Living the Journey

“I don’t think anyone on our team will ever again be lulled into the tendency of thinking that the Christian life is a battle in the flesh - where we ourselves strive against life’s temptations, manage their consequences, and cope with circumstances. The power of the devil seeking ‘to steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ precious lives (John 10:10), and the power of God’s Word (the sword of the Spirit) to set them free, were never more clearly displayed to us than on this Journey. There is a battle going on for each one of us, and there are few sights sweeter than watching girls intercede for one another with tears of anguish and pleading. The desperation in each one for God’s deliverance, direction, and presence was beautiful, and the cries not unheeded! Praise the Lord who DOES let those find Him who seek Him with their ALL (Deuteronomy 4:29). ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.‘” (John 8:31-32) ~ Brittany

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have gone on this past Journey to the Heart. The ten days in the Northwoods of Michigan were nothing short of supernatural. While the beauty of nature and God’s creation spoke to every heart, God’s presence was felt physically and one accord reached. Thanks to many people’s prayers, girls were counseled to salvation and to freedom from painful memories. As we spent hours on our faces before God, true brokenness was experienced in the life of each girl. As Paul Washer says, ‘If you get hit by a logging truck you’re never the same.’ We were hit by an awesome, holy, God and we have all been changed.”   ~ Johanna

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“What an awesome experience it is when you bring a group of girls together with one purpose and one goal: to seek God and learn what it means to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. At the beginning of the week my group expressed a longing to hear from God, gain direction for their future, and to develop a deeper relationship with Him. During our day of fasting, we experienced a wonderful time on our faces before Him. Our prayer time went on through the evening and late into the night as we sought the Lord with all our heart. Words can never describe the incredible experience of entertaining the holy presence of God!”  ~ Laurie

“Though there was a spiritual battle all week long, God was present. Lives were changed. God broke down walls in many hearts. This week was a turning point as girls made decisions to restore relationships, pursue their fathers and have quality time with their Savior. Through the literal fight with the enemy, they learned how to look to the Lord to overcome their struggles and temptations.”  ~ Mandy

“Wow! The last Journey for the year! One word that would best describe it is “indescribable”!!!! As we gathered in the beautiful Northwoods, it was so neat to again stand in awe of God’s hand at work in so many lives, changing hearts, saving souls, and taking on the burdens of these precious girls! His presence on this Journey was so rich and so sweet! His patient mercy and steadfast grace was amazing and brought great revival into my own heart. I know that the work that He has begun will bring forth much fruit in my life and the lives of each of the girls and I am so looking forward to watching as He is glorified and His kingdom is advanced on earth as a result of this Journey to the Heart.”  ~ Elizabeth

“This Journey has been the best one yet!” I’ve heard that phrase used multiple times over the course of my time working in the Journey department. So the question comes to mind…’which one really was the best?’ I know the answer will vary between each person you ask, but I know for myself this one that just ended was the most impactful for me. First and foremost was the way in which God worked in my own life. He brought me to a complete surrender to Himself…a death of my own visions and desires and a full yielding to His own sweet will. Not only was He breaking me, but I watched with joy at how the Lord was working in the hearts of the other girls as well. It was not always easy, but as we peeled away the layers that had been built up in our hearts, we were again reminded that Christ’s forgiveness covers all our sin, His love is never ending, His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and His mercy is everlasting. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” ~ Sharon

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After returning from the Life Focus Journey, Nathaniel joyfully shared how God took the knowledge he had in his head and brought it down to his heart.

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Enjoy listening in as the Wilkes brothers recount all that the Lord taught them on their recent Life Focus Journey to the Heart!

Matthew:

I went to Northwoods not sure what to expect on a Journey to the Heart. I had heard testimonies; but what was my experience of it going to be?  While going through the each day, the Lord deeply encouraged me with particular passages of scripture that gave new purpose and, in addition, forged a deeper desire to study and apply Christ’s commands.

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Joshua:

Through embarking upon this Journey, I recognized anew the fruit that results from coming apart to rest a while. (See Mark 6:31.) The usual busyness to which we subject ourselves provides a natural tendency to overlook the needful thing of sitting at the feet of Jesus. For almost an entire week, the team reaped unspeakable joy (see I Peter 1:8) that comes through searching our hearts, acknowledging failure, meditating upon God’s Word, and partaking in one-accord prayer. I returned with a renewed vision, powerful tools, and the life changing principle of Psalms 119:165, “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

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The reason I came on the Journey to the Heart was to seek God. The first day up at the Northwoods, our group leader Jordan said, “How sad it would be to come to the Journey to seek God and not know Him altogether.” This weighed heavy on my heart. I had “prayed a prayer” at a young age but I did not know without a doubt that I was saved. When I examined the fruits of my life, I noticed that I did not have many.

That night I accepted Jesus into my heart as the Lord of my life. Never before have I felt such a sincere love for the Lord. Since then, I have been on fire for God reading the Bible and praying with a fervency that I had never experienced before. Praise the Lord!

~ Drew
October 2008 Guy’s Journey

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Before I went to the Journey, I was withdrawn from other people and felt alone inside. My relationship with Christ was distant and not anywhere near where it should be. I had been abused for several years during my childhood and had stuffed the pain deep down inside, building a callous around my heart. I didn’t allow myself to show any emotion and had even forgotten how to cry.

Many other people had tried to help me, so when one of the Journey leaders pulled me aside, I expected her to tell me what I already knew and just deal with the symptoms. Little did I know that God was going to show Himself strong on my behalf and lead me out of this bondage of bitterness, anger, fear, confusion, lustful thoughts, and the wrong view of God which had resulted from my hurtful past.

Satan had fed me a lie that God was both good and bad. God showed me that He is good. He didn’t want bad things to happen to me. Sin caused the bad to happen, but God’s grace could turn that into something good.

God had really never left me. Oh, what unfathomable love I discovered in Christ! A love that told me of my worth to Him, a love that hurt with me, that cried with me. Oh yes! Jesus went through those hard days right with me—I was blinded and shut Him out, but now I was able to see. He was turning it all into good! I forgave my offenders and asked the Lord to help me to see them as He did. It surprised me how easy the tears came after years of bottling everything up inside. When He filled me with a love for them, I could not see their shortcomings anymore. Surely love covers a multitude of sin!

Then our team studied the “Tender Heart.” God broke me with the answer to the question, “Why Did God Let it Happen?” As the Lord revealed to my spirit from His Spirit, I began to write down the benefits of what I had been through. By the time I finished, I was in complete awe of my Lord Jesus Christ. He had captured my heart with His love, wisdom, peace, and amazing grace.

I ran to my leader with a heart full of thanksgiving, so happy that I laughed and cried at the same time. I had given my whole heart to Christ and was free from bondage. I am free! God is truly my All in All and the Lover of my Soul. Thank you, Lord, for everyone at the Journey, and thank you for showing me who Jesus wants me to be!

~ Barbara
September 2008 Girl’s Journey

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