12 hours of anything is a long time, especially when it’s overnight, but when when it’s spent with God, it suddenly doesn’t seem that long anymore. For a few days prior to my 12 hour prayer journey I had felt that God was challenging me to end my quarantine the same way I started, with deep intentional prayer.
The adventure of my 12 day quarantine started with my squad starting 24/7 prayer, which for me turned into my hearts desire and passion. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the last time that I had decided to spend quality time with God, just sitting in His presence and listening to what He was telling me, with no agenda on my mind. It’s amazing how refreshing it is to just be with God. My 12 hours of prayer honestly only felt like 3 hours. I was so refreshed and revitalized for the next day of ministry, that I just couldn’t wait for all the neighborhood kids to come pouring in.
Throughout my time spent with God I got so many words and Bible verses for myself, my team/squad, the ministry hosts, and even Medellin. One of the many conversations I had with God that night was about restoration, revival, and renewal.
Restoration can’t happen without invasion/destruction and repentance. We need to let God in to breakdown walls and for us to see that as an opportunity to start over and repent (Joel 2). Revival isn’t always a loud boisterous event, sometimes it’s as simple as people not listening to the non-godly voices in their head. It’s about reshaping the way we think about ourselves and our situations (Isaiah 36). Renewal comes after we are broken down/ restored and revived and then we find our place at the feet of God. We can’t be renewed unless we are in Gods presence (Obadiah 17-18).
In this month and a half so far I have been in all of these places in life. I have been broken down in order to be restored in His image. I have reshaped my self-perception and had some revival moments. I have been at Gods feet in order to be renewed so that I can keep on ministering. One aspect of my life that God highlighted to me in this 12 hour prayer night was my need for community. I was convicted of living in my own independence because my pride was standing in the way of letting people in and doing life together, all the time. I was making community on my own terms when it was convenient for me, but that’s not the way God called us to live. We are called to live in relationship with others all the time, to be called higher.
“So take a new grip with your tires hand and strengthen your weak knees.” Hebrews 12:12
So proud of my young granddaughter, to be so willing to be under the loving hand of God, His instruction, and obedience to Him. Love you, honey.
Sweetheart, where are you today? Sorry, I don’t seem to know how to get it. Grampa seems to think you’re in Cambodia!
That’s my girl! ????
So proud of you Sunshine! You live up to your name, I can tell. For it’s His Sunshine in you! You write beautifully! There’s nothing like His Presence!! Prayers for you and your team continue.
Sunshine YES! Thank you for creating space to listen to the Lord and for being obedient to what he’s saying.
“Revival isn’t always a loud boisterous event, sometimes it’s as simple as people not listening to the non-godly voices in their head.” Yes yes yes this has been a big prayer of mine for this squad so it gets me fired up that the Lord has been speaking it to you too. Also so excited that you are pressing into community more and I feel so excited and thankful to be a part of it and also I want to be real life friends hehe ily buddy!!