At first, I was going to write about how the Power to Change Weekend was extraordinary for me. However, I quickly realized that God is the One who is extraordinary. By His grace, this weekend of learning how to pray was amazing. I have been longing for the Holy Spirit to move deeply in FCBCLA. I really felt like the Power to Change Weekend was just the start of the answers to our prayers. God is the God of the whole universe, the Creator of all living and nonliving things, and yet, He wants to have a relationship with me? I am in awe that “though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly” (Psalm 138:6).
Some of the highlights of the Power to Change Weekend included learning how to pray for God to share His heart with us that we might pray with passion like in the song “Hosanna” in which we often sing, “break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause.” I also learned the importance of praying for our pastors and leaders because we love and honor Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Paul urges us to join him in prayer for our leaders, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. ” (Romans 15:30-32). We are to invest strategically in our church by praying for protection for our church against the schemes of the devil.
The most meaningful part for me personally, by far, was the third session in which we put into practice what we learned. I really enjoyed praying with my family, for our leaders, for our parents, and for our youth. It was such a refreshing experience. I hope and pray that our church can continue to pray together for God’s kingdom to come!
– Emily Lam
