My Trip, Part 2 -- Prayer

I was just looking in my journal, my first entry, and I realized how big a theme prayer was for me on this trip.

The very first night, when I got to Laramie, I had a lot of dreams, and there was one in particular that I remember. There were some random parts to it, but this is what really hit me:

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Journal Entry: 1/1/04

(Note: The dream takes place at a prayer meeting at church)

....People were praying over rooms in the church where we met, but I found this stack of paper and it was lists of people in the church.

I just started praying for the leaders and people by name and I was brought to tears, I was praying so fervently.

On Sunday, Pastor Billy talked about a youth leader he had worked for in Santa Maria who had the whole staff pray over lists of al the students who had gone through the ministry.

God, I have this desire to pray and really intercede for people. I feel such an urge sometimes, but something holds me back and I don't know what it is. It frustrates me because I want so much to draw closer to you and lift up others to you and see the transformation that follos, But I just fail so horribly.

Lord, please work in my heart. Take out whatever is holding me back.

Please work in me this week and draw me close to you. Lord, I ask that this week would be a week of transformation, renewal and rejuvenation.

Teach me what I need to learn to get to the next step.

Lead me and guide me, Lord.

Amen.
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And how the Lord answered that prayer! It truly was a week of transformation, renewal, and rejuvenation for me. And God taught me so much in so many areas.

I was journaling this morning and besides prayer, something else I realized was a bit of a theme during this week was self-control. God challenged me in a lot of areas where my self-control has just not been there, but he also reminded me of His grace. For I cannot do anything on my own. I know I can't, it is only by the grace of God that I am where I am. No doubt about it! And it is through His grace that I will get to the next level, make the next step that he has laid out for me.

Dude, I am so excited about this year and what it will bring! I know there will be down times, times I am stuck in a rut, but God's grace is sufficient and I can overcome, I can do all things through Him who gives me strength!

Woohoo!