As some of you may or may not have known, this past week, my youth group and I headed out to Dirty Myrtle for the second year in a row, to spread the good news of Jesus to all who would listen. We call this trip Woodstock (for no reason involving psychedelic drugs, sex or rock and roll, just in case you were wondering). I have decided to share what happened in my heart this week because I just cannot contain the joy that The Lord has revealed to me.
The week began with sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. The South Carolina heat hath no mercy on campers in tents at Ocean Lakes Campground. Then, came the rain. Lots, and lots, and lots, AND LOTS of rain. Tents were flooded, clothes were soaked, pizza was ruined and patience was definitely tested.
But, despite the tests, I could not have been more pleased with the way that our team held together it's strong and firm foundations as a group that overflowed with willingness to serve, love and encourage one another as well as the community around us. So, as we all stood under a broken canopy, holding up bent poles and duct taped edges, the Holy Spirit was definitely present and prominent in that moment.
This week, my heart was challenged. Going into the adventure that is Woodstock again, I was bursting with the excitement to pour out and see what wondrous works God was planning to perform in the people's lives I met this week. Experiencing Woodstock was a completely different story.
No, I do not have any stories of stirring salvations, nor do I have any radical stories of persecution to share with you. What I have though, changed my life and the way I intend to live it.
The convictions that The Lord sent my way were so strong and powerful. First, He convicted me of modesty. As I walked throughout the dusty campsite, then the freezing cold Coastal Grand mall, I noticed the lack of modesty in young women that looked to be my age and possibly even younger. I felt a certain emptiness seeing the girls seeming to have no shame or pride in keeping their bodies hidden from anyone and everyone who wanted to look. The lack of self respect and of Jesus had my heart in shambles for these young women. In these places, I heard Him speaking to me; softly whispering to me and gently urging me to examine my choice in clothing as a young woman who is following Jesus Christ. Does what I wear send off the correct message to the outside world that my body is a temple of the Living God? Secondly came the conviction of the media that I feed myself with. Listening to conversations within the group that I was with, I realized that feeding myself with Lana Del Rey's dramatic concept of relationships, Iggy Azalea's glorification of cash and sex, and many other artists that I have been so blindly supporting was in no way glorifying the God of the universe who created me to stand out from the world. Because of Jesus, I am set free from the chains of self idolization, sexual glorification and empty, loveless relationships. Because of Jesus I am urged to not camouflage myself in with the brokenness of this world.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This week, Jesus kept this verse on my heart and mind daily. On a week that was expected to be so full of pouring out and giving, the Holy Spirit radically changed areas of my heart with loving and pleading convictions.
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