Thinking on the “Why” behind such a huge leap of faith as the World Race is a pretty big question. In reality I approached the question with a bit of angst and overwhelming nervousness as this question seems to be a $16,600 question. After some prayer and thought I have come to realize that I need to surrender over and over and over again this trip in it’s entirety to the Lord. Thank the Lord that he is still faithful when I am faithless. I prayed that God would help me write this blog because I knew that there was no way I would speak effectively or clearly be heard if He was not the one speaking.
The short version of why I am going on the world race is because God called me to, but I feel led to share more than just that. I share how the Lord called me to the World Race in my testimony calling video which you can find on my blog a few posts ago. This morning in the Genesis class that I am taking here at Bible College the teacher opened up some time for people to be able to wait on the Lord and hear any verses out loud that the Lord was laying on students hearts. A while ago the Lord gave me a verse that answered the “Why?” question for me personally for the World Race.
The verse the Lord gave me is Acts 20:24 in which Paul says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
I first stumbled upon this verse during my first semester of Bible college the week that I was accepted to the World Race. I put it on the back of the T-shirts I sold as part of fundraising. My quirky self likes the fact that it says the word “race” in the verse, but there is so so so much more than just that piece that caused me to fall in love with this verse particularly. I believe God called me to the World Race in part to die to my flesh, as Paul said “I consider my life worth nothing to me;”. Paul exemplifies ridding himself of self and being filled with the Spirit. One huge way of being lead by the Spirit and not the flesh is allowing God to make your plans instead of trying to make your own. I have desired to go on the World Race for a few years now, but when I got to Bible College I wanted to stay and maybe consider the World Race after I finished here. God had other plans and dramatically stepped in and revealed that to me. It was hard for my flesh to get out of the way and realize that my Spirit desires God’s best and his plans are always best. He called me to do the race the 2019-2020 school year and my desires have now aligned with that plan.
Finishing the race is often a worry that the enemy tries to control me with. He often tries to put a seed of doubt in me that I can’t finish the race of life and follow the Lord all the way through, or that I am not strong enough to endure the suffering that comes with preserving the gospel. Sometimes even that I won’t finish the World Race. That’s the thing about the enemy though, he speaks lies… lies are not the truth, and therefore, I cannot go on believing them. This verse strengthens my Spirit to be able to say, “my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” God has given me a task of the World Race and He will see it on to completion. It is not my race, it’s God’s. A verse I like to run to when this truth seems far to me is Philippians 1:6 which says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
The last part of Acts 20:24 Paul says, “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Paul is referring to the great commission which all believers are called to. When Jesus is speaking to the disciples in Matthew He tells them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I know as a disciple of Jesus Christ that I am also called to share the gospel and make disciples of all nations. Emphasis on NATIONS personally because I feel very called to be a missionary in a foreign country possibly for the rest of my life.
I love adventure. I love sharing the gospel. I love loving people all over the world. No matter who they are or where they come from. I have a huge heart for God’s people all over the world. I know that God saw the desires of my heart by calling me to the World Race and I am beyond blessed to be able to say “YES.” I am still fundraising I have around $3,800 raised and I have $12,800 left to go! I appreciate all the support and I ask that you’d please pray about supporting me financially or through prayer! Every little bit helps!
God Bless!
