YOUTH NIGHT

September 7
Connection 24:7 Youth Group

Daniela's youth group had gotten cancelled so some of the people decided to gather in a basement, not to loose the night. The leaders and myself decided we'd pray, worship and then let the Spirit lead from there. Everyone started to come in but as they did I met Valerie, a college student who began to tell me about when he Dad was asked to leave the church when she was 16, even after 4 years I could see the pain in her eyes and she shook her leg nervously as if to keep back the tears. She told me she packed a box of stuff with her church dance team 'things' among other things, and she said she hasn't opened the box since.

It was at that moment the Lord told me, "She needs to open that box and deal with the pain, that I might heal her of it." We continued to talk and she told me how she knew she was called to do international business and eventually she wanted to be involved in supplying third world countries [Africa specifically] with basic needs, but doing it with the government's money, "Government funded missions," she called it. I affirmed her in that and told her about South Africa and my experience doing missions there.

We finished talking as they gathered us around to pray, we all started praying for requests and in no time it became rapid fire prayer, which lead to worship. I got on my face in awe of all God was revealing to me and then he gave me 2 words for Valerie, first, that she needed to open that box, second, that her calling is anything she can gain by works.

I went to Valerie and gave her the words and as I began to pray for her I prayed, "Lord there is something she's afraid of, break it in the name of Jesus and paralyze her from moving until she confronts it." It was defiantly the Holy Spirit speaking, I finished praying and then went back to my corner to worship.

Worship lulled out and they gathered us back to pray. "We're going to pray for each other, anyone who can't pray in tongues go in the middle so we can pray and you can receive." Valerie reluctantly came forward only by the nudges of her friends. Daniela told me to pray for her, so I and a few others began praying in the spirit that she too would receive the gift of tongues. As we were praying I felt some God's power and goodness." She turned to me and said, "This is my fear! Tongues, this is what you were praying for earlier!! I'm terrified!" "Okay Valerie, there is no fear in Jesus, perfect love casts out fear, begin to pray out loud so the devil can hear how dumb he is and there won't be anything to stop you from receiving this gift!"

She started praying out loud and within a few words spoken in true faith, her words turned into her prayer language! From then on she kept praying in her tongue as tears rolled down her face. God is completely purposeful in all things.

PRAY Valerie continues to pray with power and realizes fear is only a lie. Pray she opens the box and deals with the pain the church caused her. Pray she relies on God alone to fulfill HIS purpose in her life and she understands His grace abounds.