Looking Forward

29 days from now I will be embarking on a brand new journey... Bound for so many unknowns in a place where I have never been before.  I am overwhelmed with excitement, but as I start to put last touches on preparation,  everything is becoming much more real. 

Today, I received my Voluntary Separation Notification from work - Basically, I signed the papers that officially declare my resignation... And I am getting ready to send a substantial check over to Switzerland.  A check that I can't get back.  As these things came in, I started praying.  "Lord, am I ready for this?"  In about two seconds flat, the Lord reminded me of the verse in Luke 9 where he says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."  Wow.  If that's not firm confirmation, I'm not sure what is.  See, the more I walk with Jesus, the more that I find it is a process of boldly cutting off what is behind and running toward what is ahead.  Not out of logic, but out of resolute faith.

When Elisha was given the call to take Elijah's place as the prophet of Israel, he was plowing a field.  In a declaration of absolute surrender to the calling, he burned his plowing equipment and sacrificed the oxen he was plowing with.  He not only decided to follow Elijah, but he also made it impossible to go back.  His livelihood was gone, and it was gone out of choice.  Paul also talks about this in Philippians saying, "Forgetting what is behind, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

As God continues to prepare my heart for the next leg of the race, His voice continually tells me just to keep on walking.  So I will.  I will boldly put one step in front of the other, taking no thought to what I am leaving or what could happen because of it.  I am His, and I trust His path even when I cannot see exactly what that looks like.  Jesus - I am Yours.  Mold me, and make me, and let me fall even deeper in love with You.  The Cross before me, the world behind me.  No turning back.