And we’re back! Sorry for the radio silence readers, the whole squad’s on a “no readily accessible WiFi” fast this month! I’m writing this from a cafe right now.
Key note: I’ve been seeking a deeper, more personal relationship with God, and have been referring to Him as Abba, which means ‘Father’ in Hebrew. As such, that’s the way I’ll be addressing Him in my blog posts from her on out. Thanks!
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The Race unlocks everything within Racers. We’re only on Month Three, and Abba and I have been sorting through SO MANY of my issues. Now, if one knows me well, I LOVE getting into the gritty-nitty within myself and other people. It’s cathartic and hard and so much FUN! It’s relieving to understand why I have such a hard time doing something, because of a past issue that I had buried in the back of my mind, and therefore didn’t realize it was even BACK there!
A metaphor I’ve been using g to describe it: picture a rope. Now picture knots dotting it, some REAL big and others tiny. They’re unevenly spaced, and stretch out into the horizon as far as the human eye can see. And then there’s Abba, and me. We’re untying a knot together. Behind us is a pile of coiled rope with some wavy threads. The wavy threads are issues that Abba and I have already untied together. They’re still liable to pop up, but we’ve addressed it and pushed past it. In the same vein, I KNOW I have issues. Ask any of my friends! But I can be content in the fact that Abba and I are working on each issue one step at a time. I don’t have to spend time worrying about issue R when we’re working on issue H. It’s all in Abba’s hands.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”??~Matthew? ?6:33-34? ?NIV??
In that same vein, my latest issue I’ve been dealing with is how to discern Abba’s voice. Many people in my squad are able to just…hear Him, just like talking to a friend it seems. I want that. I’m working through this, but I rest assured that Abba will help me.
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Going back to unlocking things while on the Race, being on the Race REALLY forces you to grow in a LOT of different ways.
You get used to wearing the same outfit three or more days in a row. You get used to bug bites. You learn not to complain, because that brings down morale and just makes everyone miserable. You get real creative on keeping yourself occupied at home base. For example, my squadmates Taylor and Alyson’s elevator tea party.
You learn flexibility, to roll with the punches and not ask questions on everything. Plans change on a dime while in other countries. You learn how to adopt an attitude of gratitude, which is what I’ll be speaking about.
I’ve always been a happy-go-lucky person. If I get angry, I’ll tell the person and solve it with them.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” ??~Ephesians? ?4:25? ?NIV??
But on the Race as I’ve learned, Abba is made so much more visible. I feel Abba around me so much more, and have adopted a habit of gratitude for EVERYTHING, good or bad.
The devil is the one who sends bad stuff into our lives. It just burns him up inside when I take that bad stuff and work on it with Abba, finding the silver lining!!
By becoming more grateful, I’m receiving more joy from things. It’s impossible to be miserable and grateful at the same time. Something that’s really fun is just looking at the minute-to-minute things and saying out loud, “Abba, thank you for this thing.”
There is so much beauty to be found everywhere I look, from the gorgeous blue sky to laughing with my friends.
Gratitude is a choice. Every day I can choose to take delight or misery, no matter my circumstances.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”~1 Thessalonians? ?5:16-18? ?NIV??
Loving life in Abba,
Cheyenne
