In Step with the Spirit

Rachel Bailey |

Here at Vision Of Hope we’re immersed in the scripture, love, and sometimes hard truth of Jesus Christ from day one. We learn “step by step” how to deal with and see our sin for what it truly is. With the help of our counselors, who God is working through, we are able to turn away from our sinful desires, if we’re willing to live for the Lord through progressive sanctification.

This week marks a significant milestone in the timeline of my residency here at VOH. Although time doesn’t particularly matter, it has caused me to think about the way I am living out and utilizing the tools and lessons I’ve learned through scripture thus far.

I would love to say it’s been fantastic and that I’ve mastered everything I’ve learned and my life is magically perfect! Unfortunately, that is definitely not the case. Thinking through all of this, Galatians 5:16 came to mind, and it says, “But I say Walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Reality is, I can’t live certain ways or work hard in certain areas of my life because it’s what I’m working on in counseling, and then slowly allow it to fade out like a drawing on an “etch a sketch!” One day, I will no longer be within the walls of VOH and it will be ALL up to me whether or not I choose to live the way God has commanded of me.

Galatians 5:16 inspires me because I don’t want to have a ”fair weathered” relationship with God! I want to deny myself 100% for the Lord because He has done so much for me!  Just a few examples, for starters, and this one is the most important example, He died on the cross to pay for every single one of my screw ups! Well mine and everyone else’s in the world! But still, He loved us enough!

He has also blessed me with the most mind blowing opportunity to be in a setting where I can worship Him 100% of my time and get my life turned around through His strength and grace only! He could have left the door to this blessing closed but for some insane reason He chose not too and For that I am and will be forever grateful!

-Resident, 2013

 

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Rachel Bailey
I began my internship with Vision of Hope in January 2013. In my current understanding of God’s will for my life, I am pursuing wisdom and experience to one day work with women with eating disorders. My desire is to plant my feet in truth, while reaching my arms as far as I can toward the broken and hurting. With God’s help and guidance, I hope to become a godly woman and counselor to provide Truth-based counsel rather than “evidenced-based practice.” My life verse is Ecclesiastes 5:7 which says, “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God."