It all started in early 2013, when I poured out my soul and finally admitted that I knew I was to be involved in missions on a larger scale. I had never shared that with anyone and it felt so amazing to voice it loud and clear. Upon the delivery, I was quickly told no. NO, I could not be gone for a year, and I soon buried the desire.
When he calls us, he has a way of continually pursuing us. I (we) may not listen the first, second, or third time he calls, but eventually his call is LOUD and CLEAR.
Fast forward to August 2013. I had recently transferred school systems to fulfill MY plan: I would move to Knoxville, start my teaching position, wait on my (ex) boyfriend to move back, get engaged, married, and live happily ever after in Knoxville, TN. Shewww… I was wrong! The transition to Knox County proved to be quite a challenge, and my (ex) boyfriend proved to be in love with someone else.
What did I do? My whole world came crashing down, or so I thought it had. My prayer each morning and through every tear at night was that God would handle the whole situation. I knew that he was in total control. Through a re-alignment and re-commitment in faith, He was the center of my life.
At a very weak and bright moment in my life, a mentor of mine said, “God is pursuing you. You just have to listen”. I will forever be grateful for those words, as they led me to pure submission in Christ. I began to be told that I was “more” and that there was “something bigger” in store for me. Around this same time, I found myself glued to the blogs of current and former World Racers. I read blogs when I woke up, during the school day, and before I went to bed. I was eating, sleeping, and dreaming The World Race. While Christmas shopping in early December, I found myself so heavily burdened with the Race that I began sobbing and had to leave the store. The next day, I purposefully drove an hour home to pray for clarity and to worship at my home church. (Ask and you shall receive!)
My take away that morning from Romans 9:1-6 Paul has such a burden for the lost that he would give up his salvation to help spread the truth.
How do you have a burden like that? –> to want other people around that world to want salvation.
Paul knew that believing, thinking, and speaking God’s name would not be enough. Paul goes against the grain and walks away from having everything to believe. He told people that the Gospel was different from how everyone else believed. He knew what it was like to live away from God.
Take away: Revival spills over onto others around us. What are you willing to give up or lay aside for the Kingdom?
I received confirmation from The Lord on The World Race through a message delivered on December 15, 2013.
