Hi everyone,
For context as to why I am going on the world race I want to share a brief piece of history that I think will be helpful in laying the foundation to the timeline of how God has led me to this incredible outreach opportunity.
As I shared in my “about me” post, I grew up in a non denominational Christian church and was very active there. But even with all the church going, I did not have a healthy understanding of God’s character. So naturally, I did not have a relationship with Him. At 17yo I graduated high school and now, with more freedom the ever before I moved away from home and stopped going to church.
At 24yo God led me back to church. A few months later, in July of 2017 the outreach pastor of the church I was going to, now a good of friend of mine, helped me accept Jesus into my life. Ten months later, after dabbling a bit in serving, outreach, and consistently being involved in the church community, I began to have a strong desire and thirst for who God is. I began longing for a deep and intimate relationship with Him. I began soaking up every teaching I could possibly listen to from good Jesus-loving, Bible teaching pastors. In May of 2018 the Holy Spirit began transforming my heart and mind. This is when I began to understand for the first time God is my Heavenly Father. The intimacy, joy, peace, love, hope and more God showed me in this season of who He (was) is was overflowing out of me. And God was using it to show me His redeeming love and the transformative power His Spirit holds. His Spirit was pouring out of me to the people closest in my life and others I was meeting for the first time. This season of being on fire for God lasted for a year-and-a-half and it was life-changing! But as we know, seasons come and go. October of 2019 was the beginning of a new season that I seemed to subtly and increasingly walk into, one that distracted me from the relationship I was growing in with God.
Being infant in my faith I did what I knew best and began gripping tightly to what these distractions were (trying to solve them) instead of releasing grip of and submitting them in prayer to God. Consequently, frustration, stress and exhaustion followed for nearly a year-and-a-half…. Up until about 2 months ago when some major transitions in my life began happening. Around that time I started to realize, “maybe I have been trying to do things my own way for the last few years…”. So it was at this time that I started praying for God’s perfect will into my life. Reflection took place during this time and after looking back at the last almost 4 years (from when I accepted Jesus into my life to current) I saw clearly that the last few years, especially the last year-and-a-half was me trying to do it my own way- professionally, relationally and spiritually. In doing it my own way- without consistently praying, communing with God, asking Him questions and being patient and attentive to listen and seek His guidance I have not grown (relationally, professionally and spiritually) as much as I could have. From this time of reflection, God has shown me several insights. Not the least of which is, that I no longer want to will something into existence if it is not God’s perfect will. How does one know what God’s perfect will is? Good question! I believe God’s perfect will for each and every one of us is to be in intimate relationship with Him. But to know God intimately is only the beginning of the only life worth living. And to know God intimately and to be led by His Spirit starts with prayer; consistently communing with my Father where I am confident, that in this place I will begin to increasingly learn His voice and guidance for my life.
After asking God if this trip is for me and sharing it with the men in my life, I am confident God has called me to commit to this trip. As much as I am still wrestling with leaving, especially as the time for leaving approaches, I feel a peace that flushes out my doubt and fears- reminding me of the heart posture God has given me in this.
What I confidently feel that God has put on my heart is, as much serving as the “hands and feet of Jesus” this trip will provide the opportunity to do, this trip will also provide an equal opportunity to be walking intimately with God and relying on Him for His guidance, provision, protection, wisdom and more. It is in this place of reliance and communion that will grow my confidence in trusting Him- maturing my faith and setting the foundation of walking a Spirit-filled life. Though I feel infant in my faith, now more than ever I desire to grow confident in my faith- knowing God’s voice, guidance and perfect will for my life, so that He may be glorified.
In faith,
Joey Luca
