Whenever I think that using my own strength and ideas I have God
figured out, He shows me somehow that I don’t, that I’m wrong, that He
has bigger and better things in store for me.
I was finally
getting used to Byron Bay, even after a 4 hour crazy but wonderful
church service on Sunday and a great time of worship Monday morning, I
went into our 24 hours of prayer ready, or so I thought. God showed
several of us that beginning this week off with 24 hours of prayer,
worship and conversations on the beach was where He wanted some of us.
And I honestly thought I was going to have some great conversations and
be able to dance and worship and pray.
![20240_281319237059_513617059_3900408_4448861_n[1]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4326968692_739507ed66_o.jpg)
with God for three hours. I couldn’t move, I felt a little paralyzed
and I was also uneasy. So I sat and talked with God for three hours on
that rock. Several teammates came and talked with me and I did learn
from them, but I still felt as though I wasn’t sure what God wanted me
to do here, in Byron Bay.
I didn’t make it 24 hours on the beach. Seven brave and awesome
teammates of mine stayed up and got to have some incredible
conversations with people. They saw God that night, and God also used
that as a turning point for them. But I couldn’t do it, so I walked
back to my tent and slept for a few hours. I returned to the group in
the morning, refreshed and feeling a little bit more at peace. But God
was not done with me yet. I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do.
In the morning, I knew I needed to go back to the beach and rejoin
the group. It was encouraging to hear their stories of people they had
talked with, some for hours, about Jesus. I was doing better, even
though God still had something in mind for me.
He called me back to the rock, the same one I had already been on
for three hours and he told me to read Isaiah. Several years ago, I had
tried to read through the Bible, and Isaiah was where I got stuck and
never finished. So I read, and I knew I needed to read this in one
sitting. So I was on that rock for another three hours on Tuesday. And
through my squad leader coming and talking to me and Brook talking with
me as I read, God showed me what He wanted me to do this month. This
was his idea, not mine.
Prayer.
![19241_278022669610_505014610_3339325_121083_n[1]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4333999374_683575d6df_o.jpg)
was, not far from the most eastern point in Australia, and God was
telling me to pray. Pray for Byron Bay. Pray for these people. Pray for
everyone on your team and your squad and the others that minister here.
This is a place where it is easy to get distracted, so be disciplined
and pray.
And as soon as God told me that, a wave of peace washed over me. I
knew that prayer was my thing this month. And not my normal, nice
prayers, but BOLD prayers. I am here to fight for people through
prayer. God is stretching me in this, and it is not going to be easy,
but I am learning to fight for people through my prayers. And I trust
that since God has called me to this, that He will also give me the
words to say. He reigns.
My eyes have been opened to the importance of prayer, consistent
prayer as well as seeking God. So I ask that you join me and the others
I am serving with in praying and fighting for Byron Bay.
“To
the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” –
Jude 1:25
For stories on some of the people my team has met during our time in Byron Bay, please check out my team’s blogs at:
www.brookarmistead.theworldrace.org
www.christinelouie.theworldrace.org
www.emilygilchrist.theworldrace.org
www.johnjones.theworldrace.org
www.jakekennedy.theworldrace.org
