opportunity. We need to first listen and the we will be free, and act before we are rewarded. this sermon has helped me see how I need to obey God daily, and actively pursue Him, and in doing that my chains of control will be relinquished to the King of the universe.
Thank you all so much for your continued love and support. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates while I’m overseas.
Love you all!
