It was on a friday evening at Youth Alpha. Me and two other girls and a leader went up to pray for the evening. As soon as we started praying, I could feel the presence of God just resting on us and around the room. The Holy Spirit was so tangible. We were all praying so confidently and it was just so completely heart-felt. We prayed for the worship and for the speaker. We prayed that Gods presence would be with us all throughtout the night, especially in worship. After, we went down stairs and started the evening. And the worship came round soon enough. It was just me, the guitar and my friend singing. Most people were away at a weekend away that the church does so numbers were quite small. I asked everyone to prepare to worship and they all made a long line toward the back of the church, too scared to come near to the front. The whole time we were worshipping no-one was enthusiastic. From previous times I’d led peoples hands would be up, people would be seeking God…but this time… something was different. People couldn’t be ‘bothered’. They were looking at the screen singing the words as if to an ordinary song. I instantly closed my eyes. I knew if I’d open them and see all the bored faces at the back I would instantly become fearful and want to stop. So instead I used the time to connect to God.
The worship came to an end and everyone sat down and carried on with the evening. I was utterly dissapointed. I was so dis-heartened that people had the oppertunity to worship God…yet they didn’t choose to. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t like it. I sat down and was just saying to God the whole time ‘whats going on? whats wrong with everyone? Was the spirit not here tonight? should I really be leading worship? This was terrible tonight. I didnt do a good job. It was rubbish’
The speaker (one of the girls we had prayed with at the beginning upstairs) got up and was speaking on the bible. She then handed out pieces of paper with random bible verses on. Each one different. I had John 14:1. I had the message bible on me so I turned to the page. The verse read:
“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God don’t you? Trust me.”
I was blown away. God had spoken to me there and then. He had answered my prayer. In the space of 5 minutes. Do NOT underestimate God’s plans and God’s work.
One of the leaders (who had also prayed in the room at the beginning) came up to me at the end and said “I think our prayers we’re answered this evening!” I said “How so?” She replied “During the worship I could really feel Gods presence. It was so tangible. I could feel his spirit.”
I was again, blown away.
I’d beaten myself up about how rubbish I thought it had gone. How I was unsure whether I should be leading worship. Doubt and fear started creeping in. But God is so good. He answered our prayers, and he took away fear and doubt that was on me.
Don’t let YOUR thoughts and YOUR plans get in the way of Gods work. He is far greater and stronger than anything that will be thrown at us. Trust him. God works in so many ways. Don’t be put off by your own efforts if somethings not going well. You don’t know whats happening behind the scenes.
Praise the Lord. I love you Jesus.
