The Main Things

My last post was focused mainly on the "side trips" Brad and I went on while in NYC for the "Be Encouraged" conference...but, I also wanted to write a little bit about why we were really there and what God spoke to my heart as I took part in this few days of speakers and break out sessions.

As I have now been home for a couple weeks and have had time to think about the conference and look over my notes...these are some main thoughts I feel as though God wanted me to hear. 

Rest in HIM...I get so caught up in everything going on and my agenda for life and I am always so busy...I started wondering at the conference how much of what I do is actually worth while...you know, when all the chaff has burned away...what will be left of my life to show that I have been an effective Christian?  Good question, right?  So, I started thinking about this along with all the stories Jim Cymbala shared about the beginnings of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.  (Side note: It is always good to know the whole story because what we see right now when we look at the Brooklyn Tabernacle looks so glorious, but their beginnings were meager and there were many moments of hopelessness along the way.)  Anyway, through these stories, the Lord kept reinforcing to me that if I will just rest in Him I will be effective and it won't be difficult...because a lot of my difficulties and stress are a result of me not resting in Him...Matthew 11:29 says, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Surrender All...don't we hear about this all the time?  But, for me it is so easy to take things back over.  I am even tempted now to not write this one because I am a pastor's wife and I am not supposed to have trouble in this area, but I do.  Just because we are Christians doesn't mean the devil is done trying to tempt us to sin, right?  Ravi Z spoke about this in a story about a doctor who was working to save the life of a young lady...after the emergency surgery the doctor realized his own blood (because of a small cut on his finger) had come in contact with her diseased blood as he worked to try to save her life....Ravi took that further to talk about the paper thin cuts we can make to our souls when we do not guard our hearts and our minds...when we do not draw a distinct boundaries for ourselves...things like pride, jealousy, lust…etc can gradually make paper thin cuts to us as we entertain the thoughts and before we know it we have a soul disease.  He talked about the boundaries Daniel set for himself and how he had to train himself to be obedient to these boundaries.  I appreciated Ravi's speaking to these issues as leaders in the church are not exempt from these attacks.  We cannot live in the power of the Spirit unless we surrender everything and learn to be disciplined…training ourselves to live by these boundaries.

Step Out In Faith…for His Glory.  This was the main message my heart heard as I listened to Francis Chan.  For me this has so much to do with surrendering my fear and doubt and living in faith and boldness.  Boldness does not come naturally to me, but I am praying for it…I believe it really is an exciting spiritual life when you are living in the spirit, can recognize its promptings and act on them.  There are certain moments in my life that I know beyond any doubt have been a word from God just for me and I want more moments like that.  For me this means I need to humble myself in prayer, so He can raise me up.  There is a direct correlation between the times I have spent in serious prayer (the kind that is likened to a woman in labor) and the opportunities He has given me to do His will.  We have to pray for miracles…God wants to reveal himself to His children and we can expect Him to do this when we pray for others.  We cannot be scared away from praying for things that seem impossible.

This is a lot…sorry…there was much more, but I will just end with one story.  I am so thankful for God’s affirmation…as I alluded to in my third point (haha) there are moments when you know He is speaking to you and I had one of those at the conference.  On the last night we were at a powerful prayer meeting and everyone had spread out all over the auditorium and was praying and crying out.  I was in an aisle with one hand lifted up and was praying for the three issues above when I felt someone grab my arm that was still at my side.  She lifted it up it up with my other arm (which was very symbolic to me) and said these three things as a prayer for me, “Surrender all, surrender all, surrender all…then she went on to pray for me to hear the promptings of the Spirit in my life and to act on them in boldness.”  Then she walked away leaving me speechless in awe of God!