It pains me to say it, but summer is coming to a close. I start classes in 2 days. I can't believe how quickly the time went. This summer was a lot different than what I expected. My plans were to go to Global Summer Intensive for 3 weeks and then as soon I came back, I was going to be taking classes for the rest of the summer. I went to Global, and I had an amazing time and learned so many things. When I returned home, I was ready to start my classes, but at the last minute they got cancelled.
To be honest, I was actually really annoyed. The only reason I decided to stay home this summer and not travel was to take these classes. But you know what, I think God knows what He is doing. In the beginning of summer, He told me that this summer would be a time of rest, but I didn't realize He actually wanted me to rest! After Global I had a lot of free time. I'm the kind of person that loves to be busy, so sometimes taking a break is hard for me. But I realized that this break was a gift from God. It was an opportunity to spend more time with Him and grow in Him. So that's what I tried to do. I spent my mornings lounging around and talking to God. I really enjoyed getting to rest and just sit with my Father. He always knows what's best for me, even if I don't know. Okay, so I want to update you guys on my life after Global. As I said before, I learned so much at Global and I was eager to apply it to my life. I wanted to see healings and miracles in my everyday life and I wanted to love the people around me! But to be honest, it was really hard for me to do this at home. I felt like there was this weird pressure for me to pray for every sick person I saw and I was filled with guilt if I didn't pray for someone one day. I realized that this was not right. I don't need to pray for a certain number of people each day to earn God's love. God doesn't condemn me if I get too afraid to approach someone. I always forget that this is a learning process and that God is a good and loving father. Yes He wants to see me grow, and yes He wants me to pray for His children and love them. But He doesn't want it to become my duty or something I have to do. So instead of looking at people as projects and trying to figure out how I could fix them or pray away their problems, I started just trying to love them. Just being kind, and treating them like God's special child. And you know what the pressure lifted and I was able to just love people. I was able to pray with people for healing and to approach strangers and tell them about God's love. Instead of trying so hard to "step out", I drew closer to God and told Him, all I really wanted was a relationship with Him. He reminded of the verse Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I had my priorities wrong, I was seeking people out, instead of seeking God. God reminded me that if I seek Him, then the signs and miracles will come, the boldness will come. Every step of the way, my only job is to keep my eyes fixed on Him. So that's where I am at right now. I am drawing closer to Him and just enjoying His peace...But I do have one testimony to share with You! One day this summer, my mom and I were at a Goodwill thrift store and I overheard one of the workers saying her wrists were really hurting. So I asked her if we could pray for her wrists and she said we could, but what really was hurting her was her shoulders. So we laid hands on her shoulders and prayed. Then she jumped back and looked my mom and I with big eyes, and said "what did you do!? It doesn't hurt anymore, " And we were like it's Jesus! He healed you!!! That was a cool experience and I had many other opportunities like that to pray for people and bless them. But the best part of all of this is knowing that God loves me so much, whether or not I pray for someone that day. I am already accepted by Him! That's so amazing! I encourage you all to continue to draw closer to God. He loves us all so much! And as we get to know more of God's love, we will want to pour it out on others. We need to keep our eyes on Him always and know that He just wants us to love Him and to love the people around us. What a Good Father!
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