"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4
Despite my overwhelming joy that God is fulfilling my dream for His glory, over the last several months I have been experiencing fear and doubt. I kept wondering how I would be able to cope with interacting with people who have experienced such horrific things. Also, I kept doubting that I would be spiritually, academically or personally prepared.
Due to God's blessings and people's generosity I had the opportunity to go to a conference in Atlanta, Georgia for college-aged Christians called Passion. Some of the most incredible Biblical teachers were there including Beth Moore, Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, and John Piper. As I prepared for the trip I was hoping that God would speak to my heart to calm my fears as well as lay a strong foundation to build upon in spiritually preparing me for everything that is ahead. God is so good and did so much more than I could have ever expected!
Beth Moore taught about renewing our hearts and minds, delighting in the Lord and pursuing Him whole-heartedly. God spoke through Beth in such a powerful way it was truly amazing. At one point Beth was talking about Luke 10:17-21 after Jesus sent out the 72 and they returned with incredible joy because Jesus had empowered them to cast out demons and perform other miracles and Jesus shared in their joy, not because they had performed miracles but because their names were written in heaven. From this passage Beth taught that when we push past our fears to obey God's calling and delight in the Lord, Jesus shares in our joy. God used this session to comfort and teach me that even though I'm afraid, when I delight in the Lord and obey His calling for my life, He and I will share in mutual, indescribable joy. WOW!
One of the other sessions that God used to convict and humble me was Francis Chan's session about making disciples. After Jesus had risen from the grave he gave the great commission, saying "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:18-20. Christ didn't call only pastors or missionaries or bible scholars to make disciples and share his teachings; He called us all. I was so convicted and humbled by this teaching because even though I have known the great commission for most of my life, I rarely live it out.
The other teachings were incredible as well. It's hard to describe a movement of over 20,000 of my peers committing to sharing Christ's name wherever we go. "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts" Isaiah 26:8.
And so, all I can say is how great is our God!
Thanks for joining with me in this journey!
My friends and I at Passion
