So, I have noticed lately that I am less cautious about germs as I was at the beginning of the race. For one, my hand sanitizer ran out anyway and I haven’t been able to find anymore for the last month so that’s out the window. Second, I used to always use the store bought water to brush my teeth with but I finally gave up on that and just started brushing my teeth with the sink water. . . I don’t swallow it anyway?! Third, I don’t really wash my fruit and veges anymore. . . now, let me say that I have not fully let all caution fly out the window and I am not condoning that World Racers shouldn’t look out for themselves but I am just saying that as you go along, you learn what is ok and what to really look out for.
Just as with germs, you build up your immune system. And when your immune system is built up, those germs don’t affect you as much. As we experience more and more on the World Race, I can see how the Lord has exposed us to new things and taught us how to work through them so that when we are faced with similar situations we are not freaked out; we are prepared. God gives us experiences to build up our defenses and prepare us for future battles. God knows what He is doing in our lives and He doesn’t throw us into a situation where we are alone. . . we have Him and the defenses that He has given us. Not to mention, that He has already won the battle anyway.
It encourages me to know that we have a God that not only wins the battle for us but He prepares us for the battle. God doesn’t just want us on the sidelines. He wants to use us for a glorious purpose so He makes the way for us and gives us the tools we need so we don’t have to fear.
Last month, God gave me a vision for my team as I was reading this scripture in Isaiah 41:
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, ‘You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off’;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Behold, all who are incensed against you
shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you
shall be as nothing and shall perish.
You shall seek those who contend with you,
but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
shall be as nothing at all.
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you,
‘Fear not, you worm Jacob,
you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, I make you a threshing sledge,
new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them, and the wind
shall carry them away,
and the tempest shall scatter them.
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.”
In the vision, God showed my team prepared for battle with all our armor and our weapons on. . . we were strong and ready. We climbed to the top of a mountain and as we got to the top of the mountain, we could see our adversaries there on the other side. . . and we were strong and ready, fierce without fear. But. . . in no more than the time we had to look up and see our adversaries, they were wiped out and scattered to the wind. . . vaporized right before our eyes. . . we stood there strong and ready knowing that our God had fully prepared us for the battle but we didn’t need to fight because He won the fight for us.
Please pray that God continues to build our defenses and strengthens our faith in Him in the present and future battles.
