I’ve wanted to talk about this for awhile now but for some reason, I was holding back. Before I went to training camp for the World Race, I thought I did a pretty good job of picking and choosing what was going to be essential to pack this year. It wasn’t until I got to training camp that I realized I was still carrying things I didn’t need.
I thought training camp was just going to prepare me for when life decided to throw me a curve ball. When I got there I quickly discovered it was so much more that just teaching me how to adapt if I lost my bag at the airport. They gave me the essential tools to go and be a disciple, and the tools to grow more intimate with God.
Trying to sleep at the “airport” during a layover
Once you get a taste of what it’s truly like to be intimate with God you want more. That’s exactly what happened to me. As the week flew by I realized I wanted to grow closer to Him each day, but I found that I didn’t have enough room in my heart because I’ve been carrying some extra baggage.
In order for me to grow in my relationship with God this year I need to leave behind my pride, vanity, jealousy, and unforgiveness. Out of the few I’ve just listed unforgiveness takes up the most space in my heart. If you ask me if I’ve forgiven everyone who has wronged me, or if I’ve forgiven myself for past mistakes I would easily be able to answer with, “yes.”
I say yes because I truly wish to forgive, unfortunately I would be lying if I said I felt this way wholeheartedly. This is something I will continue to pray about and work on this year.
I’m going to leave my baggage at the foot of the cross
So these next few weeks before I leave I will empty my bag and make more room for growth in my relationship with God. He is the only essential I need. He will lighten my load and when my bag gets too heavy I can give it all to Him and He will carry the weight.
Ephesians 4:26-27 & 31- “In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and give no opportunity to the devil…Let all bitterness and wrath and clamor and slander be put away from you along with malice.”
Pray for my squad and I as we head out to Haiti in August! Thank you for all the love and support!
