Transforming Prayer
It’s been so long since I have written on my blog, and I miss it so much. But I have been so lazy,and things just got in the way of me writing… but guess what readers, I am back !!! =)
So to get back into the swing of things, I thought I would write about my experiences at Basileia. For those of you who don’t know, Basileia is a week-long conference/retreat that is hosted by Intervarsity Christian fellowship. There are a few tracks or programs offered [small group, servant leader, transforming prayer, engaging God’s world], I was part of Transforming prayer.
Transforming prayer….What was it like? Who was there? Why did I choose that track? What did God show me???
So during the registration process, I was really questioning what track to do. I had heard stories from people who had done the transforming prayer track in the past, and how they loved it, yet I wasn’t sure. So as I was struggling with this really little, yet important question, I went for a walk with my friend around 2 in the morning. As we were walking through campus God really made me realize I needed my prayer life to take a jump. And by the end of the walk, I knew in my heart transforming prayer was the track that would impact me the most.
So I was going into this week long retreat with my own agenda. I was going in expecting God to speak to me about my future. I wanted to know if med school was in God’s plans for me. I really believed in my heart that during that week God would come to me in a flash of light and be like “RENY MEDSCHOOL GO!” Yea I am silly I know, but you know if God wanted to, He could have done so.
With this giant burden in my heart I went on this 5 hour car ride to beautiful
The first night there I just walked to the water stood there and just praised God for his beauty and I looked up and was just dumbstruck. I just forgot everything, and was just in awe of Him.
So now to the actual track, it started really slow and I was a little disappointed. But I am glad to say that changed quickly. The track really taught me many things and I was sure blessed by it. The thing I enjoyed most was my small group =) YEA!! There were about 60 people in the transforming prayer track which was divided into small groups of like 9 or 10 people, and I must say my small group was the best =)
David, Liji, Joan, Luka, Jen, Keesh, Boris and Dr. Ako, some of the coolest people I have ever met. Each person was unique and came from different situations in life, but one thing united all of us, and that was Christ. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with each of them, learning about them, trying to relate and see how God has worked in our lives. I really saw the passion these people had for God, and I saw people change from day one to the last day. I feel like each of us were changed in some way and were not the same from start to finish. I saw people who were shy come out of their shells, I saw people gain confidence, saw people move closer to God. IT WAS GREAT. I knew that these were the people I one day will be spending eternity with, and I thank God I was able to meet them and fellowship with them.
So what did God show me? Did I see that giant flash of light? Did I hear God?
Yes and……….. no.
I went in wanting to hear God, and I did…. just not the way I thought I would. The biggest thing that I learned and God revealed to me was being silent and still. God really taught me to be patient and just sit and listen for Him. I was so used to just jumping into prayer, but during that week, God really taught me to be still and just listen. “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. And for sure that week God really did speak to me as I just sat and waited in His presence.
Now to answer the question about my future…….
“Look around you, see these mountains…see the stars….Hear the waves in the water….see the trees sway in the wind….breathe the air…I made it all…..I brought you this far, I carried you, I hold every tear you cried in my hands…I am your God….Trust me and walk…I WILL LEAD YOU”
Another thing that I learned was the concept of Intersession. I must say just like most of us, I am really selfish when I pray, its always” Lord give me this or I need that”…..But God really showed me that It’s not about me, it’s about Others…it’s about Gods glory.
The quote that popped into my head was...
“Ay I ain't living for myself, no it ain't about me. Everything the Lord do, He can do without me”
It’s so true.We as Christians are called to think more about others, and put ourselves to the back. So then should it not be the same when we pray? Shouldn’t we pray for those who don’t have a voice, for those struggling ----- Humility is not us thinking less of ourselves, but thinking about ourselves less. God really gave me the chance to pray for others at Basileia, in fact most of the track was focused on praying for others and the world. I really was blessed.
And now here am I sitting in my school lounge listing to music and just chilling…about 3 weeks after Basileia.....
My prayer life has been very interesting…I find myself out of nowhere praying for people and things around me…In fact when me and my friends were driving back from Basileia, there was this discomfort in my heart, and I tried praying and I kept seeing an image of a car and water. I had no idea what was going on, all I knew was, “Get out and pray” and we stopped the car, while it was pitch black, around 11 at night……on the side of the road. Then we held hands in a circle and prayed. I still have no idea who we prayed for, I just know God made us get out and pray lol…weird yet really cool.
Then like I find my self just being urged to pray for people…..I don’t know exactly why, but I feel God saying pray for this person now…Like I was sitting on the LIRR and …out of nowhere I just had the urge to pray, for the people sitting next to me. And I started to pray for them. Then the other day I was driving and I saw an ambulance rushing to the hospital, and God put it in my heart to start to pray for whomever was inside…Things I’ve never really done before…God has put a burden in my heart to do…Which is amazing and I just praise Him.
"The power is unlimited, and the source is a continuous stream. Avail yourself to drink to your satisfaction." -Dr Ako
Prayer is powerful, it moves mountains… My life is not my own, I live for He who died for me….praying for someone is the least I can do…….
Prayer is power and through prayer we can transform our hearts, our campuses and our world.
With Love All-4-His-Glory-Reny
