This weekend I got the privilege to attend InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's fall conference (cross training) at the Green Lake Conference center! Many colleges from the area gathered together for a common goal: develop and renew world changers. There are many different tracks that you can take at this conference including On Campus On Purpose, Witnessing Communities, Radical, Transform, God at Work in the Arts, Cross training (international too), Psalms, James, Ephesians, Isaiah, Parables, The Art of Spiritual Mentoring, intercessors, staff exploration and lastly the track that I attended was
Praying for a Change.
As you know UW Oshkosh has a small chapter and we are still in the process of planting a chapter. This year there were 10 students who attended this conference, and this number may seem small-- but it is a huge answer to prayers considering when we first started attending fall conference and chapter focus week I was one of the only ones who came. Now the chapter has around 40 students and 1/3 of them are students who have not accepted Christ in their hearts. The number may be small compared to UW Platteville's or Steven's Point chapters with 150+ students, but God is working on our campus and that is all that matters. Numbers are not important in God's eyes, the value of the relationship aspect is more important. I am happy to be with InterVarsity at UW Oshkosh living for a purpose and this weekend I found a deeper purpose within my call to action...
PRAYER.
What comes to your mind when you think of
prayer?
- Communication, Worship, Requests?!
This weekend I learned and gained a better understanding how powerful prayer can be and how often we take advantage of prayer or do not engage with God fully. Prayer is a two sided relationship and can often be seen as a two way street. We shouldn't be only running to God for prayer in a time of struggle, and we also shouldn't be doing all of the talking. God can speak to us in many ways, but His voice through prayer was what I encountered this weekend through the IV track Praying for a Change. I honestly have never prayed so much in my life than I did this weekend, and I am excited to actively live out my prayer life. I have learned many things including different types of prayer:
Devotional Prayer (private, individual relationship with Jesus)
JOHN 15:1-11
Prayer Ministry (praying for a person in person-- laying hands, healing, request that God would touch the person's need)
JAMES 5: 14-18
Petitionary Prayer (requesting/alone or in groups)
PHIL. 4:6-7
Intercessory Prayer (mediating/listening/observing) Examples:
Genesis 18:17-33, Nehemiah 1, Ezekiel 37:15-23, Daniel 9 and John 17
Lectio Divina (Holy Reading/ through scripture) This type was my favorite. I encourage you to try it. Have someone read
John 15 out loud. Listen as the passage is read twice and you meditate on what word or phrase that catches your attention. Next, the passage is read out loud another time. This time you question how does this world or phrase connect to your life and what do you think it is all about. Thirdly, the passage is read out loud another time and this time you engage with the passage and see what the Lord is inviting you to through this passage. Then lastly, we had a prayer partner to pray with and asked the Lord to give each other help, strength and courage to accept the invitation.
My experience with
Lectio Divina prayer =)
The section that stuck out to me when it was read out loud was
"apart from me you can do nothing"
--We can't do this alone! Who do we ultimately rely on? Who has control? Half heartedness? Going through the motions?
(another student also had this verse stick out to them as well and this was the vision he had gotten: A huge hill with a ripped up flag on the top of it. Symbolizing when you climb the hill/mountain and accomplish something big you plant a flag there to wave like you conquered something. Although, this guys flag was torn up and withered-- but still on the top of the hill. This was a realization that it doesn't matter that he reached his end goal, it matters how he got there and if God was by his side step by step. Was he taking credit for the victory and leaving God behind? If God was truly actively in our lives the flag on the top of the hill would have been in perfect shape)
2+ People (pray for 2 non-christian friends who need the Lord)
ACTS Prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication)
Vision (casting the vision, an idea of the future end goal)
During the weekend we practiced a lot of
Listening Prayer and this was an amazing eye opening experience for me. There are TONS of ways to engage in listening prayer. I have many stories of my experience with listening prayer and one specific instance stands out to me significantly. My IV staff worker, Tina Yolo, did a type of listening prayer where you listen for scripture. Her and I took turns and the scripture that God lead her to was
Psalm 46:10 and Hebrews 10. I didn't process and apply the scripture to my life right away, although I was still thankful for her prayers-- My world was rocked when I actually debriefed from the prayer later that night in our Chapter time, yes tears were involved!
Hebrews 10: 24-25 and let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, not giving up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Psalm 46:10 Be
still and know that I am God.
This was a great encouragement to keep pursuing God, planting the faith of a mustard seed in those around me and not loose my passion...BUT most importantly get back on track again in my leadership roles. I have had a lot of anxiety with plans after graduation, and college in general with a large class load with two jobs that I often forget to refresh myself in God's present. Ultimately He is the one who will lift the weight off my shoulders if I just actively give it up to Him. What a great reminder to find Peace in everything we do! Let that be an encouragement to you as well!
Incorporating Prayer in your own life. What's next?Brief Testimony after Fall Conference:
Many times this spiritual high will fade away, but I personally believe that God has given me the desire to pray for others. Actually, I got back from the conference today and have already shared what I've learned about prayer
on people! I have been helping with a High School Youth Group at Plymouth Congregational Church called
Visions and I had a huge sensory overload about God telling me to pray for two young girls through out the night. I actually got to pray for them... and this is a prayer that is answered because last week Sunday I got rejected when asking to pray with/for/over one of the girls. I am so thankful for perseverance and God's encouragement to continue to pursue and love on these girls. I had a hard time connecting with this age group, but I found that prayer has helped me connect on a deeper level. Praise God, I was able to pray tonight for these two girls on separate occasions with separate issues. God is good. I am able to use what I have learned through the weekend and bring it back to my campus and home church!
This Track
Praying for a Change was an amazing experience for me (I hope you can tell!) Here is a funny Prayer Scorecard. I hope to share a smile or a few laughs in regards to this picture!
I hope that learning about prayer and how it has impacted me with inspire you to evaluate your own personal prayer life with the Lord.
Is it a one way communication system or are you giving God the chance to speak to you or even through you?
I also would like you to prayerfully consider giving a monthly gift towards my Mission Year experience, because with out my supporters I am unsure that it will be able to happen. I know this will be a true testimony in itself to
learn to rely on God and that He will provide. If you feel
called to give a financial gift please do so, but otherwise I ask that you continue to pray for my heart and outreach. Thank you for reading and supporting me.
Remember:
Be still and know that I am God
