Prayer

 

It is amazing working for a company that has a corporate prayer week. Each day of the week we (each individual ministry)  would take an hour, gather together as a team and pray for one of the ministries of CRISTA. At the end of the week all staff members from each of the seven ministries would gather together under one roof, and pray for five hours total!

To be honest, I thought it would be tiresome. All week long I was selfishly praying for myself to be able to stay awake that whole time. I didn't know exactly what to think,  I was expecting to sit in a sanctuary with a few people, listening to someone pray the whole time. Boy was I wrong.

The camp team got to headquarters around 9am. We informed people how they could be praying for camp. We all sat in a circle, watched a few slide shows, then took a few hours to pray, and broke for lunch. If you have not been to Kings schools, you should, the grounds are jaw dropping. Spending a few hours in Gods creation like that really opens up your soul to hear what He has to say.

So after two hours of prayer in the morning (which already blew me away at how powerful it was), a little lunch break, it was time to head to the prayer room. I don't know if I was nervous because I knew I was about to be vulnerable for a few hours, or if I was nervous because I was experiencing something new. Either way, I was nervous, and I didn't know what was about to happen.

When I entered the prayer room, I admit I was a little overwhelmed.  Bob Lonac (A member of the CRISTA leadership board) got on stage to start us off, He explained the stations, Explained that over the next 4-5 hours we wouldn't be sitting down the whole time, but we were welcome to do whatever, and go wherever the Spirit led us. And all afternoon there would be live worship for us to enjoy, and sing along if we wanted.

Here were the stations;
#1. prayer requests
#2. ministry center

#3. hands on

#4. take a tab
#5. confession
#6. melt my heart.

#7. communion  

#1 Was a poster board. You write down your personal prayer request on a piece of paper, tack it to the board, and take another request to pray for.
#2 There were a few computers connected to all of the ministries. You could choose a ministry, write your prayer, and send it in. This let them see that people all over the world were praying for them.

#3 Was a station with 2-3 people standing there, ready to lay hands on your shoulders and pray with you.

#4. There were  papers all over the room with tabs on them with words like Love, Peace, Joy, Kindness", you could take a tab,and on the back were bible verses on the subject to encourage you.

#5 Was a booth only for you. You sat behind a drape, and wrote your confession on a quick dry board. (You take a water dipped paintbrush, write on the board, and within a 10-15 seconds, would
vanish never to be seen again.) The purpose wasn't for you to confess to any other person, it was
there so you could write out your sin, meaning you acknowledged it was real. But by your writing vanishing, you also had to acknowledge they (your sin) were forgiven, and washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.  

#6. Something I had never thought about before. A booth with a bowl of ice. The ice represented your hardened heart. You were to take an ice cube, place it in your hand, and wait. This was a symbol of Christ in His mercy and grace. While holding the ice cube, you were praying for Jesus to soften your heart, warm it, because our hearts are hardened.
#7 Was just that, communion.


So imagine this with me, seriously, just close your eyes and listen to the song above, and imagine this. A room full of 200 people, worshiping the Lord God Almighty, and giving Him glory, with all
His people praying for one another. The sound of hallelujah being lifted up, echoing in your ears.
The burdens on your heart, lifted up. Tears swept away, all of your worries and fears , forgotten. 

True peace. Now THAT is powerful!

That was my day, prayer, worship, fellowship, encouragement. I walked away changed.

Lord I thank you for melting my heart of stone. Thank you for reminding me that this relationship is not me talking, but also listening. Lord I pray you help me never forget what I felt that day, the warmth of your hand embracing me, your love pouring out over me. Thank you for who you are!

-Danielle