Thoughts on the Form Trip (Pt. II)
On the plane, flying high above the world, my expectations and sense of excitement soared. In my journal on that day, May 16th, I wrote:
"I ask that I could be the best that I can be for the next 10 days. Help me to be patient and loving. Help me to experience your love in whatever situation I find myself in. Let me be a light. Let me shine for you, even if it is just serving others. Let me prefer others needs above you. My only need is you!"
This was the beginning of my prayer for the trip - teach me to serve, humble me, allow me to prefer others. I feel this was one of the most significant ways that God changed me whilst I was away. God answers prayer. I find it funny that I put "even if it is just serving". I do not know why I had a perspective that serving was a last resort or something that is not important. Jesus became the servant of all. He positioned himself to be a blessing to all the people that he met.
On the plane as we flew over the UK I couldn't help but pray that the UK would see revival. That many people would come to encounter God's love for us. As I was praying I felt God ask me this question: "Would you keep cleaning and doing something so small and seemingly insignificant - would you keep serving in that way if it guaranteed revival in this city?" This was such a humbling moment for me on the trip. I am often consumed by selfish gain - what's in it for me? I have not always been motivated by a heart to serve!
God's ways are not like mine! What if God did ask a big sacrifice of me in that way? Do I want to be the centre of attention? Or do I want to live a life of love which may mean standing in the sidelines? My heart was moved by my self-centred nature and I remember constantly praying "teach me to serve" throughout the trip.
During the trip there were many times when God answered my prayer and I had opportunity to serve. One time when several of the girls were quite ill, we were chilling on the roof and I took the opportunity to run several times down three flights of stairs to fetch drinks. At one point I laughed to myself and thought "why am I doing this?" In the past maybe it would have been to impress people but in this case it was because I was genuinely having fun doing it and because I loved the rest of my Form team so much and wanted to bless them. This was a big heart change for me!
Towards the end of the trip we had 'encouragement times' where the group would take it in turns to encourage each member of the team individually. This was an incredible time and very humbling and uplifting. When it came to my turn many people came forward to say that they really valued that I was humble, willing to serve and prefer others above myself. I was really blessed by these words and I saw it as a real answer to prayer that God would have done brought me to that place! It was also moving that people saw that as a character trait in me throughout the year, not just on the trip and I have chosen to receive those words spoken over me and not dismiss them!
My prayer daily at the moment is teach me to serve and to love others as Jesus loved and served his friends. I definitely discovered how fun it can be to have that heart whilst I was on this trip! I want to live out this in the UK!
"I ask that I could be the best that I can be for the next 10 days. Help me to be patient and loving. Help me to experience your love in whatever situation I find myself in. Let me be a light. Let me shine for you, even if it is just serving others. Let me prefer others needs above you. My only need is you!"
This was the beginning of my prayer for the trip - teach me to serve, humble me, allow me to prefer others. I feel this was one of the most significant ways that God changed me whilst I was away. God answers prayer. I find it funny that I put "even if it is just serving". I do not know why I had a perspective that serving was a last resort or something that is not important. Jesus became the servant of all. He positioned himself to be a blessing to all the people that he met.
On the plane as we flew over the UK I couldn't help but pray that the UK would see revival. That many people would come to encounter God's love for us. As I was praying I felt God ask me this question: "Would you keep cleaning and doing something so small and seemingly insignificant - would you keep serving in that way if it guaranteed revival in this city?" This was such a humbling moment for me on the trip. I am often consumed by selfish gain - what's in it for me? I have not always been motivated by a heart to serve!
God's ways are not like mine! What if God did ask a big sacrifice of me in that way? Do I want to be the centre of attention? Or do I want to live a life of love which may mean standing in the sidelines? My heart was moved by my self-centred nature and I remember constantly praying "teach me to serve" throughout the trip.
During the trip there were many times when God answered my prayer and I had opportunity to serve. One time when several of the girls were quite ill, we were chilling on the roof and I took the opportunity to run several times down three flights of stairs to fetch drinks. At one point I laughed to myself and thought "why am I doing this?" In the past maybe it would have been to impress people but in this case it was because I was genuinely having fun doing it and because I loved the rest of my Form team so much and wanted to bless them. This was a big heart change for me!
Towards the end of the trip we had 'encouragement times' where the group would take it in turns to encourage each member of the team individually. This was an incredible time and very humbling and uplifting. When it came to my turn many people came forward to say that they really valued that I was humble, willing to serve and prefer others above myself. I was really blessed by these words and I saw it as a real answer to prayer that God would have done brought me to that place! It was also moving that people saw that as a character trait in me throughout the year, not just on the trip and I have chosen to receive those words spoken over me and not dismiss them!
My prayer daily at the moment is teach me to serve and to love others as Jesus loved and served his friends. I definitely discovered how fun it can be to have that heart whilst I was on this trip! I want to live out this in the UK!