There is definitely a difference between preparing for a school trip, and preparing to serve Jesus. Preparing to serve Jesus requires your whole self. There is an expectation on us to be prayerfully entering into this time of intensive Boot camp, where we will be needed to serve with excellence.
This is not singularly a time for personal development, while that is taking place as well, it is also a time to lay down our lives for the sake of our team and those we will be serving. It requires self-awareness and critical thought in order to engage the tasks set before you, a sensitivity to those around you, and a willingness to learn and receive correction.
This morning the group I was with had a time of prayer where we asked God to help us access his spirit as we go throughout the day in order to enact the surpassing power that the Holy Spirit gives us when we are faced with challenges and limitations. We acknowledged our need for him, and made a conscious decision to lift our eyes to Jesus. Preparing to serve Jesus requires a soft heart, which is something I have been praying for. I’ve felt called to show up differently this boot camp by holding onto contentment and joy, which are the secrets of the kingdom of God.
I’m only able to be content and filled with joy if I’m walking according to the spirit, and not gratifying the desires of the flesh. We had a time of prayer as a team a few days before internship started, where we went over Galatians 6 and discussed what it means to be a person who walks according to the Spirit. I am hoping that during this boot camp, I can walk according to the Spirit, denying my flesh, because I know that’s what it takes to follow after Jesus. I’m praying that the Word that I’ve learned will flow out of me as I know that this time for all of us will be testing. Just as Jesus submitted himself over to a time of testing in the wilderness before he entered into ministry, so are we. God will humble us to see what is in our hearts, and to see whether or not we will obey him, but I have faith in our team that we will choose obedience and hope that we can utilize the word in each of us to push eachother on to do well for the Lord.