I’ve been in 11 countries over the past nine months. I’m tired. But I won’t shrink back. Ive seen the glory of God endlessly. I’ve had hard days of travel. Ive laughed uncontrollably. I’ve been sick. Ive danced with little kids and held a lot of chunky babies.
I’ve been frustrated with my relationships with certain people. Ive loved the same people with all my heart. I’ve seen broken people become complete in Jesus. I’ve struggled with comparing myself to others. Ive prayed with precious people in mountain villages who are poorer than poor, who just need to see that Jesus loves them.
Ive been approached by girls in the sex slave industry, leaving me deeply sad, but I’ve heard stories of girls in the same situation being freed through The World Race and other ministries, which brings me great joy. I’ve struggled with people pleasing and need for approval. Ive forgiven. I’ve slept in the dust and the dirt. I’ve been forgiven.
I’ve lusted. I’ve granted grace. I’ve complained and cried. I’ve prayed with the same people I’ve complained about, being reconciled to them. I’ve had times when I didn’t want to get out of bed. I’ve had times when I couldn’t wait to wake up. I’ve been high strung. I’ve been laid back.
The world race has been an incredible journey. But without certain things you won’t make it. You’ll quit. You’ll go home. But there are things that will get you through if you are ready for them.
So here’s my heart. Be open. Your eyes, Your heart, Your hands. God wants to show you things. He wants you to see things. He wants you to feel things. He wants you to move mountains.
There have been moments on the race where I’ve had my head so far up my past that I couldn’t see what God was showing me in the moment and working into my future. But the moments that I had my eyes open, I mean every time that my eyes were really open, I was somehow shown beautiful things. I’m not just talking about sunsets or other beautiful views, but people on my squad loving and serving one another. My team mates going the extra mile when no one else noticed. I can’t shut up about that honestly and I’ll probably talk about it the rest of my life. My favorite moments are the split second ones. One time, late in the evening, I was walking down the street in Guatemala and I caught eyes with a little boy and I made a goofy face and he smiled and I smiled. That’s a moment that I remember. That’s the type of thing the lifts my spirit. I needed that moment. That was actually the moment that inspired this blog. Just a brief smile from this little kid. I realized that because of my open eyes and heart in that moment that I truly needed it, and that there were things during this trip that God handed me that helped me emotionally and spiritually survive. I still have two months left, so I’ll be open to them without question and with God’s grace.
There have been moments on the race where I have been, for lack of a better expression, blah. A big pile of it. I was low, or not engaged, and felt like a failure and allowed the enemy to take the reigns of my old busted chariot of thought. But God made me new. He is renewing my mind. He is making me more like Jesus. He’s given me a new heart. He wants me to feel more deeply. I am a redeemed son of the most high God. I’m a saint. I’m righteous and secure. So I don’t always need to be right, because I’m insecure. I’m righteous and secure. I am loved. I’m a part of the true vine. That’s my identity and he wants me to feel that, I know it, but He wants me to feel it, believe it, and show it boldly and without fear. With feeling that about myself, I can feel it about others, and be open to loving others well, and understanding their needs. I won’t be apathetic to things and I won’t be fearful of engaging with others because God has blessed me richly.
I pass by people all the time who are literally carrying too much, and figuratively carrying too much. Open eyes leads to open hearts which leads to open hands. Helping someone literally carry weight has allowed for moments where they could lay stress and worry down at the foot of the cross. Jesus has loved a lot of people through me. It’s all Him working things in me for me to work out with shaking hands. I surrender my hands to him on a daily basis these days. That’s why I have “Love Does” tattooed to my wrist.
So I always remember what I’m here for. Love is an action. Love is a verb. Love needs to be dissipated. It needs to overflow.
Love God. Love others. Do stuff.
-Bob Goff
Be open wide like a doorway. Let your heart get filled up with Gods love for you. Love turns fear out of doors, it casts fear out. I love you, dear reader. Be open. To anything. To everything that God has for you. Open up your gates before Him. I’m praying for you.
