I know I have not written a blog in a while on here and I have sort of gotten off track from my what is love series. I want to share with you an incredible experience that happened to me last night (1/31/18) at a worship and prayer night event called "Contend."
I had an opportunity to go to this event with a few people from my young adult small group from church. We met up and carpooled. This epic evening would begin in my car. I arrived early to meet up with people, so I spent some time praying. I also texted a few friends to be praying for me during this event as I sensed something big was going to happen. After praying, I got onto fb a bit and stumbled across a post from a Pastor. This post, I really believed God was speaking to me and telling what He was going to be doing, and really, has been doing in my life. I shall share this quote with you as I have been given permission to do so.
"In Christ we are FREE. Almost always when this word is used in the Bible it's referring to freedom from an oppressive enemy kingdom. In the gospels, that oppressive enemy kingdom is demonic.
Any person, truth, or movement that makes us feel annoyed, like we wanna run or downright angry could be an indicator of a certain kind of spiritual captivity within us. The enemy of bondage is freedom. When freedom is coming your way and something in you rises up to resist it, ask yourself "Why?" Bondage wants to be left alone, comfortably settled in a religious paradigm bereft of any kingdom power or freedom. It's always an iron barred circus of confusion, accusation, justification and excuses.
Bondage sometimes rises up in anger as freedom approaches. The kind of anger that literally pushes Jesus to the edge of a cliff out of furious offense, ready to be rid heaven's Champion. Freedom is the result of embracing truth...that's why bondage so fiercely opposes it. A person living in freedom should exude the joy of holiness, self-control, hope, and awe-struck wonder..."
~ Pastor Bryan Finley
Last night, during epic worship, prayer, and inspirational words from the Lord, I was filled with such an amazing amount of joy. Much needed joy that I have not felt in quite some time. Off and on I struggle with depression and lately it has been hitting me hard. The whole month of December in particular was brutal and it brought me to an extremely low place. To anyone reading this who struggles with depression, I am so sorry. Hang in there. Joy will come, keep fighting!
The joy that the Lord filled me with, it felt like new life was breathed into me. Now, have I been completely healed of depression? I am not so sure that I have but I am in a great place right now and experiencing such joy!
One of my favorite bands has an amazing worship song that really sums it up. Please look up the song ( there are two versions of it. The non acoustic one is the better version) it is amazing!!
"If you can hold the stars in place/You can hold my heart the same/Whenever I fall away/Whenever I start to break/So here I am lifting up my heart/If you can calm the raging sea/You can calm the storm in me/You're never too far away/You never show up too late/So here I am lifting up my heart/to the one who holds the stars" ~Stars by Skillet
Such an amazing song!
Something I noticed even early on in the evening is that God has been working and is working in me is being less socially awkward. Around some people I knew and people I didn't and were introduced to, God really worked in me to be aware of how to engage people, be more confident and outgoing. It was a big confident booster for me.
Another really cool thing that happened was that God pulled me into worship with just Him and I. Sometimes I can get really distracted when I am in a worship with God, but on this night, for the most part, I was able to focus on my time with God and it was an awesome experience!
This event was a prayer answered in itself. For a few months now, I have had a desire to be apart of some kind of big movement or a worship and prayer time in a large group setting. So for me, I felt God heard my prayer and honored it and that He notices and sees me. My spirit was definitely lifted by that!
As you have noticed, God did a lot in me last night! I believe he showed me some areas in my life that He is refining and revealing some of the shackles that I have been ensnared by. He showed me that he has been and is working in me to remove those shackles and I definitely felt some shackles come off last night and experienced some freedom! It was pretty awesome!!
Some other things that happened was that God gave me hope again. He gave me hope for the younger generation, for the college campuses all over and a new hope for this country. He made me feel like I was apart of something big and that I have a part to play in the exciting things to come.
I am so amazed by last night and by God and what He did! I am so thankful for being placed around people who care about me and my walk in the Lord and that they shared this event with me. I am so thankful for the body of Christ last night who stepped up and demonstrated God's love and made me feel apart and wanted!
I truly hope whoever reads this will be encouraged and blessed.
