The power of prayer. The meaning of 1 Corinthians 12. The meaning of Proverbs 4:23. Discerning the Spirit. How to love. How to follow in HIS lead.
I have found myself constantly in prayer the last few days. I mean, i'm always in prayer, but it seems like these last few days I have been asked to pray for soooo many different things! Things that are not easy. Things that are affecting peoples lives. People who are dying or are on the verge of death. People who just plain need God! It's almost like a can feel God's hand upon the person/people I'm praying for, and that comfort is incredible!
That kind of leads into the next segment of what I have been learning in 1 Corinthians 12. It has been unreal the ways in which I have felt hurt for other members of the body. Especially this past week or two with so many people needing God so badly in their trials. My heart breaks for those who are going through the fire, for those who are having the toughest trials they will ever go through, and for those who are simply in desperate need of God yet they have no idea!
I lift those people up to a God who is more powerful that any circumstance. A God who already knows what is going to happen, yet still hears our prayers and takes those to heart! A God who wants to be our best friend in the hardest times in life, and who wants to invade our hearts with an unfailing love! Although we may not see His plan right now, He has proven Himself time and time again over the course of my life and for that reason I will continue to run unashamed to the foot of the cross where I lay my life down to be washed by His blood!
Guarding my heart has also been a difficult yet rewarding process this past month. I am blessed to have people who keep me accountable and who care enough to call out my sin, yet encourage me all in the same sentence! People who see the Spirit's work in my life, even when I cannot see it in myself. The things that I have experienced in the last several days are such a blessing. God has torn down preconceived walls in my heart about marriage, about dating, about life and about friendship! He wants us to be chasing after Him every second of the day, yet we fail to do that and we daily turn our backs on His unfailing love. Still, His forgiveness is real, everlasting, loving, unconditional, and it is ENOUGH!
I have really been praying the last few months about where God wanted me to work this summer. After much prayer, fasting, and listening, I feel called to once again work at Sonlight! A place where I can be myself. A place where God is more present than anywhere else. A place where the Spirit of God is upon you the second you step out of the car. A place built not on the foundation of worldly assets, but a foundation on CHRIST! I feel this bursting joy in my heart that amazing things are going to happen this summer. Things that have never happened at camp will happen this summer, God will open up the floodgates of His grace so that kids may experience the very presence of God here on earth!
Lastly, I have learned that without following Christ we will NEVER be able to lead anyone. If we are trying to lead on our own and we aren't first following the leader, than what good does it do? If we approach our leading with a heart of pride and power, we have no room to love on those who are following us! Without the love of Christ inside of us, leading someone is impossible because we lead imperfect people. People will disappoint you, people will turn on you, people will lie to you, people will turn their backs on you. But if you think about it this is exactly what we do to Christ every single day, yet God still welcomes us with open arms as if we never did any of those things! I have learned that we too need to forgive those who hurt us, so that Christ may shine His light through those situations!
If you are reading this, I want you to know today that you are a incredible creation! God looks at you and thinks "my son/daughter I am so proud of the path you are following/creating". He smiles down upon you with a love that moves mountains and makes demons tremble! He finds joy in YOU!!! No matter what you are going through right now, your Father in heaven has His arms open wide waiting for you to run into! He wants to comfort His children! Remember that Jesus didn't die for someone insignificant!
You are His. You are Loved.
-Jack
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