A few years ago, I joined a group of people from my church to travel to Lima, Peru for a mission trip. If you have been following me for a while you know that it was the trip that changed my life. There were so many small elements that Jesus carefully put together and although I did not see it then, it was all for His glory and my good.
During this time, I lacked Godly wisdom, I did not see this trip as a way to become closer to Jesus but rather another great opportunity. But, after returning I began on a journey through an unfamiliar yet beautiful path, it was a journey of self-discovery and self-love.
During this trip, I was so blessed to have my friend Niki with me. While in Lima, she would spend time in her bible, accompanying her study was a packet full of questions. At the time I did not know what the questions were but what I did know was that she found joy in answering them and a small part of me was curious and wanted to feel that joy too. She informed me that she was a part of a BSF Group and gave me all the details about the class. Before bed that night she invited me to join her when we returned to the states.
If you are a believer then you have more than likely sat through a sermon or teaching, and it felt like the minister was speaking to you. Well, when I visited that BSF Group that Niki invited me to that is exactly how I felt and that night I ended up joining the class. Fast forward, to a year later I was called into leadership. Although not feeling equipped I lead a group of women ages 51 – 60 through the book of Acts.
I spent a lot of time reading the Bible the wrong way, I was constantly trying to find myself in the Bible when I should have been seeking God. I spent time depending on commentaries, podcasts, and blogs to tell me about Jesus rather than studying and seeking Him on my own. During this time, I had to remember that others were depending on me to show up, come prepared, and that the Lord takes my role as a leader seriously. All these things encouraged me to become a better student than I might have never been on my own.
If you are anything like you have played around with Jesus not really taking His word seriously. Maybe you schemed through the bible and only read scripture for a quick fix because you just did not have enough time. Or maybe you saw an opportunity to minister to others as just another great opportunity. When I went to Peru this was me, but I am so thankful that the Lord used my trip to Peru to change my life, I am grateful that He used my friend Niki to pour into me because all of these things helped me on my journey of finding my voice but more importantly finding my voice in Jesus.
-Kiara
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