I’m sitting here in a hostel in Vietnianne, Laos trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I am starting month 8 of my 11 month journey. I’m not too sure how everyone else feels during this time of the race, but I do know that I could use a good pep talk right about now. If I were home I’d probably go to my father for one, or ask a professor or pastor to have a cup of coffee. But during my time out here I’m realizing that in life you aren’t always going to have the luxury of getting a pep talk from an older, wiser individual. I so often look to a preacher to give me that push, to give me that word that I know I need to hear. Podcasts can only do so much for you, but even that is a luxury. I’m learning that in order for me to really perseveree for the long haul, to keep a sustained passion for the Kingdom of God and be committed to seeing lives changed for God’s glory.. I have to learn to preach to myself. So that is what I’m doing in this hour of free time I have. If I were to look at myself from across the table right now, and look into the eyes of the tired, unsure-of-himself 23 year old team leader who has four months left on this race.. I’d say something like this:
Joe.. Look back to that first moment you decided to say yes to this whole World Race thing. You were sitting in your dorm room by yourself in the quiet of the night thinking about your life. Remember what you were thinking? You were thinking that it was time to be truly challenged. You lived 22 years of a relatively safe life and it was about time to put your faith to the test.. to step out and create some space for God to transform who you are. You knew it was going to take a big life decision though. Signing up for this race meant that you would leave your closest friends for a year, leave your family and learn to be a family with absolute strangers. But you KNOW in your gut that God is calling you to this.. so it is time to obey. You remember that moment?? Now look at yourself in this moment right now, sitting in the lobby of your hostel getting ready to start month number 8. Think about what you’ve been through, the lessons you’ve learned, the challenges and the failures you’ve endured and overcome.
Do not relent. There is so much more to come if you really want it.
Sure.. you can start to look to the future now.. think about how home is right around the corner. You can easily coast through these next 4 months, but do you really want to do that? Do you really want to coast through a once in a lifetime, life changing adventure like this? If you coast here.. where does it end? When do you really start living? If you coast now you'll be an old man asking yourself where did it all go. You start living when you choose to. So choose the abundant life that Jesus bought for you through his death and resurrection. Choose life. Every month, every day, every moment choose to live with the presence and power that God promises you. Draw on the strength of God and stop depending on your lone grit to get you through the day. Pray more. Prayer is how you are going to get through the rest of this race and finish well. You haven’t learned how to really pray yet. Ask God to teach you. You’ve seen the best that you can do in your own ability, through your strengths finder results and spiritual gifting assessment tests. You’ve seen all of that already. But this tired, unsure feeling you’re feeling right now… that is the result of doing it the best that you can do. Now its time to see the best that God can do. And that is why He has given you the gift of prayer. Prayer is how you grab and usher the power of God into the present moment. So pray, and pray hard. You'll see God's best as opposed to yours.
Do not let a day go to waste this month. Learn to be so much more present. Don’t believe the lies that 7 months is good enough. Believe that the best days are yet to come. You have to choose to believe that though. It’s faith. God responds to faith. Have faith that He has something for you these next four months that will blow your mind. Have faith that you haven’t seen nearly enough of God this trip.. and hunger for more. Ask God to show you more of His Glory. Ask Him to bind your wandering and embarrassingly fickle heart to His through His goodness. And pray that with faith expecting God to respond. God responds to faith.
Have more concern with what God is saying rather than what the people around you are saying. As you heard it, stand humbly in the counsel of God so that you can boldly stand in the counsel of men. Stop fearing man when God is the one who you should fear. Learn to hear His words of affirmation over your life, over who you are as a Son of His. He is so pleased with you and is proud of you right now. Hear those words and let them sink into your heart so that you don’t go around trying to hear those words from people. Mere man cannot give you the approval that God wants to give you. Your character is being tested.. don’t miss it. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as a man. Long to be great, but remember what greatness is. Jesus said greatness in His Kingdom is reserved to the ones who serve. So serve and serve well. Love people not for reciprocation but because you are so full of God’s love. If your love doesn’t get recognized.. praise God knowing that He is the only one who saw it, and that creates intimacy between you and Him.
Keep going Joe. You’ll soon be laying in your bed in your room, in that little safe suburb they call Cerritos wishing that you had one more day out here on this adventure. Don’t miss it. God is for you. He is with you and will not leave you. Don't forget the words from your man F. Chan..
"Pride tells you that you’ve sacrificed more than others.
Fear tells you it’s time to worry about the future.
Friend’s say you’ve given enough, that it’s someone else’s turn now.
Jesus says to keep on and you will see more of God."
Preach to yourself. It helps.
