Values & Heart Posture

What Are My Values?

JJ and I are reading together from ‘New Morning Mercies’ by Paul David Tripp.

This one specific passage really struck a chord in me recently:

“In grace, God leads you where you didn’t plan to go in order to produce in you what you couldn't achieve on your own. In these moments, He works to alter the values of your heart so that you let go of the little kingdom of one and give yourself to His kingdom of glory and grace.”

My goodness! "...let go of the little kingdom of one..."?

That statement stirred up so many questions in my heart:

• What exactly are the values of my heart?
• How do these values lead me to hold onto my "little kingdom"?
• How are these values affecting my heart posture during my transition to the mission field?

The Values of My Heart Before the DR

Let me first assure you, I never expected to be living in the Dominican Republic, let alone be a full-time missionary anywhere.

Before the DR, I worked as a local news producer for an NBC affiliate in a top 12 TV market.

Shameful to admit now, but I would sometimes catch myself boasting about my job position.

My mentality in the newsroom was simple: the harder I worked, the better show I would produce, and the better show I produced the more accolades and acknowledgements I would receive - not only from my coworkers and bosses, but also my family.

But all that hard work just left me feeling empty and alone.

The Values God is Showing Me Now

I want to be transparent - there is absolutely nothing wrong with working hard.

But lately I find God altering the values of my heart.

I no longer want to chase after what the world wants from me.

As I put my old work values behind me and yield more and more to God, He is leading me to a place I didn't plan on going, and producing in me a work I could never achieve on my own.

During this transition, I can feel my earthly dreams slowly slipping out of my fingers and being replaced by a desire for "His kingdom of glory and grace".❤

What's next?

I have no idea what exactly I will end up doing here in DR long-term. I will just continue to do what God puts on my heart each day as His plans unfold.

But I do know one thing for sure: I want nothing, if it means I can’t have Jesus, wholeheartedly.