In honor of my second round of ATL this month, I wanna share an awesome experience that my old team (Team Surrendered) did during one of our final days in Hanoi, Vietnam during our ATL month.
The 6 of us spent most of a day in our hostel room, pouring into each other by various means, and lifting each other up, and most importantly praying for one another. Afterwards we went out as a team for dinner and overall enjoyed fellowship with one another as we knew our time as Team Surrendered was coming to a close.
One of the things that we all did for one another was to do a listening prayer for each other during our hour of focus on that one teammate. In case you might not know what listening prayer is:
The idea of listening prayer is to spend some time talking to God and the rest of listening to his response, or sometimes the listening comes first and prayer second. Listening prayer is based on the concept of prayer as 2 way communication- we talk God talks. We would also pray on each other’s behalf for something specific that we had prayer for such as in my case I asked for my teammates to specifically prayer for God’s plan for me & grad school after the Race.
Here is what came out of my hour of my teammate’s prayer for me:
“You hear from me. Have confidence in the voice you hear. I have great and unsearchable plans for you. I will reveal them in their time. Rest in me. Spend time with me, enjoy adventures by my side. For together we will explore the true world. I love how you look to the future. I love your excitement for all the history has to offer. It’s a wonderful blend of remembrance and looking forward, but remember to also remain present. For I am in the moment with you. Look for me and my provision. I love you because I love you because I love you! You are so very special to me.
I just defeated Stance/turning away from negativity
“Surrender all to Jesus on repeat. Image of soldiers marching into battle. Bonnie was in the middle. There was safety in numbers and in order to have these numbers you have to surrender to the commander (Jesus). He will protect and honor your surrender.
” A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil, then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”-Ephesians 6:10-14
If you only have 1 or 2 pieces you can’t stand well against the devil. What you could be in Christ with the WHOLE armor on!
Acts 4: BOLDNESS Be bold in asking for armor and seeking it. And be aware of when aware when you are missing a piece.
Letting go/Dig deeper: Letting go of control and let God dig deeper into what God has for you in the moment. Image of a flower: you are sitting on one of the petals and God flicks you off of the petal. You soar into a field (God knows exactly where he is flicking you) FULL TRUST step in fully.
Grad School: stay focused now, its too early. (Got the answer to this last month in Albania)
“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.”-John 1:10, 26
” Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God the father, who created all the lights in the heavens, he never changes the shadow.”-James 1:17
Both verses have the word “recognize” he’s trying to reveal something to you but you haven’t recognized it yet. (Still working on trying to fully understand this, but I think I may have a idea of what this means to me, and what it is that God is trying to have me recognize.)
In the months since this, I have grown so much more in my faith, and have come to a few realizations about my faith journey and trying to be a more Christ like in my daily walk with him. I still have a long way to go, but I am learning more and more each day to lean on him.
Here’s to a better ATL month round 2 with a new team in a new country, and to what he may reveal to me this month!
Til next time your fellow sister in Christ,
Bonnie
Team SC
P Squad
Psalms 18:2
YOLO
