One thing that really hit home for me this summer was realizing my value in Christ. I have heard over and over again how much God loves us, you know, even if I was the only person who would come to Christ through His death, He would still do it. I've heard it tons of times, and, although I've always known that and thought I believed it, this summer the fact the I am His beloved became something I truly believe.
This lack of belief in this amazing truth, I guess, was probably facilitated by the fact that I have never felt like "that girl." You know, the one who everyone wants to be with all the time, the one who has a boy who's face lights up when she walks into a room, or the one who can't help but hit the game winning shot every time. I've always felt on the outskirts, kinda just hanging around, there to call when you need me. But this summer as I began to truly grasp what it meant to be His, I realized I am the "that girl" to God. One night I got this picture in my head, you know in old movies or Leave it to Beaver type shows when people would go to a barbecue or something, the men would always be out back at the grill and the women would be in the kitchen or on the patio getting everything ready. The men would be talking about sports or news and eventually conversation turns to the women. I see God there and one of the other guys asks, "So, which one is yours?" pointing to the women, and I see God's face lighting up with a huge smile coming across His face and He's pointing me out, "That one, right there, she's mine." He can hardly contain Himself; He's so happy I'm His. That blew me away!! Some of you are probably thinking I'm crazy, but for me, that picture is completely God given and exactly what I needed to understand I'm His.
Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is because of another story. This weekend I went to Madison's Crusade leadership retreat. All the branches of Crusade on campus got together to look forward to this school year. One thing we talked about was "Natural Mode Evangelism" which basically is living in such a way that you are evangelizing simply by the way you live and naturally turning to Christ in your everyday conversation. After we discussed this and some other ways we could live for God this semester, we prayed over every "topic" we had discussed. As we were praying over living in Natural Mode Evangelism, God put another picture in my head. This scene very similar to the one I described already, but this time it's me who's love cannot be contained. No matter who I was talking to or what we were talking about, I couldn't help but tell them how in love I am with the great guy I know named Jesus. They would see the smile that couldn't be wiped from my face and needed to know what put it there. He was always on my mind and my love for Him was basically oozing out, everyone I talked to was like, "Man, she's got it bad."
That's how I want to live. I want to be the epitome of Natural Mode Evangelism. I want everyone I come in contact with to know I'm falling madly in love with the Savior and Creator of the world! I want to be that girl.
When Christ has consumed your heart and is your constant companion He will be the only thing you want to talk and think about, He will ignite a fire within your soul and cause you to shine like the noonday sun, setting your presence ablaze with unshakable joy and infectious passion! The reason for your joy and radiant light will constantly be coiled on the tip of your tongue, ready to spring out each time you open your mouth :] this "natural mode evangelism" you speak of is already alive and active within you, its already your way of life, you ARE that girl.
ReplyDeletego for it sister- live passionately, love radically- you're [already] His
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you"
- Isaiah 60:1, check out the whole thing though
"Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
- Psalm 37:5-6
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then the Gentile."
- Romans 1:16
"The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes."
- Psalm 19:8
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will FEARLESSLY MAKE KNOWN the mystery of the gospel, for which I AM AN AMBASSADOR in chains. Pray that I may DECLARE IT FEARLESSLY, as I should."
- Ephesians 6:19-20
+ Colossians 2:6-7, 3:12-17
agape
Thanks Hannah,
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing. You're such an encouragement to me, I am soooooo thankful God has put you in my life.
I love you girl!