Isaiah 40:31 [The Amplified Bible]:
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
What an honor it is to be a part of a ministry that teaches the greatness of God and His Word ever so clearly, showing you the keys to walking the aligned path that God has graciously supplied us, with blessings on top of blessings day after day. Where does one begin to show gratitude for what He has done for us? In one year alone, I have watched as God has fulfilled my life beyond belief.
Ecclesiastes 3:11:
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
God has a plan for us all. Since the beginning of time, He has known everything that has happened and is to come for the rest of eternity! It is our job to trust in Him and thank Him for helping to keep us on that straight and narrow path that He has provided for us.
Being in the military, I’ve seen that a career is made through advancement by working diligently and standing out among your fellow service members. As a part of the household of God, we learn that we are all members in particular as we each play our own essential part in the Body of Christ. The same applies to any job, team, or ensemble. In the navy, advancement is done through job-specific testing exams and annual evaluations issued by your superiors, who rank you based on your work ethic and leadership skills, determining if you have what it takes to hold the responsibilities of the next rank.
Every day I go into work with an “I can do/Christ in me” mind-set, giving diligently and selflessly in each task that is assigned to me. As you walk with your love of God shining brightly, people can undoubtedly see that light as you immediately make any environment you’re in thrive. Through my living to give and driving to excel, my superiors recognized that and fought to ensure I earned the evaluation that I deserved to set me up for success as I prepared for my next exam, believing to score high enough to advance to the next rank.
After calculating each individual’s yearly progress, work ethic, and qualifications, I was blessed to receive the number one evaluation for my rank in my squadron! What an achievement to be recognized in such a manner, to be considered the top all-around professional at what I do. Now I could confidently prepare for my exam, knowing that I was ready to hold the responsibilities of the next rank.
II Peter 3:8 [The Amplified Bible]:
Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
God’s timing is impeccable. As I got ready to transfer to my next command, it was also time for me to decide whether or not I wanted to reenlist for another term of service. I love serving my country, and God sure has helped make my experience greater than any other. I know without a doubt that this is the path He needs me on, so I agreed to sign for another contract. Well with no surprise, God supplied again, and for the first time in eight years, my superiors offered my job a reenlistment bonus—right in time for me to reap the benefits!
Two days before my reenlistment date, my chief called me back into work, stating that it was very urgent and to come in wearing a clean uniform. Typically, this is not something I’d want to hear, but knowing that there was nothing I had to be worried about, I went back in, speaking in tongues for whatever God had in store for me. As I got into work, my commanding officer was there to congratulate and meritoriously promote me to the next rank. What an honor this was! For my command of 1,200 people, I was 1 of 12 people to get advanced to the next rank and 1 of 4 for my specific rank. A meritorious promotion is simply just that. My hard work and will to give and serve stood out among the rest, and my chain of command believed that I earned a new rank without having to take and see how well I did on an exam.
Timing could not have been better. By getting promoted, this also increased my bonus when I reenlisted two days later, and God continued to let the blessings pour in! If I hadn’t gotten promoted until after I reenlisted, my bonus would have stayed the same as before, but God was able to provide exceeding abundantly above (Ephesians 3:20) for me. As we live with “Ephesians 3:20/20 vision,” we will see everything that God is able to do for us each day.
In just a few short weeks, all of these things came to pass. This isn’t even a dent in my list of victories, and I am so grateful to be a part of a ministry that shows how to live an abundant life as we walk in love day by day. Without being raised in The Way Ministry, I most certainly would not be where I am today, nor have the relationship with God that I do. I look forward to someday raising a family in the Word the same way I was, and to continue to watch just how great God works.
I John 4:4:
…because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.