Wrapping & Stirring

Jesus, You are stirring my heart still now. I ask for the words to say and that my heart and mind would be so genuine in all I say. 

This morning I finished my junior year. I wrapped up all my final responsibilities and headed back home for some quite time on my bed with my Bible. 

It has been the hardest year for me personally. And I could write to you about all the lessons that I have learned as I have walked through this hard season with my relationship with Christ and how now it all makes sense and that I have it all together, but that isn't what God is calling me to at all and would be just selfish on my part. So let me explain.. 

I came across a picture on my Instagram feed yesterday that was posted by the Women of Faith account. The picture had a saying that read, 

"My brokenness is a better bridge for people than my pretend wholeness ever was."

Oh goodness, how that hit my heart. You see, I have gotten in a habit of thinking that whenever God starts leading my through something hard that the rewards will be sharing with others what I have learned. And I think that is definitely a blessing, but the way I was seeing that was very prideful on my part. This year, I began putting this pressure on myself and convincing myself that in order to be a witness to those around me, I had to look like I had it all together. I felt like if they saw that I was struggling to have peace and joy through this time that I was letting God down on me shining for Him. 

All of this pressure began to snowball until I felt so defeated and discouraged, I had lost all grasp of the truth of God's grace and comfort. So God began comforting and convicting my heart as a read over that post again.. 

Daughter, don't you see? Your testimony and witness is your brokenness... is Your weakness and tiredness because then they can see my strength and comfort working through you. 

So this week I have been in the process of coming to the feet of Jesus and reminding myself that He is right there with me in every moment- in my weakness and brokenness He still has an oh so perfect plan and everything I need is right there in His presence. 

But I would also like to share with you what I read in my Bible this morning that just overwhelmed and stirred my heart and is still even now. I was reading in the first chapter of John and would like to share with you a few of the verses. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The truth of Jesus Christ was planned from the beginning of time when God created the earth. And in His timing, God gave us Himself by coming and dying on the cross for all our wrongs and failures. He gave us the truth of who He is so that we may could have life and darkness and sin will NEVER overpower the life that Jesus brought my heart six years ago. Gracious, just the simply truth of these verses began stirring my heart. 

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were [i]born, not of [j]blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I have so easily lost sight of the single fact that whenever I accepted Jesus into my heart, I became His daughter forever. I am safe forever. I am protected forever. God came full of grace and truth. 

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of [l]the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth...

16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 

He mended my efforts with His complete strength and wisdom, my brokenness with His wholeness, and my fear of sinning and failing with His ultimate triumph over darkness. 

I just wanted to share with you how Jesus is stirring all of these truths in my heart as I close my junior year and I hope it encouraged you towards Jesus and the fullness in Him that stirs Your heart with wholeness, love, and peace. And that it is okay to be broken and a little discouraged, because it is then that God's strength can move in the mightiest of ways. It's okay to be in the middle, to be in the process of growing, and just working on being completely surrendered to Jesus, especially on mornings when you wrap one season up and He stirs your heart to the next.

Lord, break my heart.

27 million. MILLION.

Two weeks ago- I’m scrolling through Instagram like so many times before, and come across a video of John Luke Robertson and Mary Kate’s wedding trailer. So of course I pause and wait for it to play. As I watch, I tuck my legs underneath me in the recliner while I smile. The day looked like it was absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. It made me stop and pray for a minute, “Lord, this is what you bless us with whenever we surrender to Your will and lay our desires and hearts at Your feet. You bless us with beautiful days and spouses that have the desire to seek You so the two of us can bring You glory.” But then I kept scrolling and the very next post that comes into sight on my screen is one posted by the End It Movement. The End It Movement is a Christian organization that brings awareness and fights modern day slavery. So after my heart was so encouraged by this couple that were walking and seeking God together, I began to watch this video that shows little children working in horrible conditions and girls being rescued from being sex slaves. My instinct-to go back and re-watch the wedding trailer and push away the unsettling truth out of mind, but then it hit me.

Lord, when are we going to wake up? When am I going to wake up and realize that this is REALITY? Human trafficking and slavery is real; it’s more present than ever and it’s time to end it. Let’s end it so those girls who are trapped can have freedom and have that beautiful wedding day that we all have dreamed for. As this thought process began to take place, I began to pray again,

“Lord, wake me up. Break my heart over this.”

And what do you think took place for the next twenty minutes? My heart began to absolutely break. I thought about those girls who are in slavery this very moment, who are being violated in every way and literally wake up day after day to the same horror. They think that that is all they will see in their life. They think they have no hope. They are tucked away in darkness and they can’t speak up. But this is what I know- I serve the One True King who has already stripped darkness and evil of all it’s authority. The darkness that these people are living in is no match for the light that shines in each one of us- the light that shines whenever we speak up and pray for these girls to be protected in a way that only Jesus can protect.

I don’t think I will ever forget talking with my mom that night. As she walked in the door and set down all of her things, I began to share with her what I saw and how God was leading my heart. She was fiddling around with something on the kitchen table whenever I began to explain to her, “My heart is just breaking. Like I want to go there myself and hug those girls and tell them about Jesus. I want to look at those around me and say when are we going to wake up!” My voice raised and even I was surprised at the passion and burden that had leaked into my voice from my heart I continued, “When are we going to start praying for these people. The need prayers. They need hope. What if all of these stuggles and battles these past months been because God is preparing me to go in those places and rescuing them? I know He will shield me and give me the courage to go into those places, but those places need God’s light and redemption. They need His truth and I know what’s going on in those places can’t stand against God’s love and truth.” Oh, my heart was burning with passion and burden. All I could do was let God lead my heart in prayer.

Lord, You know exactly where that darkness is taking place. Father, I pray Your light and love would shine so brightly wherever each and every person is right now. Father, let them know how much You love them and the hope that is in You, Jesus. Give us the resources and wisdom, Lord, and let us allow You to lead us in boldness and courage. Father, keep breaking my heart and leading my in Your will. I want to be Your hands and feet. I just lift every girl up to You in this moment. Shield and protect them in a way only You can. I love You, Lord. Thank you for your hope and grace. I know You are right here with me.

 

So what can we do? What can you do? Allow God to let the reality become real to you. Allow Him to break Your heart for those who are enslaved. And pray. Pray big. There is so much power in prayer and the devil can not stand against the power and love of Jesus Christ. Pray that we would have the wisdom and resources to go rescue this people and tell them about Jesus Christ and see them heal in glorious ways. And RAISE your voice. It’s time to not be silent. Ending it starts with awareness. These cruel people can’t stand in their evil acts whenever we begin to shine a light on them. The darkness has to flee.

 

So will you join me? Will you join me in allowing God to break your heart and lead you in boldness and faith to stand up for the way in which he called us all to live? In freedom. In righteousness. In love. In purity. In light.

 

There are 27 million who need you to use your voice because theirs have become silent. It’s time to end this and it can only be done in Jesus Christ.

Even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:12

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

2 Corinthians 2:13-15

 

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and a sound mind.

1 Timothy 1:7

 

 

enditmovement.com