Let’s Celebrate Surrender!

Hola friends! Or should I say…Pura Vida!

My squad and I have officially been in Costa Rica for about a week and a half now and mannnnn! Costa is wayyyyy different than Guatemala, but it’s good – very good. God takes His people from glory to glory, and I’m seeing His heart as I step into the newness of this season in Costa. I’m going to update you all about what ministry and life here looks like, but first I wanted to share a cool way God has been moving in my own heart throughout the transition.

BACKSTORY:

Gap C spent our last week in Guatemala staying at a hostel in Antigua for what we call “Debrief week”. A time for our squad to rest, reflect and remember all that God did in Guatemala. It was also a time where God spoke into our upcoming season in Costa Rica. 

The week for me personally was a sweet week of all these things mentioned above, as well as LOTS of celebration. At the beginning of each month, I ask God for a word and the word that He gave me for March was, “Jubilee”. (Keep that in mind when reading the rest of this blog.)

The Lord sealed a lot in my own heart with what He did/ taught me in Guatemala, and He began to gently open my heart to fresh things that He would do in Costa Rica. I was feeling encouraged, excited, and ready for what He had next for me, my team, and my squad. My entire walk on the World Race has been a journey of Jesus taking my hand and walking me into a deeper relationship with Him. With this, has come consistent surrender, abandonment, and laying down of my own fleshy heart. SOOOOO alongside the exciting things I was feeling towards Costa, I was not surprised when God revealed things that I needed to lay at His feet before stepping into Costa. 

STORY:

It’s March 30th and the entire squad is sitting outside the airport in Guatemala City. We left the hostel at 9:00 pm for our 4:00 am flight to Costa Rica. We get to the airport and find out that it’s closed until 2:00 am. No big deal, we all just decide to chill outside until then. The majority of the squad begins to fall asleep but for some reason, I couldn’t!! (Maybe it’s because of the large macchiato I had right before leaving… *shoulder shrug* …who knows?) But in this space, the Lord was stirring a lot in my heart. If “IDK?!?!?!?” was an emotion, that’s what I was feeling! I needed a space to just be with Abba for a bit. I needed a space to process, cry, and feel all the feels. A space where I could just be…I grabbed the essentials (my headphones, Bible, Journal, and pen) and went to a more alone area. (Don’t worry mom…It was safe!) As I entered His throne room, Jesus met me with His sweet embrace and kind words. He sat with me, felt/processed with me, and gently led me into, once again, a place of deep surrender. I spent the next couple of hours worshiping, praising, and thanking Him for all the things. As it came near to 2:00 am, He whispered to my heart the words, “I’m celebrating your surrender.” 

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Jesus’ kind heart continuously leaves me in awe of Him. I’m left amazed at the way He continues to invite me into a deeper relationship with Him. He’s such a gentleman in the way that He leads our hearts. He doesn’t barge in, demanding us to give Him our all, controlling us in a manner that is chaotic and frightful. He instead invites us to a space where we can enjoy the company, friendship, and fullness of a savior who wants our hearts in exchange for His. Despite my failures, brokenness, and mess-ups, He is never slow when it comes to embracing me…He does it over and over and over again. I love Him!!!! I love His perfect love!!! As I celebrate Him and the goodness of His faithfulness, He celebrates me. He celebrates every time I choose to lay the “IDK!?!?!?!?” at His feet. Wow wow WOW!!!!! 

So yeah…I’m here in Costa Rica and the word God gave me for this month is “abundant harvest”. We’ll see May 1st how it comes to fruition! My heart is full of Jubilee, and I’m ready for what’s to come. Not by my own strength, only by the strength of our beautiful king, Jesus. 😉