Hello Beautiful People,
As I reflect….
This week we had many teachings on the Holy Spirit, deciphering the difference between God’s voice, Satan’s voice, and my own voice, and what the role of the Holy Spirit is. At first I was feeling very disconnected from the Lord, questioning why I could not “hear” His voice through the Holy Spirit as clearly as other people could.
As I reflect on the past month of living this cool, unordinary life the Lord has blessed me with living in this season, I collected a few of the ways that I have felt, heard, or experienced the Lord and Holy Spirit!
Nature
God has such a cool way of showing himself through the beauty of His creation. About 2 weeks ago I was having a tough morning, after waking up late, to an ice cold bucket shower, dropped my toothbrush in the red Georgia dirt and running to breakfast on the verge of tears- I stopped dead in my tracks to see a beautiful, vibrant blue butterfly in the middle of the path. The butterfly sat there basking peacefully in the sun long enough for me to admire. The first thing that my mind went to is the Lord’s peace even through the trials (or hard mornings lol)- tears completely gone.
Thanks God
Worship
Hebrews 13:15
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name”.
I love the word continually in this verse. The Lord has taught me that even on tough days we are called to worship. Worship is not about what I can get out of it, whether I get “chills” or feel “moved” but about how I can glorify God in worship! It is solely a form of exaltation to Him. Whether that’s me jumping around yelling and dancing, kneeling on the ground with hands held to Him, singing softly with headphones in my ears- its a form of connection to the Lord and Him ALONE. Not about me or my surroundings.
Thanks God
Prayer Power
I actually just read over this verse on Sabbath this morning, and I was taken back by the power it holds. Philippians 4:6-7 states “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I have been having really bad nightmares every night here, waking up crying or anxious heart pounding. I prayed over it in my head every night but a few days ago I approached my Squad Leader and asked her to pray out loud for the Lord to cleanse my mind and give me peaceful rest. It’s been almost 5 days now with not a single nightmare! The Lord hears even the small things, when we present our requests to Him He will take care of us!
Thanks God
“Even when I don’t see it you’re working”
The first time riding on a plane alone was the plane ride to Georgia! My momma told me to wear my world race shirt for some send-off photos and I obliged. I had my huge 50 pound pack that I somehow finessed to bring as a carry on trying to find my seat on the plane. After getting situated in my seat on the plane, the young man sitting next to me pointed at my shirt and said he was heading to the Adventures in Missions base as well for a program called Global U (similar to World Race). A wave of peace and God’s sweet comfort washed over me as we chatted and shared our emotions on leaving home for the first time, and about our heart for mission work. As we got off the plane we navigated through the confusing Atlanta airport together and he made sure I found my squad meeting point- taking so much anxiety off of me during the traveling process. It was such a clear assurance from the Lord that he will have His hand over me and be right beside me through the entire World Race journey.
Thanks God
Freedom
As I work through a lot of healing and forgiveness with the Lord, I tend to fall into my old habits of negative self-talk and tearing myself apart. Although the Lord forgives and forgets all of my sins- I’m still working on forgiving myself. Over this past week the Holy Spirit has been combating all of my negative self talk with verses that I memorized years ago- enlightening what the Lord sees me as and who I am in HIM.
Psalm 139:14 “I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made”
Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed away but behold the new has come.”
These are just a few verses the Lord has brought back to my memory combating the lies I believe about myself. I never understood how real the saying “hide the Lords word in your heart” really is until this past week! He’s bringing back verses that I thought were long gone out of my memory and using them for his glory.
Thanks God
I am SO incredibly thankful and humbled by all of your support, love, and encouragement!
I encourage you to look for even the small ways the Lord is revealing himself and moving in your lives this week.
THANKS GOD!!!!
-Viv<3
