While we have been here in Costa Rica these six months, I have been spiritually encouraged and strengthened through so many things. I know that the main encourager has been Jesus, and I want to thank Him for the ways He has changed me. The other reasons why I have been encouraged are because we have had so much time to process and concentrate on God and His Word. Daily devotionals with Him have been made into a top priority in our lives. The fact that we have had so much time has allowed us to read encouraging resources and grasp what the Lord is calling us to do through them. I am beyond grateful for all of the ways He has graciously transferred us closer and closer to His throne.
Because it has just been our family together for these last six months and there hasn’t been busyness involved in our daily lives, we have had more time to focus on the most important things. We have tons of time in the Word and also have had time to contemplate God in the many activities we have done. I have developed a deeper appreciation for my parents and their Godly influence, insights, and teachings, and it has been such a delight to have so many in-depth conversations, learning and hearing from them. Time was a important factor of all of the incredible moments I was blessed with to share with both Mom and Dad. I have recently come to a broader understanding that time is a cherished gift from the Lord; we only have so much of it on this Earth! I have no doubt that this time was used to mature and stretch me for the dynamic work in the Kingdom of God.
Daily devotionals, which are by far my favorite part of the day, strengthen and rejuvenate my soul. It has become a daily passion and spending time with Jesus is now a desired and long-lasting habit in my daily walk. I am currently reading through the entire Bible, and what a joy it has been! My daily devotional time has been deeply impacted by incorporating reflective worship music into my quiet times because it puts me into a worshipful and humble mood before the Lord. I feel closer and closer to Jesus because of spending quality time with Him in His word!
Having nothing but time has allowed us as a family to dig into the inspiring messages provided to us through different Christian resources. I have recently read two very faith sharpening books: Will Our Generation Speak? (A call to be bold with the Gospel), and Jon Blooms book Not by Sight, which is full of enriching stories of the faithful people in Bible. I took heaps of notes and was very encouraged to deeply understand the Bible and to let its satisfying message penetrate my soul. Another very impactful study my family and I journeyed through together was called Peacemakers. It gave us a very fresh look at the concept of resolving conflict and honoring God in the way we communicate with one another. I will never forget all of the things I learned from it, and highly recommend it to all families! God keeps laying beautiful tools for us to use in order to draw near to Him on our laps.
All the Glory to God! These six months have had such a immense impact on me; I can’t believe how blessed I’ve been to be a part of them! The Lord has definitely walked with me, hand in hand, and has stretched my faith. Jesus has never failed to nourish me with His beautiful Word. I have felt His presence more strongly than ever, and my relationship with Him is the strongest it has ever been! I am awed at the ways He can speak to us and grow us to become more and more like Him!
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