No Turning Back

I can’t believe I haven’t written anything in over a year! And what a year it has been…

I’m sitting here in the dark of my room listening to “Christ is enough” by Hillsong United. A great hymn was buried in the middle of the song with the lyrics: 

“I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. 

The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back” 

These lines are my daily prayer as I live life here in the middle east. It can be a struggle at times. In fact, it has been a struggle for most of my time here. I mentioned to a friend a while ago that living in Oregon was like living in a wonderful bubble. The environment I was in was one of Christian freedom and comfort. I was blessed to have multiple Christian friends and role models that I could go to whenever I needed talk or pray. There were Christian ministries and Godly people scattered throughout the town. Looking back I realize how powerfully God worked and is continuing to work there!

But you know what? Going through a time like this humbles me. It humbles me because I realize how weak I am on my own apart from God. I know I've talked of this in past posts, but I need the constant reminder: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). And the Lord knows I need His grace cada dia (every day)! This is most evident when going through hard times (aka now). These verses from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 speak so powerfully to me during this time and also remind me of the joy to be had in the midst of it all. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is a strategy I've used when pride starts to slink its way into my mind: When I am complimented or praised I think of the lyrics to the song “The only thing” by Ronnie Freeman. My favorite and most prominent lyric says “the only thing that’s good in me is Jesus”. And it is so true!! I earnestly pray that, through God’s grace, I will point others to Him who is worthy of all praise, honor, glory and power forever.

“Not to us, Lord, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness.”

(Psalm 115:1)