Renewed

When I sit down to update the blog I usually try to choose the best, worst, or most unusual event of the day. Tonight I'm writing about the best event...and even quite possibly the nicest experience I've had this last month. I just got back from a terrific night of worship at church (Bethel Community Church www.bethelclarksville.com) Once a month from 7-9 our church holds a Night of Worship where people gather...to worship Jesus through singing, praying, etc.

I had been looking forward to Worship Night all week; I was hungry to meet with God, & quite honestly, the free childcare was a perk. :) For the past several weeks I've been in a funk where I've tried to pray, I've tried to read the Bible, I've tried to memorize scripture & I've tried to meditate...but I didn't feel like I was connecting with God. Sure, I knew I was still in a relationship with Him, but my mind was on other things...how much time do I have before the girls wake up? should I clean the house or should I nap? what will tomorrow's workout be? why did I eat that 3rd bowl of granola today? etc. So, tonight, I dropped the girls off in the nursery & for the first time in a good month I was able to quiet my soul before the Lord & talk to Jesus for a lengthy amount of time without distraction. I began to empty my heart, confess sin, sing without reserve, pray, read my Bible, find healing, & be renewed.

I'm sure some of you have had similar experiences while others of you are probably a tad freaked out. Either way, trust me that God transforms people & stick with me as I keep sharing the highlight of my day...or month. As I was praying tonight I was reminded of two people I had prayed for 3 months ago, but for one reason or another, I stopped praying for them. God revealed to me tonight how he was in the process of answering my "forgotten prayers" about these people that I gave up on long ago. He also put 2 different Bible references in my mind, & when I looked them up they were about the same topic. God answers prayer.

I guess I'd just like to be an encouragement tonight. While I was reminded of several truths tonight: God doesn't give up on us. God answers prayer... the highlight for me was to be in that simple, quite place of intimacy with God again. If for some reason you're in a spiritual funk, there is hope. Whether we get to that place of desperation & hunger or whether life is good & we can be still before God we can be completely renewed in Jesus.