Sunday morning in Israel. Almost every one of the other people at Jerusalem University College went to church this morning. I didn't. I slept in. And believe me, it felt glorious. Sometimes I feel like being typically "unholy" is much better spiritual discipline than being typically "holy."
I don't usually like to go really deep into spiritual or theological matters here. However, something important happened to me this week that I want to discuss.
Those that know me well know that what is probably the most important thing to me is my family. I have a rather large family, and several people who count as family despite not being related by blood. Because my family is so important to me, I find it very difficult to do too many things without my family. When I first moved away for school, it was one of the most tumultuous times in my life. It has gotten better since then, but for several reasons I have found myself very eager to be at home in the past few months.
At the beginning of this week, I traveled for two full days from Minnesota to Grand Rapids to Chicago to Istanbul to Tel Aviv and finally to Jerusalem. Incredible opportunity as this is, I found myself terribly homesick. I didn't find this that unusual.
One day, though, it got really bad. I was able to skype with my mom, sister, cousin and nephews (which is an incredible blessing), and I found myself practically weeping due to my desperate wish to be with them instead of just talking with them.
I told my mom that I was unable to sleep and that when I should've been sleeping all I could think about was being at home. My mom told me that I was in a spiritual battle, and that she had spoken to several people that were going to be praying for me during the day and while I slept that night. I went to sleep that night, soon after I talked with my mom. Although I didn't sleep perfectly, I slept much better. I woke the next day with a much more optimistic attitude.
I truly believe that my mom was right, and that a spiritual battle was won that night. I have been much more excited about where I am and the opportunity I have in the past few days. Satan preys on our weaknesses, and one of mine is that I am perhaps too dependent upon those that I love. I thank Jesus and I thank so many prayer warriors for what happened that night as I slept. Due to my physical and emotional exhuastion, there is no way I would have been able to do that on my own.
I am excited to spend the next two weeks in the holy land. And I am excited to be able to say that I am actually excited.
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