I’ve been trying to find the words to write this blog for the past few days, but, of course, it’s not until I’m up to my elbows in all things packing that the Lord reveals what I’m supposed to write.
As many of you know, I’ll be getting on a plane tomorrow to join my team in Georgia for a few days before the big travel day to Swaziland!
If I’m being honest, I’ve been in a constant battle to stand firm that ‘the work that the Lord has begun, He will be faithful to complete’. I KNOW in my soul, because I’ve experience this truth in my life so many times already…but in my head I can’t find a logical way for it to happen this time.
My team is ready to make their way to Swaziland–they have their plane tickets purchased, their support is all in.
On the flip side of that: I don’t have my plane ticket purchased, and I need $1,200 in monthly support.
Living with that in my face, the enemy has been trying to make such an intense doubt form that he could get me to back away from the Lord’s plan for my life. I hadn’t really made any steps to prepare to leave–how could I leave when I’m still $1,200/month away from having 100% support?? That means I’m that far away from being able to get on a plane to go to Swaziland.
My room was in the same condition it’s always been in–fully furnished, books on all the shelves, clothes in all the drawers…it’s my space.
That is, until I was listening to a podcast the other night, and the Lord used something that was said to convict me. Five simple words: FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS DEAD.
When I heard those words, the Lord said: “Ashley, look around you. You have been speaking of your faith that I will bring you to be fully funded so that you can leave with your team, but you haven’t done anything to be ready for that to happen. You aren’t packed. You’re settling in. Your words say that I will make this all happen. Your actions say that you expect Me to fail you. I need you to pack your bags, dear one. Pack your bags for Swaziland, and go to Georgia. Pack like you already have your plane ticket, and you’re ready to go.“
And so, I’ve packed my bags for Swaziland, and I’ve packed my room away like I don’t plan on coming back home.
This little act is actually one of the most faith-stretching things I have done. If I’m being honest, it’s SO intimidating! But I feel so at peace having done it.
So, in the next 24 hours, I’ll be getting on a plane for Georgia, ready for Swaziland. And I’ll continue to wait in expectation for what the Lord does over the next few days!
With love,
Ash
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————–If you finish reading this, and feel the Lord leading you to be a part of bringing in that last $1,200 of monthly support to send me to Swaziland with my team, then I want to invite you to say yes–to join this journey and what the Lord is doing around the world, and to be a part of it all…because He wants to use each of us in this. You are such a vital role in sending His hands and feet to reach out to the nations
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