When God’s People Pray…

…..The Holy Spirit moves like crazy. It is amazing to see how throughout the history of the church, when God’s people have truly sought Him in prayer and asked Him to move in amazing ways, Spiritual Awakenings have happen. You see this in the New Testament, the Reformation, the Great Awakening, and so many more.

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2Chr. 7:14)

Last Wednesday, we felt that the Lord was leading us to take a day fasting and prayer for the youth, the community, and new song ministries. It was really amazing because separately the Holy Spirit put a picture in all of our heads of what He was looking to do in this area and when we came back together, we were all overjoyed to see that the pictures were the same. God is moving so greatly in the community and we believe this area is in the middle of a Kingdom awakening.

What was really cool also was a few of the youth took notice of us doing this and were blown away by it. Most of these kids are lukewarm in their faith, but God really started doing something in their hearts and they told us that they wanted to participate in a day of prayer and fasting as well. We were blown away and totally down for round two!!!

Friday night rolled around and we had been planning the youth service. It was going to be a time of worship, slight teaching on living in the light (1john) , and breaking up the guys and girls for a bit to talk about the need for community and authenticity. Afterwards we gave them sheets of paper and asked them to write on the paper what they were struggling with and holding onto. They took these pieces of paper and carried them to a bonfire we had set up in the field where there was a cross set up as well. Tiffany gave a short talk on laying down our sin and burdens at the cross of Christ and then they attached their pieces of paper to some wood and threw them in the fire.

It was amazing. These student’s hearts were being moved so strongly by God and they were crying out to the Lord for forgiveness. It was gripping to see that the longer we were out there and reminding these students of the Gospel, the more and more students seemed to have the light go off for them. At one point I felt the Holy Spirit lead me to invite the students to repent for “playing church” and through the conviction of the Spirit, many did. The longer we worshiped at the cross, the more alive these students became.

These same students joined us and prayed hard for this community on Sunday and Sunday night at the main church service, many people put their faith in Jesus for the first time (in the middle of a church membership series, so you know it was the Holy Spirit moving peoples hearts).