Two words. Training + Camp.
Saturday is the day! Training camp is finally here, and I am so ready to hug my squad mate, laugh and cry together, sing around bonfires, have dance parties, worship and read the Word together, ask all the questions in the world in an attempt to get to know each other in a short weeks time, and MEET MY TEAM!
My team is whom I will be with for the entire year, every day, every hour. That’s scary. Extremely terrifying… Thankfully, the AIM staff is great at being mindful, prayerful and matching people up for teams according to skills, personalities and the like. I’ve got nothing to worry about, right? *breathing deeply*
I think I made my final trip to REI in between classes today. However, even though I think I have purchased everything I need for the Race, it is highly possible that I will come home from training camp with a list of a dozen things I should have gotten already. I feel like the entire REI store has been dumped in my bedroom. I have stuff strewn about everywhere. It makes me that much more excited about everything when I walk into my room and can’t find my school books because layers of my World Race equipment is covering them. SUCKAS!
As I have been preparing my heart for whatever the Lord has for me at training, I have been reading Peter’s letters and learning much about my identity in the holiness of Christ of which I am called into, how to resist the Enemy, and how to live a life that is holy and righteous. Peter’s letters have been wrecking me… in the best way possible. Here are some of my take away verses as I walk into training:
My Identity as ‘Holy’
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct; since it is written, ’You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” – 1 Peter 1:13-16
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10
How to Live and Embrace My Identity
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.” – 1 Peter 2:16-17
“But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” – 1 Peter 3:4
“Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self–control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:5-8
How to Resist the Enemy
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kind of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
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Prayer Requests:
For All Racers
– Pray for all the squads going to Training Camp October 11-18. Pray for hearts to be readied and prepared for all that God has for us there both spiritually and physically.
– Pray for continued financial provision for many of my squad mates who have not reached full funding.
For Me
– Pray for increased energy in this season. There is a lot happening between family matters including two sibling’s weddings before launch, graduating college in December, preparing to launch in January, finding time for social gatherings and other commitments.
– Pray for my time with the Lord to remain a constant during this whirlwind of the next three months as well as during the Race next year.
I’d love to be praying for you all who somehow end up here at my page, as well. Even if I don’t know you! Comment with any prayer requests if you’d like one more prayer warrior to be fighting your spiritual battles with you.
