The past few days have been a whirlwind of emotions. It’s almost as if I’m watching my life being played out on a movie screen and all I can do is watch it happen. I don’t have much control over anything and it’s oddly comforting. Actually, it’s extremely comforting. Every morning I wake up and beg Him for peace, fresh peace, to deal with everything that will come during that day; the peace He prepared in advance for the specific challenges and trials that may arise. And before I even have a chance to lift my head off of the pillow, He gives that peace and I grab it so quickly I almost feel greedy. But it’s all a part of His grace and so while I know I deserve none of it, I also know that it’s lavished upon me in the same breath.
The night before I flew out, my family prayed over me, and God gave me this sweet revelation and this picture of what it would look like as this journey started. I sensed He was telling me that I needed Him to prepare me as a bride is prepared for her wedding day… although it may take a while, and her eyes may be on the “prize” of her husband awaiting her, this process of getting ready was extremely important! So, I told him, if He will graciously make me ready then I will take one step down the aisle every day until I finally reach that altar and forget everything surrounding me as I gaze into the face of my Savior. The altar where I lay everything down, all while gaining everything in return. The altar where a sinner becomes a called-out one. The altar where my life and all that had once defined me is a shadow of the past and all that is ahead of me lies in the hands of my maker, also standing at that altar with me. When I reach that place, having been made ready by His spirit, I will follow that God-man who laid his life down for me, I will follow Him into any region of the earth, to any people group, city, or nation. Because a bride made ready has nothing left to do except follow the man waiting to lead her at the altar.
Training for me was something that I initially just viewed as a hill to climb before I began my mountaintop ascent on the field. However, I do not suggest that mindset. The only way I can describe it (keeping in mind that I am only a few days in) is being made “ready.”
Not stronger, or more Holy, not being made a better Christian or even being made into a different person.
But simply being made ready.
Ready for the trials and the triumphs.
Ready for the joys and the sorrows.
Ready for the valleys and the mountaintops.
And ready for everything in between!
So for the next 7 weeks, my desire is that the Holy Spirit will make me ready, however that may look like. It may be tough or it may be exciting or it may be sad. But whatever it is, I know that He is waiting for me at that altar and that makes it all worth it.
Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and celebrate and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
