Within the past three months, God has given me the amazing opportunity of visiting eight states. In reflecting upon the significant events and small details of each trip, I can't help but praise the Lord for all He has done and for what He has taught me! It has been a fantastic travel season that I know I will never forget. In this blog post, I wanted to share some (yes, just some... my original post was over 20) of the lessons the Lord has taught me over these past several months (with pictures!) In future posts, I may share a couple of particularly neat experiences in more detail, but for now, this post is meant to be nothing more than a general overview of God's goodness in each trip. I hope you're encouraged by this post and even inspired to take note of what God has taught you in your own traveling experiences (whether you're traveling for a vacation or a ministry!) *Each trip I took either included a ScriptureFest event (learn more about this ministry by clicking here!) or an event with Scripture Memory Fellowship. Within the past three months, God has given me the amazing opportunity of visiting eight states. In reflecting upon the significant events and small details of each trip, I can't help but praise the Lord for all He has done and for what He has taught me! It has been a fantastic travel season that I know I will never forget. In this blog post, I wanted to share some (yes, just some... my original post was over 20) of the lessons the Lord has taught me over these past several months (with pictures!) In future posts, I may share a couple of particularly neat experiences in more detail, but for now, this post is meant to be nothing more than a general overview of God's goodness in each trip. I hope you're encouraged by this post and even inspired to take note of what God has taught you in your own traveling experiences (whether you're traveling for a vacation or a ministry!) *Each trip I took either included a ScriptureFest event (learn more about this ministry by clicking here!) or an event with Scripture Memory Fellowship. 10 Things God Taught Me This Travel Season: 1. Contentment results in being adaptable The more I traveled, the more I realized the tendency I had to focus my attention on the "next thing" instead of enjoying the moment that I was in. This was especially the case with my back-to-back trips. The Lord graciously taught me how to "live in the moment" and take in all I could from the event, who I was with, and even where I was staying. Over time I learned that being content with where I was at that moment wasn't only beneficial spiritually but also allowed me to be adaptable (as all things from plans to locations change a lot when traveling). Essentially, I was able to say, "The best place to be is where God wants me to be. And because He is sovereign, I can trust that wherever He has placed me at this moment is where He wants me to be. Therefore, I will be fully present in it." 2. I need Scripture more in my busy seasons How easy it is for us to get into the mindset that we're too busy for God's Word! Yet, as I traveled extensively over these past several months, I witnessed this fact: I NEED God's Word, and the busier I am, the more I need His all-sufficient words to uphold and guide me. 3. God WANTS to use my weaknesses to display His strength Countless times throughout my trips, I became aware of my weaknesses. At that point, I had two options: 1) Remain self-focused and therefore weak, or 2) Focus on God and surrender my weaknesses to Him in exchange for His strength. I noticed that the times I was weakest were also the times when God was calling me to share the gospel with someone on the airplane or to have a long conversation with a sister who needed spiritual encouragement. Perhaps this was so Christ's strength would be visibly seen instead. 4. When God answers, it happens fast I heard a quote once that goes like this: "Waiting is not passive. It's active. You might not know when, but when God speaks [as He did in Gen. 1], it happens fast. Be ready for it." God does not operate under our timing, for He has His own. Seek Him in prayer and know that when the timing is right, He will make His will clear to you. A season of prayer can quickly go from a "distant hope for the future" to a reality when it's God's timing. But regardless of how long God makes you wait, I can guarantee that Abraham and Sarah never doubted God's ability to answer. Even after many years of silence, Joseph's prayers were still rooted in faith. Trust God's timing. Wait expectantly for Him and believe He is good. As Alistair Begg once said, "God is never in a hurry because His timing is perfect." 5. God cares about the small details of our lives Whenever I spent my time worrying about small logistical travel details, God blew me away by far surpassing my plans and showing me that He had the most extensive parts of my trip planned for me. If He cares so much about those big things, and He cares so much about the details of our lives as we know from Scripture, why do I worry at all (Matt. 6)? 6. We need people in the body of Christ who have the gift of hospitality I stayed with more people than I can remember over these past three months! Each time I left blessed, filled up, encouraged, and thankful. Looking back, I understand what Paul meant when he included hospitality in the list of roles within the body of Christ in Romans 12! Because of the willingness of many to open up their homes to me, I could more fully serve the Lord in the ministry that He had called me to in that state. This gift shouldn't be underestimated! 7. The grace I need for each day is given that day - grace upon grace! These verses cover this topic better than I could! John 1:16-17 - "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 5:10 - "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." These truths remove a lot of anxiety and assure us that what God calls us to, He will prepare us for by His Spirit. 8. Full-time ministry isn't just 8-hour days
As Christians, we all have a calling in common - to know God and make Him known to others! If this is our ministry (beyond where we work, our role at church, and where we go to school), there is never a moment in our lives where we'll be "off the hook." Our entire life is our ministry! If Jesus Christ has redeemed you, this role is for you. It is not reserved for those who have been called to work 8-hour shifts, nor is it reserved for pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. You have been set apart to glorify God, and the Holy Spirit indwelling within you has already equipped you to live a life of ministry. What a joy it is to be called by the Living God! 9. The only time I should feel that I lack something good is when Christ is not my focus. If I struggled with discontentment, disappointment, or a desire for something God hadn't given me, I could always follow it back to an incorrect focus - myself. If we have all in Christ, we will realize that we lack no good thing (besides, there is no truly good thing outside of Christ!) A quote that I heard recently and liked says this, "Where your focus is, your desire grows. Set your desires upon Christ by fixing your eyes upon Him, His love, His work, His hope, and your heart shall follow." 10. Rest is important In a world and culture that doesn't prioritize rest, it isn't always the easiest thing to do. Yet if we can take time to rest ourselves physically and get filled up spiritually, we will be more equipped to pour out into others and run farther and faster, later on. God rested when He created the world to leave us an example - we would be wise to follow in His footsteps! If I had to pick one point that best summarized what God has taught me over these past several trips, I would say, "God's ways are higher than mine." As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Truly our God is good, and He can be trusted! If we meditate upon His thoughts (His Word) and walk in His ways for us (instead of our own ways), we won't be disappointed. All His ways are perfect.
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AuthorHello, I'm Hannah and I'm so glad you're here! I'm a twenty-year-old Jesus-loving writer, National Bible Bee Alumna, and homeschool graduate. Jesus redeemed me, and now I give my life, and this blog, to serve Him. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage each other daily, lest we be hardened by sin. I hope that reading each blog entry that I post you will be encouraged and challenged to become more like Christ daily. |