On our opening night of our 2nd spiritual formation retreat, we discussed the many different ways the Lord may speak to us….if we try to be still and listen to Him (Psalm 46:10). The next morning we sent the leaders out to spend their first quiet session listening to the Lord. We gave them one question to ask God along with a few Bible verses. Some found a place to sit under a tree and some walked in the fields. But everyone was quiet and listening. As soon as we returned together from lunch, the leaders were quick to share how they had already heard the Lord during this focus time. One young woman shared how she did not expect to hear the Lord and was surprised how clearly she heard from Him. She insisted she was going to make this quiet time of listening a new habit. Ask the Lord to enable each of these young leaders to hear clearly from Him during our quiet times of listening.
Unlike at home in the US, these leaders were quick to open up to us and share some of the trauma and pain they have experienced. Even on the opening night, some of the leaders confessed they had not been able to forgive people who had harmed them in the past. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to empower these leaders to experience His healing and His grace so that they may begin the forgiveness process. We know this will transform them greatly into the image of Jesus. But we need your prayers for this specific miracle to take place in multiple lives this week.
