As anyone who has gone on the World Race can tell you, 11 is an important number to those who embark on this journey. It’s the number of months away from home, the number of countries traveled to, and for me 11 goals I hope to complete in that time.
Here’s a look into what I hope to achieve in the months to come:
1. To let go.
I don’t want hold on to things that will bring me down. Past hurts, past regrets, negative habits, selfish ways, or controlling tendencies. God has give me the liberty to live a life void of the weight of sin but it is up to me to let go of the things I can’t control and give them to Him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:5-6
2. To live in the moment.
I am anticipating many new things on this journey. New cultures, new foods, new opportunities, new thoughts, and new people. These are things that I may never get to experience again. I may never see that city again, or have the opportunity to share my faith with a certain individual again. I don’t want to look back and wish I had taken advantage of certain moments in the life that God has given me. I want to enjoy the now and be thankful for each breath I take. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” Matt. 6:34
3. To be bold.
I will be traveling to places that possibly have never heard of the love of God or the story of His Son. I could come across someone who has been hurt badly by those who were supposed to protect them. I could be given the opportunity to impact a community and help them grow in unity towards God. In any of these instances if I am shy about the love of God or the hope of the gospel I could miss an opportunity to help lead someone to the cross. I could miss the chance to help someone understand the healing power of God. I want to step out of my comfort zone and speak up in Christ’s name. “…the righteous are bold as a lion.” Prov. 28:1
4. To learn.
I will be traveling with a team of people that I have not known before deciding to go on the World Race. They each have their own journey, their own story. They carry with them the lessons they have learned throughout their lives. I know there are so many things they will be able to teach me through their words and examples. My goal is to keep my heart open and accept those teachings with grace and humility. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” Prov. 1:5.
5. To surrender.
Life is made up of relationships. Your relationship with family. Your friendships. You even have some sort of relationship with those you barely know. One of the pictures God gave us to be an example of our relationship with Him is marriage. Some say in a marriage it has to be 2 people giving 100% of themselves to the other. This is such a beautiful picture of what God wants from us! Surrender defined is to abandon oneself entirely. In order for me to have a successful marriage someday or relationship with God today, both persons must abandon themselves. God has obviously already completely given 100% of himself. Now it’s up to me. It is my goal, in these 11 months, to be completely sold out to Him; to spread my wings and fly in the freedom that comes only from The Lord. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10
6.To Worship.
I am learning that there are SO many different ways that I can worship my Creator. For example, through my words. I can speak his praises. I can thank Him for His blessings. I can speak of His Saving Power to those around me. I can also praise Him through my Spirit. I lift my voice in song with my heart toward the heavens. I treat others with love and mercy. I can bring Him worship through my demeanor and my attitude. My prayer is that this would become natural. That each day I worship Him more not only in what I say but through how I act. “…and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
7. To be gracious.
To say that I may experience some culture shock is an understatement. My entire world that I have known for the last 21 years is going to be shaken. I’m leaving the comforts of home to travel the world and live from a backpack with people that I’ve never met before. Am I crazy? What if I don’t like the food? What if I can’t sleep on a hard floor for a year? What if I get annoyed with the people I’m with? What if I offend someone from a different culture? All of these questions plague my mind. The only answer I have is grace. To give grace to others, accept new ways of life with grace, and handle every conflict I come across with grace. “Not rendering evil for evil…but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing” 1Peter 3:9
8. To wallow.
I am the type of person who likes to look forward to things. I enjoy the anticipation of something good that I know is coming. But during theses 11 months I want to change that. I want to enjoy the people and the country that I am in. I want to bask in all that is in the present. I want to soak up each second in each place and each moment with each individual. I want to savor each bite and remember each laugh. I want to wallow. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Ps. 37:4
9. To share.
I was born in to a family of 3 boys so I am the only girl. Need I say more? 😉 I am not used to sharing my toys, my clothes, or even my food! I never had to. With this comes a certain mentality that I deserve every thing that I have. I have no desire to let some one else have half of what I have or lend something to someone. This may seem so childish and trivial but it is a goal that I have set for myself to rid my mind of those selfish thoughts. To let go of the misconception that everything I own is for me alone. “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:11
10. To give
This is one of my biggest goals. My desire is that I can give myself. I want to give my heart completely to the people I meet. I want to give them the hope that was placed in my heart when I became a follower of Christ. I want to give them the understanding of Gods love for them. I want to give them means to grow in faith so that they may blossom in their personal journey. I want to give my all so that I can make a change and through that change that I myself might be changed. “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
11. To keep dreaming.
I have been dreaming of doing a missions trip for a long time. To travel, to experience new things, to lead others to a relationship with God. I will be given the opportunity to do all of these things on the World Race. My final goal when I’m done with it all is that I will still dream big. I don’t want the desire to make a difference to be fulfilled but to grow. I hope the things i see and the lessons I learn will ignite a flame that will forever burn in my heart. At the end of this trip when it’s all said and done, I want this not to be the end of something great but the beginning of something greater. “I press toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14
