If I am being utterly honest… had you given me a true/false question with this blog title earlier this afternoon I would have said true, but reflecting on this verse tonight has changed my answer.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6
This verse in particular is one that I grew up memorizing and often hear quoted by my friends, family, and pastors. However, tonight when it was read at my Bible study I felt the Lord challenging me to apply these words directly to the World Race.
Anxiety is defined as “experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome”. Sometimes I forget that nervousness and stress are not of the Lord. He longs for us to walk confidently with the knowledge that He will be faithful regardless of what happens. I feel like if we were all honest with ourselves we would totally read the spoilers on our life story if God were to publish them. We want to be all knowing but the Lord has given us a clear boundary of knowledge. Lately I’ve been learning that the limits of our flesh are a precious gift because they beautifully juxtapose human character and the character of our God. How cool.
I usually recall this verse when I am feeling stressed about something big going on, but rarely when I feel nervous about something small or seemingly silly. The key words that stood out to me tonight were anything & everything. Up until now, the enemy has succeeded in making me believe that some things are just sorta dumb to pray about. Maybe you can relate, but I’m usually not one to consult God on which outfit to wear or what to eat for breakfast. Truthfully I used to be a little confused with people who did, but now I have such respect for them and want to be the same way! It pains me to think about all the missed opportunity to gain intimacy with God as I have been attempting to live the “little things” on my own. On the other hand, I am excited to see the Lord work through both the serious and seemingly silly as my team and I strive to seek Him in all we say and do.
Driving home from Bible study tonight I felt a pull to present my requests and praises to God publicly so that you my friend, could serve as both a witness and a prayer partner.
1. Lord help me be present in these 3 weeks leading up to launch.
2. Lord I ask for wisdom with how to go about fitting all my stuff in my pack.
3. Lord teach me to lead like you led as a servant empowering others to be great.
4. Lord help me to conquer my fear of flying and crawling critters and to see them as a necessary part of your beautiful creation.
5. Lord guide me to share your word without fear of getting stories wrong and confidence that your spirit will give me wisdom.
6. Lord please gift me with flexibility when I am on someone else’s schedule instead of comfortably creating my own.
7. Lord show me how to eat crazy new things and give me a stomach that can handle it.
8. Thank you God for leading me to find the World Race through someone’s blog 4 years ago.
9. Thank you God for organizations like Adventures who strive to bring your Kingdom down.
10. Thank you God for handpicking a squad for me whose members all share the same vision.
11. Thank you God for showing your perfect provision and gathering the resources for me to be sent out.
12. Thank you God for keeping me healthy as a horse when the enemy tries to scare me with skin cancer.
As always thanks for taking the time to read what the Lord has placed on my heart. If you feel led to share a request or praise in the comments below in regards to the race, the floor is yours!
Over and out,
Julia
