Sarah
This trip to Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle Camp was not just an ordinary trip for me.
At first, I thought I was simply going to attend a prayer gathering with many other people, enjoy the scenery, and then go home.
Although the day was short, God was able to let me experience so many things in just one day.
He opened my eyes to see things that I had never truly understood before.
God taught me how to love.
Not because someone is kind to me, so I love them.
Not because someone deserves my love, so I love them.
But because God loved us first.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me the opportunity to be here.
Thank You for this valuable journey and for everything You are teaching me through it.
Thank You for teaching me how to love.
Not to judge others, but to love one another.
To understand Your creation—to see every person as someone created in Your image.
Thank You for Your unconditional love.
Your love can melt the ice in the hardest heart.
Your love can bring warmth to a broken world.
Your love can overcome the darkness.
Father, You said,
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
I did not understand this before.
But now, I think I am beginning to understand.
I hear Your gentle and loving voice saying:
“My child, I am speaking to you.
Yes, you.
I am not asking you to destroy your enemy.
I am using even this difficult situation to teach you, to strengthen you, and to train you.
Because I have chosen you to follow Me.
I have chosen you to become more like My Son, Jesus.
I have chosen you—not your enemy.
Do not allow what someone has done to you to determine who you become.
Let Me use this experience to teach you love.
Let Me use it to teach you forgiveness.
Let Me use it to teach you patience.
Let Me use it to make you more like Jesus.
Father, thank You for the amazing and unique ways You teach me.
Sometimes I do not understand why You allow certain things to happen.
But now I see that You can use even the painful moments to train my heart and draw me closer to You.
Thank You for choosing me.
Thank You for loving me.
Thank You for teaching me.
Help me not to respond with hatred when I am hurt.
Help me not to judge when I do not understand.
Help me to see people through Your eyes.
Teach me to love as Jesus loved.
May Your love melt every frozen heart,
overcome every darkness,
and bring light where there is pain.
Father, I surrender this journey to You.
Make me more like Jesus.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.