Here is the story of how Jesus changed everything this week.
On Thursday, my school had its first evening of praise and worship on campus. Ever. Or at least that I know of.
If this was a few days ago, I would have said that "I organized the whole event. It was me. Give me credit for working my butt off."
But yesterday I had an epiphany that I really didn't do anything. I definitely did not make this happen. And I was stupid to think that I did.
I did nothing compared to how God came in to my selfish little world and made everything work out for His glory. I praise Him for He is a God of the details. He is a God that breaks through my anxious heart, holds me close and reminds me that He's got this.
Back in the fall I prayed for God to make it all work out if it was in His will. This was Him giving me one of the desires of my heart - to have a night praising Him in one of my favorite chapels with a lot of my friends, and to introduce this outlet of praise and worship that I love so dearly to my school.
And oh boy, did He take care of all my desires this week. He exceeded every expectation I had. I am one blessed daughter of a glorious King.
My goal for attendance was 50, He gave me 80.
My goal was that if people even came, they would enjoy it… people loved it. So many continue to tell me how much they loved it.
My goal was that my best friend could come and lead worship and share her beautiful gifts of her victorious and joyful ministry with my community - God brought her here for a whole week.
My desire was for God to bless the experience for those who came, and oh man did He deliver. With the intercession of St. Thérèse, God answered my prayers and provided one of the most moving nights I have ever had at this school.
God renewed my love for Him this week in reminding me that He's in charge and He's holding my hand and I can do NOTHING without Him.
This event would have failed if I had not offered it to the Lord and prayed so fervently for Him to take it from me and make it His.
This week I was reminded that the Lord provides. I was given the opportunity to give it all to Jesus, and He didn't let me down.
The one idea that has stuck with me all week is that there is power in the name of Jesus. And if there is any way to describe the night, it is that Jesus stormed in and broke all the chains in every soul in the church. I could feel the Holy Spirit moving so gracefully and powerfully and without ceasing as our prayers lifted toward Heaven.
I couldn't help but have tears in my eyes as I saw the power of Christ wreck the Church and hold us in His embrace. This is something I have never experienced in this way at my school. It was pure Joy.
This week I was reminded that it's not about me. It never was about me and it never will be about me. It's all God. All I do is for God and flows from God, and if I have a good and holy desire God will take that and give me something greater than I ever imagined. I was reminded never to settle.
There were so many glory stories.
One girl who came to pray with us said she was so grateful to have the outlet of praise and worship because she hadn't praised like this since high school. What a blessing it is that the Lord used this event to bring a beautiful form of prayer to those who need it most and are thirsting for it. He quenched our hearts.
To hear multiple people tell me that the event was "just what I needed" is beautiful to hear. And not beautiful because I organized the night, but because I know the Lord was moving fiercely in their hearts and brought them to the church that night and fed their souls.
When the worship leader stopped singing, said "just you, Church," and the assembly continued to sing How Great is Our God, I was SO SURPRISED. This school has never had an event like this. I had no idea how people were going to react. I was expecting a hesitant crowd of students who really didn't know what they were getting in to. I was surprised to hear people praying and singing their hearts out. I mean, it wasn't a jump around, hands high, screaming the song type of night - it was more than that. It was a quiet, prayerful, gentle movement of the Spirit with resounding voices and authentic praise.
My roommate took a short recording of our praises and I could not believe it when I listened to it again. It sounded like hundreds of people were filling the Church with victorious song! The acoustics in the Church with the beautiful voices of the congregation created an army of believers calling out with a joyous voice to serve the Lord.
And it made me sad that I was surprised that it sounded like this. Why should I be surprised after how God exceeded my expectations in every other aspect of the night? I should know by now that God will give me more than I ever ask for.
And oh, the joy. I am still not over it. Be still, my heart!
If I could bring this whole experience down to one word, it would be "awe." My sense of awe has been restored, renewed, and heightened.
Nothing will ever be the same.
Live with Joy.
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