Entering Into The Land

I wrote the first part of this 3 weeks ago.

I've been in South Korea for 4 months.  I've been living here, working here, doing church here, my life built around being here, but until this weekend, I didn't feel like I had fully entered into this land. 

Something about Korea drew me here, I had alot of seperate pieces as to what I was doing here, but it was like I was still wandering around like the Israelites in the wilderness.

I took a 3 hour train ride north and met up with two friends who were passing through Seoul and a now friend, who lives just outside of Seoul.  We spent an afternoon catching up, getting to know each other, we then went on a crazy adventure into the heart of the city.  With another new Korean friend (to me) for a guide, he shared about some Korean history as we walked around and as we shared a delicious meal together.

In all these conversation Jesus was already revealing that my heart was both confused and closed off in places .  I was trying to be enthusiatic and passionate in the way that drove me through all the hurdles it took to get here but I didn't know what I was doing.  It was like trying to ride a bicycle in mud and in many ways I was about to call it quits, put my head down and just survive the rest of my time in Korea.

I saw how I was taking offense at so many little things.  I let them bother me, irritate me so that I didn't want to understand the poeple and the land.  But I watched my friends see this place and people with joy.  They prayed the heart of God over me and in that I could see the places I had hardened.

The more we talked, the more they prayed, my heart got set free, and I could see more clearly.  I felt welcomed into this land.  To explore it, to love its people, to pray for it.

_______________________________________________________
Now 3 weeks after I first wrote this I am still seeing God open my heart to this land.  Especially the region where I live in Naju and Gwangju, which has its own story.  A story of fighting against injustice and oppression.  Something that resonates with my own story.

I stood on the mountain today overlooking most of Naju and God spoke to my heart of how the heart of this place and my own heart are intertwined.  As their voices begin to cry out, my own voice cries out for Jesus as never before. As I begin to yield in a new way to God's authority and understand the measure that I carry His authority as a co-heir, At the same time in this land I see a spirit of rebellion that has risen up in the place of the spirit of contention that marked their uprising against injustice and oppression.  I pray, God's true authority will be revealed.  And we are both called to a new level of surrender in God's sovereign plan. 

This is my place.  Not striving but living and breathing.  Come Lord Jesus,  show me more of this land.