Today is a very significant day for me! I’d like to share with you a testimony of the past year – yes, the past 365 days and how my life has changed. Some of you may have heard this story, and some of you may have no idea. I hope you see it as a testimony of God’s faithfulness in teaching me this past year!
February 22, 2011, I was listening to a message by Judah Smith regarding the importance of being a light to those around us. Frustrated, I asked the Lord why I wasn’t being effective in that way. The Holy Spirit immediately spoke to my heart: Prayer. I simply wasn’t spending time in prayer – in pursuit of the incredible Life Source. I nodded my head, remembering “seasons of prayer” and knowing that those were always my most effective times.
That night at a meeting, the leader asked if anyone had a prayer requests. One of my friends asked for prayer that he would be a light at his workplace. My first thought (which didn’t escape my mouth!) was, “Well, are YOU spending time in prayer personally?” The Spirit immediately reminded me that that was His word for ME. That entire night all I heard from the teaching and discussion was the importance of pursuing God and knowing Him – then everything else would flow from that.
I recalled a guest speaker who came in the Spring of 2010 and had given a 30-day, 1-hour-per-day prayer challenge. I sensed in my heart that this is what I was supposed to do. I accepted the challenge from the Holy Spirit and got another friend to join me for accountability and encouragement. The message to my friend said, “I have to do something – I can’t just keep on going through life the same every day. I have everything I need to succeed in this challenge.” The morning of February 23 proved to be a starting point for a complete change in my life.
Three weeks later, Pastor Greg asked me to share at the Children’s Ministry workers retreat in March. The topic he asked me to share on (without knowing about my challenge)? The importance of intimacy and knowing God. On Day 31, I had the privilege of sharing my testimony of prayer and the things that I had learned about pressing in to know God with 25 or so hungry leaders.
My biggest “fear” during the first few months is that I wouldn’t continue. I had found such intimacy, peace, and power in that time of prayer and I often thought, “What if I give this up? What if I stop during the summer? What if I’m not doing it a year from now?” As God continued to form me, He spoke to me about the importance of DOING IT TODAY (click the link for a blog I wrote on the subject last March). You can also see some of the other blogs I wrote within the first few months of the prayer time by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
Though my “style” and emphasis in prayer has continued to change over the past year, I am so grateful that God’s eternal faithfulness has brought me to this place one year later where I am still consistently and passionately pursuing Him in prayer each day. This has been a year of incredible growth and change – more than any other time or season of my life. I’m confident that it’s a direct result of intentional time of prayer.
I share this testimony with you for two reasons…
1 – I want to testify of what God has done. Celebration is the theme; He has brought me on a magnificent journey this past year and I desire to share that with you in rejoicing.
2 – I want to encourage you to take the next step in pursuit of Him – whatever that may look like for you. It is SO worth it.
Thanks for celebrating with me and for your continued partnership in this ministry. I know that God will continue to do His work as we seek Him first!