“Have you remembered Heaven today?”
My squad leader Drew asked us this question while we sat around him in a park in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The question has stuck with me.
Having a heavenly mindset is so important : setting our minds on the things above is what the Lord asks of us (Colossians 3:2).
We need to remember where our true home is.
We need to constantly remind ourselves that the things of this earth WILL pass away. Our earthly homes, money, clothes, social media, etc. So should we be pursuing the things that are promised to perish or pursue the things that will be with us for eternity? The Lord is with us for eternity. Literally forever! I personally believe pursuing godliness and holiness will benefit me a lot more than spending so much time focusing on the things of this earth. He is so much greater.
We also can’t continue our day to day lives without remembering why, how, and who got us here. Remembering what He has delivered us from.
I think we sometimes don’t realize how close we are to coming face to face with our Savior.
“Let go and let God”
One evening, a few of my squad mates and I were in town and decided to get dinner before heading back to base. There were two men at a table beside us who we sparked conversation with. They shared their views on the Lord and how believing in him wasn’t something they were interested in. They were hesitant at first because, “Christians usually judge them and force their beliefs on them”. After the conversation, they thanked us for being so loving and different than the other Christians they have encountered in the past. I remember them leaving saying “we really appreciate you guys.”
When going out and speaking to unbelievers, it is not our responsibility to convert them. It is not our responsibility to persuade them. The only thing we need to do is love them.
Loving them can simply be having an open ear to their stories. Paying for their meal. Giving them the shoes off of your feet. Asking them intentional questions.
And boldly saying, “Jesus loves you and sees you” can spark something inside of someone. It might just be exactly what they needed to hear.
Doing these simple acts may be small to us, but can plant a seed in people. Looking like Jesus these days is low key rare in this broken world. But, when we walk and talk like Jesus, people are going to want more!!
Also, we can’t forget that it is not us who change people; it is strictly the Lord. He will work in them.
“Jesus, break my heart for what breaks yours”
I can’t remember where I first heard this, but it has left me shook in an amazing way… to sit and ask the Lord to give me deep compassion for His people has been humbling.
For example, this past month in my free time I have been learning more about the Islamic faith. My heart has shattered for Muslims around the world who feel hopeless, alone, and scared. There are stories of Muslims who have felt the divine power of Jesus Christ and have tasted his wild and free love, but they do not know how to pursue Him in their strict, lawful communities.
The Sharia law states in some cases that if a Muslim converts, it is okay for them to be killed. Take a moment to let that sink in. https://cdn.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sharia-law-and-the-death-penalty.pdf
I think it is extremely important to look at people the way the Lord would look at them. With love and compassion. His heart breaks for these people, so ours should too.
Also, side note, with this the Lord has revealed to me even more how incredibly blessed I am to have the freedom to worship and pray to Him without the fear of being persecuted. That is such a gift… wow. I look back and realize I have taken that for granted.
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I thank God for how He has moved in me and where He has taken me. I have been so blessed. I pray that everyone reading this will feel the overwhelming love and freedom He has to offer. I pray that He can be the main focus of our lives forever and everrr!!! Thank you all for reading and supporting me these past 6 months. It means sooo much
