“Learn to love without condition. Talk without bad intention. Give without any reason. And most of all, care for people without any expectation.”
God speaks to us all in so many different ways. He speaks to me through dreams/visions, music, nature, and people and sometimes He speaks to me even through Coke bottle labels.
Our month 9 in Romania was full of spiritual warfare and there were some days where I didn’t even feel like I could get up and go to ministry because my body felt so heavy. I know that even through the battles going on around us, we are to remain steadfast and fight through them. We already have victory, we are to persevere and simply pray harder. I’ve found myself constantly in God’s word, praying, journaling, interceding and worshiping…probably more so than I have all year.
I try not to drink too many cokes, but I went all out on them this month. We were finishing up debrief in Brasov and Jaime and me had gone to the store and I picked one up without reading what was on the label. The song that happened to be playing over the radio was Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and when I turned the bottle around the label read the same. I showed Jaime and we both just laughed at how funny God is sometimes.
This was only the start of something so sweet this month.
The enemy has been attacking me a lot throughout this year and that’s expected when you are following God’s will for your life. I’ve faced doubts and fears over my future and life after the race. I’ve listened to those lies saying “you’re making this up”, “those promises aren’t true”, “you’re just using your imagination”, “you don’t deserve something special”, “you aren’t good enough”, “you aren’t chosen.”
This is where the enemy is wrong though…and why they are lies. Everyday that I was feeling down, God provided someone to pick me back up and reassure me that it’s going to be ok. They dropped what they were doing to check on me, pour into me, pray for me or just let me cry. God even showed me time after time when I would pick up a coke at the store of His faithfulness. I won’t write them all down, but one of the last ones I picked up was on a day I was really struggling and turned it around and read the label, “Fight for this Love”.
Jessica reminded me this month of a dream I had in Cambodia where I was dressed in black glittery war paint on my face and neck. I know I’ve got to continue fighting through this and trust God. The enemy wants us to give up, but I refuse to give up on my inheritance. I refuse to wave the white flag and surrender to the lies. I trust and know my God is a God of His word and I’m only being fought so hard, because something so good is soon ahead. I’ll continue waking up everyday and putting on my war paint and ready to go to battle.
Love is a risk. God risked it all when He gave His only son. God takes risks daily; He faces rejection daily, and still continues to pour out His love on us. He continues to do so, but why? That’s unconditional-agape love….it’s selfless and unafraid of the rejection that might come or the love that won’t be reciprocated. He loves because He is love. When I think about His love, I’m often times left dumbfounded because it’s so mind-boggling to think someone could love me as much as He does. Even through the mistakes I make or days I feel like giving up, He continues to show me His love through people, music, nature and sweet little messages on Coke bottles.
God’s love has never given up on me, so why should I give up on His love and His promises?!?! I surrender them to Him and know….
He doesn’t break His promises.
I will fight to follow
I will fight for love
Throw my life forever
To the triumph of the Son
Let Your love be my companion
In the war against my pride
Long to break all vain obsession
Till You’re all that I desire
Turn my eyes to see Your face
As all my fears surrender
Hold my heart within this grace
Where burden turns to wonder
I will fight to follow
I will fight for love
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13
