The title pretty much says it all. My prayer is to leave for Uganda with a ready heart and a ready body. I want to be focused, prepared, and healthy. These last few weeks have been jammed with preparations and goodbyes. I am running errands, saying farewell to friends, and packing up a storm. Sad to say though that hasn't left much room for me to prepare in the most important of ways, mentally and spiritually. In the midst of my crazy schedule it has been hard for me to sit back and find time to pray for my trip, pray for my attitude, and pray for God to use me, and be preparing my heart for what I am going to encounter.
Today I am laying in bed sick, the very opposite of a ready body. I have been forcefully removed from my schedule and plans, to lay back, chug vitamin C, and rest. Ironically it's actually given me a chance to process what I am about to be doing. I am so bummed that I am sick and I am praying hard that God heals me before I fly out, but it has been really good for me to have some time to prepare my heart. I know that what I am about to go do isn't some luxurious vacation, or time to relax abroad. It's going to be hard and a lot of hard work. I am excited for this amazing opportunity to serve though, and I am also excited to see how God grows me in my faith while I am there. Being away from home will definitely be an adjustment but I am SO pumped and grateful that I have the blessing of getting this experience.
As I have been reading my Bible today a few verses have stood out to me, first is 1Peter 2V20-21 "But if you suffer for doing good this is commendable before God. To this you were CALLED, because Christ suffered for YOU, leaving you an EXAMPLE, that you should follow in HIS steps." This verse encouraged me in many ways. It reminded me that I always have the perfect example with me every step of the way, and that's Jesus. We are called to follow him, and my prayer is that as I follow in his steps he will mold me into a women who each day looks more and more like him. It hit me though that in order to be image bearers of Christ we have to go through suffering. We have to do things that are hard, scary, and uncomfortable, because thats what Jesus did for us. He gave everything for me including his life, the least I can do is live my life for him whatever that entails. I am encouraged that even though this experience will be hard it will be one that molds and shapes me to be more like Jesus.
Another verse that struck me was 2PeterV5-8 "For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being INEFFECTIVE and UNPRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." Those words ineffective, and unproductive really hit me as I read that verse. Thats the one thing I never want; a faith that is ineffective and unproductive. I want to be a women who is constantly growing in my faith and in how I live it out, every single day for the rest of my life.
Well anyways todays been good. Though I still don't feel like I have a ready body I do feel like I have a ready heart. I have some prayer requests, and if you guys would join me in praying for these things I would greatly appreciate it.
1. That I would be healed from this cold I caught by the time of my trip
2. That God would give me opportunities to be a blessing while I am there
3. That God would use this trip to grow me in my faith and make me more like him
4. Safety/ Health/ Easy travel
5. That I would get the blessing of praying with someone as they accept Jesus into their hearts while I am there
Thanks SO much all of you for joining me in this journey! I am SO blessed. Love you All!
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