Blog slightly taken from my personal quiet time.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
John 15:26-28
I rummaged through my Bible this morning to find where I should read next. With my head clouded and heart distracted, I realized maybe it’s time for a new Bible Plan. Interestingly, there’s a Bible Plan saved on my phone that I haven’t started yet. The title is “A New Beginning”.
I closed the app and argued with the Lord how I don’t want a new beginning. If I get a new beginning, that would mean the 3-month mission trip is finally closed! But I have so many things yet to do: finish all my videos for OMF, write blogs, post content. I argued that accepting this “New Beginning” would mean that that chapter will be gone with the clouds.
I was wrong though. Yokatta.
Here’s everything I wrote:
A New Beginning
I actually do not want a new beginning *o* but yes, I have to let go of those 3 months. That is nothing compared to the 3 years the disciples experienced with Jesus.
I’m worried about not remembering, especially that I have work left to do but v.26 promised that the Holy Spirit is with me to teach me and bring in remembrance (what a beautiful phrase) all the lessons Jesus taught me while I was on my mission trip. So that worry is answered and solved.
[[Another realization: Remember when the disciples went back to fishing after Jesus died on the cross? I felt that way as I started to design for my clients again. It felt like gosh I’m back to my old life again. BUT! But that’s not how I should be anymore. God made me a new person for the past 3 months I did the ministry. So I may go back to my “old” work but it’s no longer the “old” Rachel. I’m the new Rachel He formed, taught, and ministered to while I was in Japan. I can now boldly preach Christ because I’ve experienced Him and His miracles for the past 3 months.]]
Promise of Peace
Lord, I will always have your peace. This reminded me of 평화 and 강산 with the former’s name meaning “Peace” in Korean. Your peace is much greater though. It is Your peace that holds everything together in order. It is Your peace that shuts chaos out of our hearts and out of this world. Your peace is within me. This is why I don’t have to panic or worry… or be afraid. Your peace will hold me together. ♥︎
Promise of His Spirit
Lord, Your ascension meant that the Holy Spirit will come. Your going away meant that You will be with our Father, your #1. You are so good that You didn’t leave us as orphans. We have your Spirit. And that Spirit will always be in us until we see you face to face.
Moving Forward
After writing this devotional, I felt at peace, free, and joyful again. As Meg shared with me earlier today:
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
Isaiah 43:19,20c-21
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert…
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.
If I keep dwelling on the past (in my case, missing all the people), I would never be able to move forward. I would edit and write with sadness in my heart instead of joy and gratefulness.
I thank God that He knows us and our needs. I thank God that He corrected my heart. I thank God for His Spirit that richly dwell in our hearts. Indeed, we lack nothing because we have Him.