Sometimes, God likes to remind me of old passions and dreams that have drifted away.
Today was that kind of day.
How it all began:
Monday night, a friend and I were talking about wanting a group we're involved in on campus to be more passionate about our cause...to pray together with power. to really care. to make a difference. I fell asleep praying for Africa. I woke up looking at the map next to my bed and the painting above it that says "Passionate Prayers not only change the world, they transform the people who pray them."
Today, Resolve posted an update on the LRA and Uganda. I read it. Because of that, I decided to read some other things. I went to the website www.discoverthejourney.org and watched videos of former child soldiers begging for the US to help them and do something because we have more power. I watched the trailer for a documentary that asked questions about whether or not children who were trained to kill can becomes instruments of peace. And I was reminded of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He renews our minds. He causes change. He can take a former member of the LRA and use them to affect their country for peace.
And then, I was reminded of prayer. Prayer is powerful. It is...truly. I've seen it work in power in the natural. I've known that strongholds have been broken in the supernatural. Yes, in Africa, Joseph Kony may have many powers of darkness working with him. No, I may not be able to do much in the physical world. But, guess what.
I can pray. I have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead living in me. And He wins. And so, when we devote ourselves to prayer, things happen. Atmospheres change. Things in the spiritual realm shift. We co-labor with Christ to WIN.
After I was reminded of all these things, I decided to make an "African Love" playlist on Spotify. Silly, I know. But it's beautiful. I don't know what they're saying...but they're praising my Jesus in their beautiful native tongues. I love it. :) It makes my heart really really happy.
Then tonight, at Okello, we prayed. passionately. our hearts broke for what is breaking our Papa's heart. things are changing because of that.
And then, a friend shared a video with me. As much powerful truth as was contained in that spoken word piece...that's not what hit me. What hit me was who the person was who was speaking it. He was a man who is a part of The World Race. You see, The World Race used to be my ultimate dream. It was my deepest desire. It's what I wanted to do after graduation...or before. It's what I prayed for, read about, and constantly asked Jesus for. 11 months. 11 countries. seemed pretty perfect to me. And then as school continued and Jesus started deepening my love for Grove City, I completely forgot about it...until tonight.
Dreams are being revived. Do I know if I will actually do this one day? No. But, it's a dream again. It's a thought. But, more importantly, it's a reminder of the root of the dreams. The desire for the nations. The desire to reach them. The desire to love them. Dreams of hugging the unhuggable, touching the untouchable, loving the unloveable. Dreams of stepping out in confidence in the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Dreams of speaking value and identity into children who have been abandoned.
The most beautiful part? These dreams are so much more real now. Because my commitment to and love for Christ is so much greater. My relationship with Him is deep and unshakable. No longer are they pipe dreams because I'm naive and want to do something good for the world. No, now they're dreams that have been dreamed up with the Holy Spirit speaking life into them. They are dreams that came out of a place of surrender. They are mature and grounded in the fact that I can't change the world on my own...but I belong to the one who can...and He says I can. What a lucky girl I am.
What are your dreams? What are the things God has put in your heart that you have forgotten or suppressed? Let Him revive them.
