5 things I learned at training camp

Hey everyone!  I am long overdue an update on how training for the World Race: Gap Year has been, so here it is! For the past 7 weeks I have tried multiple times to sit down and put everything that I have learned into words, but I never could articulate it. I know now the reason for that was I had no clue where to start. My heart was so rapidly being renewed that although I had so much to share, I could not keep up. So Instead of one big topic, I want to give a glimpse into 5 things that sunk deep into my heart at training camp.

1.  Believing who God says He is, is a process and it requires us to tear up deep rooted lies of the enemy. Through repetition and meditation on God’s word we can get to the root of those lies and allow the Lord to speak truths into them. Although ripping out lies of unworthiness from your identity and negative views of how you perceive yourself is painful, viewing ourselves the way God views us is life changing.

Every day for the month our squad was in Gainesville, Georgia there was a choice to believe God’s character for ourselves. Through the repetition is where I found how to truly abide in the Lord and walk hand in hand with Him. I learned Instead of continuously striving to prove my worth to God all He truly ever wanted me to do was seek Him first above all else, surrender control, and rest in Him.

in case you missed it here is a glimpse into what the day to day looked like. 

2. We must take our worst chapters and mistakes and turn them into lessons about who God is, not about who we are. I learned that even when I make a bad decision that does not mean I am that bad decision and the Lord’s grace covers where I fall short. Instead of allowing my mistakes define who I am, I can trust in God’s story and ability to work all things for His good. Romans 8:28 

3. Everyday is a chance to lean on and live from the joy of the Lord. When we choose to see things how the Lord does, we realize we have everything we could ever need in Him. nehemiah 8:10 

4. Because of God’s great love for us and victory on the cross, every moment is an opportunity to choose freedom and actively walk out of captivity. Although the devil will try to convince us we will never find freedom Jesus has already won the battle for us and the reality is we are already free!! Romans 8:37-39

 5. I am ALL IN for His kingdom cause and I will never go back. Wherever He calls me I will say Yes because Who am I to say no? I have learned that the cost of abandonment requires a repetitive Yes and Amen to anything He asks. The least I could do for all He has done for me is walk in obedience to His will. I know any plans I could dream up for myself would not compare to what he has in store for me and as long as I am abiding in Him he will bring a life of abundance. John 15:4-5 summarizes it well: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

These five points were just a small glimpse into what the Lord taught me during the four weeks training in Georgia, and the two weeks serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Louisiana. For the next five days we have time to process and debrief the past 7 weeks before heading off to Costa Rica on Friday. I will be posting a few more blogs this week going more into depth on how the Lord has renewed my heart to see Him differently and how serving with Samaritan’s Purse taught me how to work hard, but most importantly love harder.  

As always a few prayers I would love others to come alongside me in is that I would be quick to cling to Jesus, slow to trust in my own strength, and slow to forget that all of His promises are Yes & Amen.

In Christ’s love, Emily.