I had a spare moment of free time last evening and indulged in one of my favorite pastimes; reading other peoples blogs from The World Race website. OK maybe it isn’t a pastime but a new hobby. I stumbled upon a blog that has a countdown to our leave date, as of now 148 days to September…… WHAT
I just don’t even feel like that number is real.
What am I doing to prepare? Am I ready?
Truth be told I’m not sure I will ever be ready to leave home to go to foreign lands for 11 months. How can you even begin to prepare for something like this. All 5 of my senses are sure to be overloaded with newness at some point, but how do I prepare for that?
No matter what I read and see over the next 148 days things will surely be different than ever imagined
I was sent a letter this past week from myself, that I wrote this past summer at YouthWorks. I basically babbled on about this and that, reminded myself of people I didn’t want to forget, and said one thing that I really appreciate telling myself. I said:
You are having strong feelings of isolation, but sister PRAY
I told myself this because a lot of times I feel very isolated when heading home from mission work. Isn’t that true for every situation though? I’m feeling _____, but sister PRAY. The answer to everything. It is sometimes the hardest thing to remember and do. We think acting or speaking into a situation is more important than praying to our Father who breathes life into every situation.
This number of 148 days is kind of stuck in my head, it seems to short a time to pray over this adventure. This number is kind of a slap in the face. 148 days to pray, for everything.
To pray for:
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comfort in times of overwhelming emotions
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my squadmates
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my supporters
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the people I am going to meet
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the family about to be formed in 11 different countries
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each country and the strife they are going through
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funding
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my family as I leave, friends as well
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radical change within me
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God’s presence and Spirit to be in every decision (easy and tough ones)
The list I feel could honestly be endless, these are just a few that come to mind. This new adventure must be drenched in prayer for me to even make it to the end!
My idea next stems from the practice of Lent. I am going to commit to praying each day, from now on, for 10 minutes straight just for the Race. That would make 24 hours of prayer (plus a few minutes) over the next 148 days!! It seems simple to just set aside 10 uninterrupted minutes. I love setting goals for myself and I know with some spiritual discipline this will work 🙂
I am a lover of prayer and am so excited about meeting with God everyday to talk about this journey ahead.
I would love for you to join with me in asking God to be here, now and for the next steps I am taking in life, and for you in your own life. Even if its 5 minutes or 2, you can do miracles through prayer. Even if this time of prayer doesn’t involve my journey specifically spending time with God to talk about your own journey is bound to give you new perspectives. Above is my prayer list what’s yours?
I invite you also to keep me accountable, no matter who you are or how you know me, ask if I am seeking this time with God.
Thanks for making it to the end again and I hope you’re encouraged to start you own prayer journey and to join in with me on mine.
1 Thessalonians 16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Simple and true.
