Introductions & such...

HEY :)! I'm Zakia & this is my story. I am a 21 year old college student, and I guess you could say I'm not your "stereotypical" college student. But, I used to be until approximately one year ago when my world was radically changed by Jesus Christ. However, for you to understand I'll have to go a little farther back....I was raised in a Christian home. My mother and grandmother served the Lord, FAITHFULLY! They are archetypal role models of women of God. They taught me Psalm 23 the moment I started talking, and I have had Matthew 28:19-20 memorized as long as I can remember (this will be important later!). However, despite this amazing blessing I never got to know Christ for myself. 

I have spent most of my life seeking fulfillment, worth, and attention in various avenues. I have tried people-pleasing, drinking, drugs, sex, men, my body, my accomplishments, and relationships. NONE of these worked. They would sustain for a very temporal moment, but at the end of the day I was empty. I was insecure. I was confused. I was hurting, and worst of all I did not even know it. I did not love myself. Therefore, I did not think anyone else could love me. Needless to say my life before Christ was painful and dark, and the worst part is I did not even realize it. I had heard many times about God's love, and I believed in my head that He was there and He loved me. However, my heart wanted nothing to do with this truth. 

This all changed in February of 2012. A visiting Pastor at my current church preached a sermon on the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15. However, He preached it as the "Prodigal God." To give a quick overview the prodigal son refers to a child who had it all. He was the son of a king with an amazing inheritance waiting on him. However, he decided he wanted his inheritance early. His father gave it to him, and the son went away and squandered away his inheritance on useless things (that did not sustain him!). I had heard this story countless times. I had even read it for myself before. However, this day was different. The pastor taught it with emphasis on the father and his response to his son's actions (it's a GREAT depiction of God's love. I totally encourage you to read it!). This spoke DIRECTLY to my heart. For the first time I had a real connection with God's love, not only in my mind but in my heart. I did not fully understand it, and I still don't. But in that moment all I knew was the joy, fullness, and peace that overwhelmed me when I rededicated my life to Christ. That day I began a personal relationship with Christ that I am still growing in today. 

Fast forward through this intense period of growing over the past year.... Today, I am a totally different person. I am far from perfect. I fall everyday, but now I have God's grace to pick me up everyday. Sometimes, I forget God loves me. Sometimes, I forget that He is the lover of my soul and my portion forever. Sometimes, I forget He is my Husband (Isaiah 54:5). But through it all He relentlessly pursues my heart. I am on a journey to coming to know Him more intimately, and it is such a joyous (and sometimes painful) ride. I love Him because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). 


Now, that I've sufficiently told you about who I am (maybe more than you cared to know :)) I can get to the point of this blog. First of all, people keep telling me that I am a good writer (judge for yourself), and I would hate to waste a gift the Lord has given me. Secondly, remember my statement about Matthew 28:19-20 being important?? Well, I am beginning a journey in learning to walk this out in my daily life. It says "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Through this blog I hope to allow you an inside peak as I learn to walk this commandment out daily. I'll be posting about my journey as a bible study group leader (and the struggles that come along with that position), any  mission trip opportunities, as well as any Word the Lord lays on my heart to share. I hope that my journey encourages someone else to persevere through theirs <3 <3! Until next time!

"The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few" Matthew 9:37