An exciting adventure
It’s almost August! Soon many of our recent high school graduates will set off on an exciting adventure–one that can also be scary because life is suddenly very different.
When is the last time you set off on an exciting life adventure?
- Graduation
- New job
- Marriage
- Children
- Mission work
- Career change
- Retirement
- Other?
Were you scared?
Changes can be hard–and terrifying. Changes can affect our lives in the most profound ways. Consider the most important change–Giving our lives to Christ when we accept Him as our Savior.
The greatest gift
As an immeasurable act of love, God sent Jesus to us to provide the gift of salvation–to save us from our sins–to grant us eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV*)
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)
We don’t deserve this amazing gift of love, but God grants it anyway. And . . . we make the choice to accept this gift of love and life by professing our belief in our Savior, the One who shed His blood for us, to cover the guilt of our sin.
Furthermore, we enter into a personal relationship with our Lord when we accept His sacrifice.
Oswald Chambers writes about the enormity of God’s gift of salvation:
“But salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God’s personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself, I am caught up in the abandonment of God.
Beware of talking about abandonment if you know nothing about it, and you will never know anything about it until you have realized that John 3:16 means that God gave himself absolutely. In our abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave himself over for us, without any calculation. The consequences of abandonment never enter into our outlook because our life is taken up with Him.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest**
We are forever changed when we accept salvation and give ourselves to God. What a wonderful and exciting adventure we’ll have with our Lord!
An exciting adventure
What do we do about this exciting adventure we’re on with Jesus?
- We share the love of Jesus with others.
- We let the Light of Christ shine through our interactions with others.
- The story of God’s love is important–we tell the world about the gift of salvation.
- Love God with abandonment–as He loves us.
God is with us on this exciting, exhilarating, and exuberant adventure to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. I’m praying for you, my friends.
I hope you will join me in prayer for our first-year students as they begin this next exciting chapter in their lives. May they Stay the Course–with God on their faith journey–and to successfully survive and thrive in their first year.
*All scripture is from the NIV
**Oswald Chambers. (1994). My Utmost for His Highest, “The Abandonment of God,” March 13, Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, OH.
Stay the Course: A Devotional Handbook to Survive and Thrive in Your First Year of College (and Beyond)
Each new school year brings its own challenges. We do need to pray for our students, not just at the beginning of the year but always. May God’s spirit pour out in campuses everywhere.
I’m so grateful for your prayers, Barbara. Our students, teachers, and parents need our prayers and support. You are a blessings, my friend!
I pray for God’s guidance in the lives of all our students.
Thank you, Diana. I join you in that prayer for students and add an extra one for teachers and parents. Our children and young adults are precious gifts from God and I’m so grateful for His tender care, guidance, and protection.
Each time I drive past a school in session, I lift both students and teachers in prayer as I recall those days I spent inside a classroom or on a playground with students. This year, I have a first-year college grandson who will be prayed for. He has a copy of your book to take with him in two weeks!
What a wonderful way to pray for our students and teachers, Candyce. Thank you! I’m praying for your grandson and all our first year students. I know he will do well. Peace and blessings!
Joining you today in prayer. I remember the excitement of starting a new school year.
I was always excited for each new year, too, both as a student and when I began teaching. Each year was special and unique. I was blessed with wonderful teachers and students. Thank you for your prayers, Debbie.
Praying for God’s guidance for our students and teachers this coming school year!
Thank you for your prayers, Sarah, and for visiting my blog this week. Wishing you a blessed week!
Praying for the new adventures of our students. One of my granddaughters starts kindergarten this year. Praying for the families too with all the changes.
I’m so grateful for your prayers, Yvonne. Praying all goes well for your little one starting kindergarten. That’s such a wonderful and exciting experience. Peace and blessings!