What's Your Passion?
The definition of passion is a powerful or compelling feeling or emotion. I don't know if that definition does justice to what I refer to when I say "my passions". When I explain the things I'm passionate about, it is the things that are written on my heart to do; the things that satisfy my soul, the things I have to do because I can't stand not doing them...my passions are the built-in tugs the Lord created me with.
I can remember in High School people would ask me what my passion (sigular) was. I used to get frustrated because I was always hopping from one to another, but couldn't seem to put them in an order of least to greatest...they were all just in a horizontal line. Let me show you what I mean; these are the deep-rooted passions of my heart; the lives and situations I want to be sent into:
These are the people I dearly, dearly love...those I am drawn to with unstoppable force. It seems like the worse off they are, the more compassion swells in my heart...the more determined I am to be used by God. My heart aches for people on the street...for those trapped in addiction, and for those who think there is no hope or have given up, for children who are starving, for girls trapped in the sex-trade, for those who have experienced loss, for people who are near death and know it, for people that others overlook...my list goes on and on. My heart is to fight for their lives...psychically, yes, but more importantly, spiritually. Something inside me burns to invest in these people. I don't see them as worse than anyone else...they are just like me; a sinner. I have to bring Christ to my world...have to share what He did and what He wants to do. Have to offer hope, love, hugs, and prayers...I HAVE to give in this way. I can't explain it, but it's wired into me. Sometimes I feel like most people around me don't quite understand this part of me. They think I just like to be too busy or am addicted to volunteering...it's so much more than that. It's Kingdom work...it's making my life about the ONLY thing that matters...sharing Christ and growing in Him. What else do we have after we die? What else is there to live for?
I have found that when I make Him my #1 pursuit, and spend my time adoring Him, He places me time and time again in the middle of His work. Not because I deserve it, but just because I was willing and God is amazingly gracious. I can't explain what it is like to walk away from a conversation, a hug, a prayer and know that God stuck you there and used you. THE coolest thing about Him using us is that as He pours through us into someone, we benefit from all that passes through us to them too! It is pretty awesome...not that we set out to gain something for ourselves as we pour into others, but it is just so amazing to me how God does that. Some of the times in my life when God has moved in the greatest ways through me have been when I felt like I was running on empty and had nothing to give. It's not about us and what we have to give; it never has been. It's always been about what we allow Him to do in and through us. And what a relief!!! I try to remember to ask myself, "What am I allowing God to do through me, and what areas of my life am I pushing Him out and snuffing out what He'd like to do through me?" God is always looking for willing vessels. I don't want to be skipped over because I was too consumed with the things of the world that really don't matter.
God, give me a heart to love as You do, to be changed by You daily, to see and fill needs, and to be used by You to do things that bring glory to Your name. Let my life speak YOU.
I can remember in High School people would ask me what my passion (sigular) was. I used to get frustrated because I was always hopping from one to another, but couldn't seem to put them in an order of least to greatest...they were all just in a horizontal line. Let me show you what I mean; these are the deep-rooted passions of my heart; the lives and situations I want to be sent into:
Abused & neglected children/youth
Homeless people
Photography
Drug addicts/alcoholics
Speaking to groups of people/preaching
People living in poverty
Those with terminal illness
People in jail/prison
Disaster relief/medical assistance
Abused people
Praying with and for people
Counseling
Giving to people who can't or don't "give back"
Elderly people
Forgotten people
These are the people I dearly, dearly love...those I am drawn to with unstoppable force. It seems like the worse off they are, the more compassion swells in my heart...the more determined I am to be used by God. My heart aches for people on the street...for those trapped in addiction, and for those who think there is no hope or have given up, for children who are starving, for girls trapped in the sex-trade, for those who have experienced loss, for people who are near death and know it, for people that others overlook...my list goes on and on. My heart is to fight for their lives...psychically, yes, but more importantly, spiritually. Something inside me burns to invest in these people. I don't see them as worse than anyone else...they are just like me; a sinner. I have to bring Christ to my world...have to share what He did and what He wants to do. Have to offer hope, love, hugs, and prayers...I HAVE to give in this way. I can't explain it, but it's wired into me. Sometimes I feel like most people around me don't quite understand this part of me. They think I just like to be too busy or am addicted to volunteering...it's so much more than that. It's Kingdom work...it's making my life about the ONLY thing that matters...sharing Christ and growing in Him. What else do we have after we die? What else is there to live for?
I have found that when I make Him my #1 pursuit, and spend my time adoring Him, He places me time and time again in the middle of His work. Not because I deserve it, but just because I was willing and God is amazingly gracious. I can't explain what it is like to walk away from a conversation, a hug, a prayer and know that God stuck you there and used you. THE coolest thing about Him using us is that as He pours through us into someone, we benefit from all that passes through us to them too! It is pretty awesome...not that we set out to gain something for ourselves as we pour into others, but it is just so amazing to me how God does that. Some of the times in my life when God has moved in the greatest ways through me have been when I felt like I was running on empty and had nothing to give. It's not about us and what we have to give; it never has been. It's always been about what we allow Him to do in and through us. And what a relief!!! I try to remember to ask myself, "What am I allowing God to do through me, and what areas of my life am I pushing Him out and snuffing out what He'd like to do through me?" God is always looking for willing vessels. I don't want to be skipped over because I was too consumed with the things of the world that really don't matter.
God, give me a heart to love as You do, to be changed by You daily, to see and fill needs, and to be used by You to do things that bring glory to Your name. Let my life speak YOU.
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