Wow! What a crazy past couple of months it has been!! Keeping up with life has been crazy, but the Lord has been faithful. Since announcing that I will be attending the World Race, I have received so much support from many people around me. The prayers, kind words, and donations from y’all have truly meant so much and have testified to the Lord’s faithfulness.
What the Lord has been teaching me:
November:
To be real, life has been hard recently. A lot has been going on, and I have found it hard to keep up with everything. I feel as if there’s always something keeping me busy. I have found myself feeling exhausted and burnt out. It is almost like, regardless of what I do, I can’t keep up, and because of this, it has been hard to find the energy and feeling to sit with the Lord. Recently, sitting with the Lord has been more challenging; I have found myself frustrated that I am so tired, and I have felt I am not bringing enough to the Lord. While I know this is not true, It has been easy to get trapped in this mindset. However, through this, the Lord has led me to Mark 10:13 – 16. Which says;
People were bringing him little children so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive[a] the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
The call is to become children – this is not some churchy language that sounds good or makes a fun tee shirt, but instead, Jesus is saying His kingdom belongs to children. This means that to be a part of his kingdom, we must become a child. I have been asking the Lord what living out of a place of true childlikeness means. Not just as a title that I claim but a reality that I live out every day. When I think of how a little child sees their parents, I think of them being amazed by something their parents have done or how being with their mom and dad makes them feel safe. And from parents perspective, they don’t expect anything from their kids, instead they love them and delight in taking care of them even though their child has nothing in return. And I think the call to be a child of the Lord doesn’t look much different than this. As a Father, I believe Jesus delights in loving and caring for us even when we don’t have anything in return. I believe He wants us to be in awe of him, cry for help, and be excited to do things with Him. I think this reality of being a child is easy to miss. But if I ask the Lord to see more of him and I feel like I am not seeing him, it makes me wonder if I am truly living as a child excited by his presence and in awe of him. Or am I striving to be perfect before I come to him? For me, it is easy to slip into a mindset of striving. I am unsure how to be a child, and I think that is a part of it. Children do not know everything. Instead, they grow and learn. So why do I try to live out of a place of perfectionism instead of genuinely trusting the Lord? I desire to be a captivated, pure, and dependent child of the Lord.
December:
The Lord is doing a new thing. He is using what I have viewed as a simple truth and He is walking me deeper into these truths than ever before to root and establish me. Romans 8:12-17 says
So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,[a] Father!” 16 The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified.
I have received the spirit of adoption by which I cry out to my father. I am His beloved; He is mine, and I get to walk out that truth daily!
Hallelujah, Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit, thank you for adoption and new life. Thank you for establishing the reality of being a child in me.
Fundraising update:
I am officially 23% funded!!! The Lord has been so good. He has answered prayers in radical and beautiful ways, providing everything I need when I need it most. I believe that the Lord will continue to provide all that I need! Thank you to everyone who has said yes to partnering and taking the gospel to the nations. It is beautiful to watch the Lord use so many people to provide and care for my needs.
Prayer request:
As we enter the new year, I ask that we pray for deeper intimacy with the Lord. I am excited about all the Lord has in store for this coming year. This year, I believe the Lord will move in radical ways and encounter hearts like never before among friends and family. I am praying for a fresh stirring and love for the Lord in me and everyone around me!
I am also asking for continual prayers over my team and finances. It can be hard to have the faith to believe that the Lord will bring everything together, both in funds and relationships with others. I know the Lord is faithful, and that is what I am clinging to even when it is hard to believe.
With love, Meridyth
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