What has God been teaching you on the Race?
This question is always asked whenever our squad comes together.
Whenever anyone asks me how things are going.
Whenever team debriefs happen.
Always the same question.
Why this specific question?
Because it is the one you absolutely can’t lie about.
Try as you might to conceal it, the truth will come out.
Truth always breaks free from the restraints of with-holdings.
It is a question that takes serious thought and prayer.
To truly know everything God teaches you during the month,
There must be time set aside daily to pray through everything and listen for His voice.
Time with the Lord is needed just like with every other relationship you have.
Who can say as the Psalmist does in chapter 119:97?
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”
Do you truly love the Lords commands? Or do you only obey to avoid Hell?
Do you truly go after the things of God for His glory? Or do you grudgingly do the least out of spite?
Do you truly love God like you would your father, mother, lover, or friends?
Do you actively live out the words of Deuteronomy?
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I gave you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
-Deuteronomy 6:4-9
From one question, so many others flow.
To answer as fully as possible is to bring everything to the table,
Examine it prayerfully, and scripturally. Than…
Wait on the Lord for an answer and watch how everything connects.
The biggest thing I took away from my month in Moldova was
that I need to deliberately take time with the LORD.
The verses in Deut. 6 ran through my head all month
yet I didn’t understand why until I left.
I had convinced myself that I was taking the time I needed,
When in fact I was drowning in deep water reaching for anything to stay afloat.
The month was full of harvesting corn,
going to mass
and playing with Kids.
We had such long days, I felt like relaxing by reading.
Only instead of reading the Word of God and refreshing my soul, I was en-wrapped in fictitious writings. (which are fine, until they disrupt your relationship with God)
I spent my spare time reading about characters fighting with swords, magic and dragons,
Instead of preparing for whatever God had planned of me.
Praise be to the Lord that he doesn’t keep you empty, however.
At debrief, thanks to a fellow squad member, God really refreshed me through an American pastor that was visiting a church in Brosov, Romania (where we had debrief).
I was able to go with a few others from our squad and the message (in English!) was very encouraging about the expectations we have.
It helped me to become ever more joyful once again.
Praise the Lord!
I had allowed myself to empty and become discouraged just because I wasn’t taking the time I needed with God.
Don’t ever let yourself become like that! It will do nothing to further the kingdom of God.
You can’t give water to someone from your cup if there is no water to give.
It is essential that you refill.
