Oh my, I put this off so much...not sure why.
Well, here it goes..
So after we each committed to finding 2 people a day to join with us, we were pumped and right away things got moving. All of us were sharing and the vision grew and people joined with us, not just fasting once throughout the 40 days but once a week, twice a week, for extended periods etc. It was so encouraging. Just a week following began Founders week at our school, a time when we go to Moody Church and listen to incredible pastors, evangelists, ministry founders, etc share their hearts with us. It was so encouraging... in many ways..
On Wednesday I believe, during the night, a man named Mark Jobe spoke. His passion was contagious and at the very beginning said to us. "I pray a lot before I speak, asking that what I say wouldn't be just an encouraging message, but a prophetic word from the Lord". Well, what Mark Jobe spoke on was Holy Hunger, fasting and waiting upon the LOrd. Our ministry, our passion, was spoken to that entire group. Not only this but he gave us a challenge. This challenge was to fast for an extended time during the next 21 days. Those who took the challenge stood and as I watched this happen (via TV cuz i was working at the coffee shop that night) I was literally going "omgosh omgosh, Lord, you are so much bigger than me, omgosh". Now, it was out of our hands. Throw away the list, 80 people pssshhh at least that many stood up...much more..but it was incredible! I was speechless and could say nothign but praise the Lord for his work.
The next morning was no different. A woman named Nancy Leigh Demoss got up and spoke on devotions and being faithful in reading the Word and prayer. Honestly, the message wasn't incredible, but what impacted me and the others was the challenge. At the end she said, I challenge you, in partner with Mark Jobe's fasting, to commit to 30 days of prayer and dedication to faithful devotions. This wouldn't have been huge except that, our 40 days of prayer and fasting had exactly 30 days left. Just another way God affirmed what we were doing.
Every Sunday night we met together, and consistently 35 people were there. It was truly beautiful to watch conservative, more traditional Moody students literally crying out to the Lord, on their knees begging him on behalf of the studnets to rain down on us, revive our hearts, spare the city, heal this land 2 Chron. 7:14.
Things continued to be pushed forward and 80 people came no problem. There were many studnets even ones we didn't recognize fasting and praying all over campus, committing Joel 2:12-17 to the Lord.
Honestly about 3/4 of the way through, things got tough. Our progress felt like a rollercoaster. We had some highs and lows, but we pressed forward even on those days we really didn't feel like fasting and those mornings we really didn't want to get up and pray. There were even a bunch of students that began to meet every night and pray for revival. It was so encouraging. One of the greatest blessings was watching all these random small prayer groups that had been meeting together unbeknownst to us, join in. A revival prayer student group, then a floor, then a small group, then another group praying for revival, then freshman stu co. We just joined together as one body, our purpose to begin with.
As the last weeks arrived things began to get intense. Myself and a few others were in charge of planning the final week which was insane. Friday was a prayer vigil (stu co led this thank the Lord), Sat was service in the city, sunday was the prayer night, monday at midnight right after the prayer meeting, Culby 2 chapel was transformed into a new room, with sections for different prayer topics, for 24 hour prayer for the next four days, then came the worship night on thursday night with Jamie Kay and thursday night praise. Along with this, I was doing a longer fast and midterms, which just added to the chaotic ness.
In the end, the people that helped were incredible! I was so blessed ot have people really step up and be faithful in doing all they could. The 24 hour prayer was great. I will probably never know if everyone stayed commited to their time slots, but the room looked incredible and really added to the atmosphere of worship in my opinion.
Then the worship night on thursday. Honestly there was so much chaos that went on before. Rooming issues, miscommunications, lots of planning, and utilizing funds from different groups, it was just unexpected. What resulted though, was fantastic. By thursday morning we were still looking for the speakers for each prayer point, but by golly the speakers were amazing. Each one presented their point beautifully and just said exactly what needed to be said. Our focus was on 4 things: Repentance, Surrender, Holy Hunger, Faith/Expectancy. Each one was done differently and there was worship in between. The spirit was so evident and people were challenged and brought to their knees. I had no idea how many would come. We publicized, but it was midterms, and honestly, for all that moody is and does, people can get relaly caught up with the academic part of it.
Other people can tell you all the ways the spirit moved in their hearts that night, but there was one main thing that will stick with me forever. I had so many comments of people after saying how the Spirit had spoke to them, that it was so encouraging, that it was so effective, but for me, the Spirit spoke to me someway diffferent. Each pereson I talked to knows exactly how.
At the very beginning of our journey, when we cast our vision, it was for 40 days, 80 people joined with us, unified as one body. We exceeded that, for God's glory, by his grace. Jamie Kay told us after that she has done many concerts of prayer and when it is Moody alone, we rarely get many to come out, but that night, we had 80 people. 80 people came for this prayer. It hit me like a semi truck. OF COURSE we would have 80 people come. Why did I stress that 0 would show (one of my lack of faith things)? We asked the Lord for 80 and that is what he provided. What a blessing this was. To me, this is how the Lord revealed himself in my life.
No, no Spirit go crazy impact the world happened, but let me say this. Many hearts were revived to the Lord throughout these past weeks. Many people have been humbled and drawn into God's arms once again. Many people have been brought back to the heart of worship and the rememberance of why we are there at Moody.
Not only this, but those 7+, probably around 15 of us are a family. I know what the church looks like. We are the body of Christ, all putting 100% in and willing to sacrifice for one another. We have different friend groups, different activities, but we would give up anything for each other and had the same fixation on Christ. We were serving one God, with one task, and in one Spirit. I think of the tower of babel when the Lord looks at them and says, nothign will be impossible for them when they all come together. I think of Nehemiah when they rebuild the walls in 52 days. Nothing is impossible for the Lord's people if they come together with a purpose, a strategy, and with the green light from God. Praise the Lord for that.
I have learned so much and I can't wait for what is next. So many have come to me and said, Christy, Im in this for the Long Haul. Where God leads this ministry, I am going with it.
Praise God.
Moody Revival 2010
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