January 26, 2024
“This is the sound of dry bones RATTLING!” RATTLE! by Brandon Lake
If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. James 1:5
“I’m thinking about when God created the world and the Spirit was hovering over the water. That is what I see tonight. The Spirit is hovering over all of us tonight. YOU are the new creation.”
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t want this night to end. It was such confirmation from the Holy Spirit that this is what I’m personally (I won’t speak for any of you) are called to do each week. The joy, the love, the peace, the praise…it was TOTALLY FIRE! Tonight was the night we planned to share our new “Words of the Year,” for 2024 and there was something about words that started with the letter R for me. Whether, I heard the Lord directly stating them, through song, or prayer group members were saying them, they struck me.
Receive, Rise, Remember, Redemption, Rattle, Resurrection, Risen Warriors, Radical
I felt like Jesus wanted me to ask you all questions. I don’t know where you are in your journey, but I hope one of these questions resonates with you and gives you time to reflect until we meet again.
~ What is God calling you to do tonight?
~ Are you open to receiving the gifts God has given you?
~ Will you allow yourself to be filled with that Holy Spirit wind?
~ Are you tired tonight? Energetic? At peace? What is stirring in your heart?
~ How did tonight effect the change in you?
~ What can I do for you Lord?
A specific prayer group member came to my mind when we were listening to Gregorian Chant to call upon the Holy Spirit. I saw a vision of her from the very first prayer meeting and I saw the image of her sitting in the chair tonight. There was a clear change in her. Jesus wanted me to tell her, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. But, He also wants me to tell you that. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED since you said YES. Since you continue to say YES each week. One YES, just one, changes everything. You may not feel it right away. You may not even understand. You won’t have all the answers. You will even be resistant - everything will get in your way of trying to get back to this meeting. You will think you do not belong, but let me make something very clear to you, YOU BELONG - every single one of you. And once you understand and know you belong, you won’t be able to stay away. Fight the temptation “when the liar starts mouthing off,” Adoption Song by Brandon Lake Welcome home my friend, my sister/brother, YOU BELONG.
One of our leaders made a great point in sharing that it may be difficult to at first be open because some may not know how yet. I’ve been there and sometimes there are even days now when I struggle to be open. Like one of our members said tonight, "Trust, trust, trust. I had to trust. I was just there trying to run the show.” We all still struggle everyday to be open and to connect, but we grow. But before we grow, we have to plant the seed, the tiny little mustard see given by the our Lord and Savior. In the moment that you feel you need to turn to Jesus, just say His name - JESUS, JESUS, JESUS - Come Holy Spirit. Just start small and call upon Him, He is already there with you, waiting for you to meet His gaze. There is such power in His name as we discovered and praised tonight. “When you start saying it [Jesus], it was like a fire inside of me and everything changes in me,” our newest prayer group member stated. There is such power in His name my friends, do not doubt it. Believe. “What a Beautiful Name It is” And when all else fails, you can always sing and dance!
Stay tuned…Words of the Year coming soon! Can’t wait to see you all again NEXT WEEK!