Today I received a letter from a very dear friend of mine. The letter only contained a list of what a prepared heart looks like. May this be encouragement for anyone who loves the Lord and desires a prepared heart in life whether you're preparing to go on an eleven month missions trip, are a stay-at-home parent, full-time student, are employed or retired... or in any situation in life. The Lord is mighty and amazing and will use you anywhere you are right now should you offer up all that is yours for His glory.
"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice up to Him." Jim Elliot
A Prepared Heart: -will not be disappointed with what God gives them and where God is leading them. -doesn't have anything to hold on to. -is willing to surrender all for God. -gives up control of their future to God. -is ready and willing to endure all for God. -is not fearful of the future. -does not care about their reputation. -trusts the decisions that God has made for them. -trusts God's leading despite perceived complications. -trusts God's leading despite other paths seeming easier or even more fruitful. -trusts that God will provide completely for them: food, water, shelter, and mana (spiritual food). -will follow God even if they don't understand His plan. -cherishes Jesus and heavenly things above all. (Col 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have dies, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.) -does not fear -does not hold onto any preconceived idea about where God will send them or what He will have them do when they get there. -is not fearful about security, but trusts God entirely. (Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.) -does not place their full trust in people or even other Christian, but in God. -does not hold onto friends or family, but is willing to let them go for the cause of Christ. -is not anxious. (Phil 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God.) -is joyful to go where God wants to take them. -does not retract in fear when God leads. -does not attempt another way when God begins to lead. -is not double-minded. (James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ) -does not look back when God calls. -believes and trusts the God knows (and will do) what's best for them. -has been diligent in seeking God concerning what they believe God wants them to do -trusts that where God is calling them is His will for their lives. -is willing to give up their life for God. -Does not question God or grumble. (Phil 2:14-16a Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.. ) -does not fear failure. -does not count the applause of the world as valuable. -does not see failure in the eyes of the world as anything of loss. -remembers the example of Jesus Christ.
There is grace to all who are in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is love and power. There is hope. (: May each of you be greatly blessed by God. I love you. (: (:
Today is a brand new day. I woke up with an excitement for this mission that my
team and I will be going on in 7 months that I haven't felt before. I guess I'm shocked and
excited and... woah! This is big.. so much bigger than I am. And I know I
am not prepared or cut-out for something like this. But perhaps that's
why I'm going. Because God knows what is in me and He knows I'm
ill-equipped; He knows I am dust.. And because of this I must rely on
Him for EVERYTHING pertaining to the World Race and life. And I can hold Him to
His promise from 1 Thessalonians 5:24:
"He who calls you is faithful, He will surely do it."
I must cling to His faithfulness, not to mine. Am I faithful apart from Him? For what am I or what do I have without Him. Is He not my everything? Can I do anything apart from Him? There is freedom in trusting in Him and not relying on myself. And there is peace in taking the weight of this off my shoulders and placing it at His feet. 1 Peter 5:7:
"Casting all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you."
Each person who comes to the cross has a calling from the Lord, a calling too big for any one of us to carry. But in Jesus Christ we are made victors! In Him we can do anything! And it's an exciting life to live :D
My expectations for the world race aren't necessarily specific and detailed. But I know because God has gone before me in this, it's going to blow my mind and change my life. When He calls and you follow, there's no way you're going to be disappointed. Though the path is narrow and rough, the destination is always worth it, more so than we can imagine! My desire (though I am prone to wander, He is faithful to bring me back) is to be His hands and feet knowing that it is He who wills and works in me to do good. And by His will being worked through me, He will receive the glory due Him. That is what I desire from the world race. (:
When I read about the World Race and its ministry(i.e. planting churches, working in orphanages, ministering to women and children caught up in human trafficking) my heart really did burn within me. Since I became a Christian 3 years ago, I have had the desire (not that I acted upon it) to serve the Lord with my whole heart, body and mind. These things that we will be doing with the World Race are not necessarily glamorous or romantic or easy all the time, but did not our Lord say that these are the things that are pleasing in His sight? Did He not also say that we wouldn't be doing these things alone but that He would be with us?
"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:6-8
When we come to the Lord, we are broken, empty of light, filled up with darkness. We are only ashes, good for nothing. But He takes our brokenness and gives us His completeness. He empties us of our darkness by burning it out with His marvelous light! He takes our good-for-nothing ashes and bestows upon us His radiant beauty! And it's amazing! Truly who is like our LORD?! But even more so, what He gives us-- His completeness, His light, His beauty-- it isn't ever meant for just us. What He gives to us is always for us to share so that others may also see His glory and goodness and likewise receive Him wholly! There is no fear that we should run out of love or kindness or grace or forgiveness because we receive it freely from a never ending, eternally abundant source!
This is why God called me to the World Race. My heart has been changed by the Lord, not for my benefit only, but that He may receive glory by the work He's done in me that will touch the lives of other people. He has filled me with His love so that I may show love to others. Not just people deserving of it, but to all people. And I am by no means worthy to carry out this call, but I have been given to Jesus to be His hands and feet in this world, to be used as He sees fit. I am not good, but He took me and made me new. He took my wicked heart and gave me His full, good, perfect heart. He filled me up with Him that I may be poured out for Him wherever, however, whenever, because I can always come back for more. He will never run out.
