Raising My White Flag….
God has definitely been showing me things these past few months even though my blog has been silent. Through these past few months God has been gracious to me in giving me time to reflect and have some awesome truths sink into my heart. This past week I went to Atlanta for Passion, a worship conference for 18-25 year olds, and was blown away how God reaffirmed these truths in my life!
- I was dead, now alive!
God has been showing how immensely awesome and miraculous my testimony is, even though I was saved at a young age. No matter how young I might have been I was dead, but raised by Jesus. We can never exhaust God’s mercy He has for us (even when we were dead he loved and desired us to be His). Sometimes I lose sight of the fact that God who hated and despised sin; loved me, a sinner who was dead and sent His son Jesus to take my place so that I could be made alive and have a relationship with Him forever! How humbling and overwhelming!
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient…….But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1-2, 4-7)
- Ineffective light in the light
Christine Caine gave an illustration at Passion that really hit me hard. Her daughter wanted to buy a flashlight and while standing at the store in the flourescent lighting she made the statement that she couldn’t see the light. How effective is my light that I reflect Christ when I shine it in an already lit place? Do I spend time with those who don’t believe? Am I a light in a dark place? These questions will require me to take a serious look at my life and see areas that need to change. Where are some places I find myself on a weekly basis that allow me to reflect God’s light? Do I associate with people who don’t have God’s light?
- Unashamed
There was a song we sang throughout the time in Atlanta which had a lyric: ”I’m not ashamed of the one who saved my soul.” This lyric hit me hard because if I wanted to be completely transparent and honest with you there have been instances when I have been ashamed. I have failed to take opportunities to share or speak up because I’m fearful of what might be thought of me or what might be said afterward. When I process the realty that those God is providing opportunities to share His love with might not have another opportunity to accept Him, it doesn’t seem that important what they might think about me or my relationship with Jesus. All that matters is that I share so they might have the opportunity to come into the saving grace that only Jesus has the ability to give a person.
- Fearlessly Sharing
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth; words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19)
I think that this point might run into the last but I think it’s fitting especially how God clearly spoke to me as His Word was being proclaimed in one of the sessions. As the Word was spoke I instantly felt God directing me to this verse and telling me that this should be my prayer. No matter what comes out of my mouth, my words should fearlessly make known the gospel of Christ. As a follower of Christ, I have chained my heart to Jesus and my greatest fear is to have an inadequate life. I plan on writing this verse in several locations and memorizing it so that wherever I’m at I can remember to fearlessly proclaim His name!
- Raising the White Flag
“We raise our white flag, We surrender all to You, All to You! We raise our white flag, The war is over, Love has come, Your love has won!”
So I entitled this blog “Raising My White Flag” because ultimately I believe that is the one thing that will allow everything else to come to fruition. How will I fearless proclaim Christ unless I am completely surrendered to His will? How can I stand unashamed for Christ if I haven’t realized that He is the only one I should be wanting approval from? How can I be a light in the dark if I haven’t given Him everything?
This past week I see how God is smoothing out some rough edges in my life. As I’ve been encouraged, challenged, uplifted, saddened and elated I’ve realized that I need to be submitted to walk daily with God and be in this moment. I like to plan and although planning is not necessarily bad I think it has caused me to want things a certain way and not see what God has in store for me–His plan–the best plan I could ever imagine.
God might call me to move to another country, be persecuted, love on the hurting and oppressed or a variety of other situations…..all I know that His plan for my life is fuller and more beautiful than I could ever imagine. I know He can use me where I am right now and that is a huge burden off my shoulders. God’s will isn’t in the distant future, off in the fog. God’s will is right now. God wants me to be surrendered and walk daily in it.
So Now What?
I am super excited to announce that I will be running another half marathon this April and you can be a part! I will be participating in the Go! St. Louis half marathon April 15. Not only this, I will be running for a girl named Ratna and partnering with an organization called As Our Own. Please consider joining me in running or participate by donating. Please visit https://iwillrun.myetap.org/fundraiser/stlouis/ to see how you can get involved.
