October 19th, 2020 on our last day of training camp, we grabbed big rocks to carry on a hike. For what reason? Well…
October 12th, 2020 in Gainesville, GA at 8:51 AM
each rock symbolized something we had been carrying that we would choose to abandon as we began the World Race. My squad mates and I each grabbed our rocks, we named them, and threw them to the ground after our hike. The names of my rocks were:
- Stress
- Lust
- Anger
- Comfort
- Worry
- Lies
- Idols
- Pride
- Fleshiness
- Hate
October 19th, 2020 in Gainesville, GA at 4:45pm —our rocks7 months later
I look back, and wow… so much has changed. The Janice in October thought of how hard the process of abandonment would be… and 7 months later, this Janice has had her mind shifted to the simplicity of receiving.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. James 1:17, 18
I’ve gradually learned that in receiving what God has given, anything you shouldn’t be holding onto is naturally to fall out of your hands. Abandoning/letting go of/exchanging/surrendering things truly happens after we’ve received what God gives: good and perfect gifts. In my case,
- Stress for peace and security
- Lust for self-control and everlasting satisfaction in Jesus
- Anger for joy
- Comfort for freedom in the unknown (My sweet friend Paiton who’s on the World Race with me wrote a song about freedom and receiving His love called Here I Go, click here to check it out)
- Worry for faith and strength
- Lies for truth and encouragement
- Idols for Jesus
- Pride for humility and true-identity
- Fleshiness for being spirit-filled
- Hate for love and mercy and grace
Sometimes we don’t choose to grab hold of what Jesus has already given. What do you do with birthday presents once they’ve been given to you? You receive them! What if one of those presents are new shoes? You will naturally get rid of those old, useless, ugly ones in receiving your new shoes.
Is there anything you’re still having a hard time accepting/receiving from the Lord? Maybe it is His love… maybe it is His peace. You’re not alone! Receiving requires choosing… it requires decision, and it’s constant. It requires trusting in Jesus, spending time with Him, and believing the truth. I encourage you to ask Him in what areas of your life He wants you to choose to receive. Until next time,
J
March 26th, 2021 at Los Chiles, Costa
Rica at 3:24 PM (ironically picking up
rocks for ministry, but you best
believe I wont be picking up those
rocks I dropped at training camp
in Jesus name.)
