As we continued as a team in the Word of God, I saw the truth setting lives free. Free to live in Christ, to experience God’s love and to give it to others.

I had the great privilege of seeing relationships restored.  Early in the week, one young man who had been in rebellion responded to God’s conviction in repentance and called his parents to ask their forgiveness.  He was just beaming when he got off the phone, and the next morning I was again struck by the Joy of the Lord in him!

Many of the young men commented that they wouldn’t have traded this journey for anything!

God was so good to me.  When I arrived at HQ for the Journey at 2 a.m. last Sunday, I’ll admit I was a little tired.  I had just spent ten days in OKC taking several law exams and doing a moot court, not exactly sleep-accommodating exercises.  But throughout the journey, God gave me His strength (although I’m a bit tired now)!

Thank you again for your prayers!

~ Marty Moore
Team Leader, August 2010 Journey

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2. Be in One Accord

“If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

To be in one accord is to have “the same passion.” Powerful prayer must be fervent because “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

To be in one accord means that each one loves Jesus with all his or her heart, soul, mind, and strength. It also means that their are no competing affections with things of the world. (See James 4:1-5.)

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What are the greatest hindrances in your life that keep you from loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength? What is God leading you to do about them?

Tune in next Sunday (or Monday, if we’re late again! Ooops. Sorry about that!) for the next key to praying with power.

It was on my Journey to the Heart that I learned how to have a personal relationship with God. You cannot experience the power of the Christian life until you lay aside and choose to remove anything and everything from your life that will hinder you from serving God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Choose to be rid of the things of this world. Choose to be surrendered to the Lord, and the power of Jesus will be made evident in your life.

For the very first time in my life, I had hope, hope for the future and hope for my life. I now had something to live for.

I am not telling you that the moment I found God, that my life fell into place, that I never had a struggle again. Jesus says, “Take up your cross daily”. It is a personal choice for me, everyday to surrender my will to God and trust Him. I struggled for many months with surrendering everything to God; I struggled with bitterness toward the ones that had hurt me, especially the young man that I had left behind.

It has now been over a year since I first stepped on the plane to Chicago. I can say with all sincerity that God has given me freedom from my past. My desire is to know God, and in doing so, lead as many as possible to Him.

~ Olivia
June 2009 Journey

Do you sometimes feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling?

Do you have a problem falling asleep when you pray?

Every Sunday morning for the next seven weeks, we will explore one aspect of powerful prayer that can completely transform your prayer life. Enjoy!

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Key #1: Form a Group of Two or Three

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Powerful prayer is a function of the Body of Christ. His Body is made up of different parts, but each part must function in harmony with each other under the headship of Christ. Jesus is also the head of the Church; which when functioning properly is so dynamic that even the gates of hell cannot resist giving up those who are trapped and destined for eternal destruction. (Matthew 6:18)

Church does not happen only when a group of believers meet Sunday morning or Sunday evening. Church “happens” whenever two or three believers gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to edify one another and to advance the Kingdom of God.

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Have you formed a prayer group of two or three? Who do you have in it? Leave a comment and check back next Sunday for another key to praying with power!

This team of fifty-nine young men arrived in the Northwoods this evening for a week of spending time “with Jesus.” It is our prayer that their return from the Journey will prompt a similar response to what Peter and John received many years ago: “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Jotham is not a very well-known king of Judah, but his success ranks right up there with Josiah, Uzziah, and Hezekiah. Scripture does not leave his secret up to speculation!

In this powerful message from Dr. Roger Magnuson, delivered at a 2010 Regional ATI Conference, discover the key to Jotham’s might that is mentioned in II Chronicles 27:6. The Greek word for ways in this verse means “journey” and this important truth can be applied to the life of anyone who is “living the journey!”

[See post to watch Flash video]

Runtime: 55:51

If you would like to purchase this message on DVD, please contact IBLP Publication Orders at 1-800-398-1290.

God is not a God of intellect or human reasoning. He doesn’t care how you word your prayers, or if you sound “put together” when you come before Him with all your worries. He much prefers a child that is desperate for Him, lost without Him, and no longer concerned about anything but Him. He wants you in your lowest, weakest state – the REAL you – void of all human strength, empty of all self. That is when He draws near and whispers in your ear the perfect answer; that is when He fills you up with Himself and provides a solution that heals every problem and destroys every burden.

My Father taught me to pray at Journey. He didn’t whip out a gigantic list of problems that I had and tell me to fix them all. He simply said, “Ask, and ye shall receive from my hand…”

So I asked!

Prior to the Journey, our family had been in Pennsylvania visiting relatives. During our time there, the Lord had placed on my heart a tremendous burden for some of our unsaved relatives. That first day at Journey, I felt the Lord leading me to ask for their salvation again. I knelt by the bed in my room and found myself pouring out my heart before the Lord. He gave me peace as I laid it all at His feet! I was able to cast my cares upon Him and spend the remainder of the day rejoicing in His love and feeling a new awareness of His presence!

It was just the next day that I was talking by phone with my younger sister Bethany, who is 12. She shared excitedly with me how they had decided to stay in PA one extra day for no reason at all. That day, our cousins came by to visit. (This was the same day I had prayed). Bethany poured out her story of the conversation she had carried on with our cousin Emily, who is very close to her in age, and how the Lord had led her to share the gospel with Emily. She told me that Emily had received the Lord as her Savior and had dedicated her life to Jesus!!! “Ask, and ye shall receive…”

Perhaps the greatest lesson God taught me at Journey is this: Solutions to my problems do not come by a method, but by a relationship with Him. On Friday evening in the Northwoods, 6 teams (64+ girls) had gathered to pray in the upper prayer tower. For the first time, I witnessed one-accord power in prayer throughout an entire group of girls and not just a single team! I watched as young ladies committed and re-committed their lives to Jesus, confessed hidden sins, cried out for freedom, and laid their requests at the feet of their Maker. During this time our team cried out for salvation for lost friends and family, healing for the sick among us, and various other needs. The Holy Spirit was present among us that night!!! Others who were far beyond the walls of the prayer tower testified that they had heard us crying out to Jesus – a noise like thunder.

Later on in the week, Satan attacked me with discouragement. I found myself questioning God, “Why do you not heal the sick that we prayed for? Why do you not save the lost that we lifted up to you?” It occurred to me that I had been looking to this one-accord moment as the key to all my problems. I had been convinced that I could simply lay every prayer before the Lord and He would grant it all for me just like that. God taught me a powerful lesson on drawing near to Him, and persistently, fervently praying without ceasing.

Prayer is not a one-time act. God instructs us to pray day and night, without ceasing. Furthermore, we do not use it as a tool to just check off every problem and solve every trouble. Prayer is a means of drawing us near to the heart of Jesus, and of fellowship between believers and their Heavenly Father. It is meant to be the vital part of our relationship with our King and Creator, and thus the most effective weapon in that way. God is ever teaching me that He knows my every need, and He desires me to be in full fellowship with Him, that I may trust His perfect will whatever that may be – without doubt or worry, or anxiety.

Lay every burden at His feet and cast your cares upon Him. He will open His hand to pour forth untold blessings upon you, if you simply ask in faith, believing.

~ Sarah
July 2010 Journey

God was guiding my path even before I embarked on my Journey. In August/September of 2007, a group from California prepared to attend a Journey together. I signed up for this event, but was soon told that there wasn’t enough room; I will have to attend the next Journey in November. I was pretty upset, but little did I know God was working to place in the team that will help me grow the most.

One of the biggest issues in my life was dealing with other guys. Because my interests differed so much from others and I enjoyed activities like writing compared to athletics, I was often excluded from their activities. Most of the time I was picked on or made fun of, and sadly sometimes the fathers of these boys would insult me without intentionally trying to hurt me—such as commenting negatively in my inability to play sports well. As a result, I refrained from associating with other guys as much as I could and resorted to solo activities.

When I first arrived at HQ, I was given a “perfect greeting” by all the staff that talked to me. I instantly felt welcome. But it was my group that caught my attention. I was the youngest, so I didn’t feel like I fit in with these older guys. But they did something I did not expect. They accepted me for who I was. They respected my interests, and told me a quiet spirit is something to be appreciated. I was never insulted or rejected, which surprised me especially during recreation. I’m pretty bad at athletics, but they let me play with them and even helped me learn. I didn’t need to put on a facade or act like someone else; I could be myself and they will respect me as I am.

This act of love did not pass me by unnoticed. In fact, I now believe it is what turned my heart towards God. I not only learned about Him, but I came to know Him. The love that my teammates showed me caused me to turn to God, the source of true love that fills our deepest void. I began to see Him as the faithful shepherd seeking His lost sheep, reaching out His arms, ready to take me into His arms and nurture me.

One special event occurred on the plane back home. As I sat in my chair on the airplane, God broke through the defenses around my heart. It was weakened by the love shown by people during my Journey, but this time He tore it all down. He reached deep into the raw core of my heart and began pouring His love into me. There was so much love, it overflowed my heart and poured into the rest of my body. It truly felt like “my cup runneth over.” Not only did I experience God’s love, but I was given a taste of His joy. I was so overcome by His presence that I began to cry. It was all I could do to hide my sobs from the people sitting around me. I opened my Bible to the Psalms and began to read, every now and then singing a song to the Lord in praise of His glory. God was meeting me there in my chair, in a small airplane where everyone was oblivious to God’s encounter with me.

For a week afterward, all I could do was stay in my room and cry and cry. God had broken through my rebellious heart and changed me from the inside out. From that day on, I have a passion for the Lord like never before. Even though I still go through hard times and times of being lukewarm and stale, my desire to seek God breaks through those times and makes me seek after the love and joy He had shown me. He has also given me the desire to use my passion for writing to bring about a web ministry that reveals God’s word to fellow believers and keep them renewed day by day.

Love is a powerful thing. When God shows you His love, reflect it to others because His abundance will never run out. Even though the guys on my team were as broken as I was, God used them as His vessels to channel His love into a wandering sheep. His love is what brings me to repentance. The love of Christ is undeniable. Once you have experienced the love and joy God gives His children, you will want no other pleasure on earth. You will know that your craving for affection; the void inside of you; can only be filled with the love of Christ, and that alone is worth living for.

~ Kyle
November 2007 Journey

And herein lies the secret to it’s beauty.

Every photographer knows that one place can become a "completely different place" if it is just given some time. Add to the seasons some other natural elements: sunrises shed light from a different direction than sunsets do; sun, moon, stars, and artificial light all play a role in reconstructing a vista; storm clouds, cumulus clouds, altostratus clouds. . . no clouds! each component makes the biggest difference in any single composition. It makes one dizzy to think of the possibilities! No doubt, it is these irregularity that makes the Northwoods so beautiful.

Is this not strangely similar to our walk with the Lord? Does He not lead me to mountaintops and through valleys, into forest glades and across desert tracts? The scenery of life changes constantly. Sometimes He feels close and I feel encouraged. Sometimes He seems distant, and I grow discouraged. Changes in my surroundings are what makes life exciting because it allows me to  see God work in different ways. Hardships on my journey is what makes me grow, for when through temptation, failure, grace and victory a summit is reached, I am able to see more clearly the next ridge I am to scale!

God is composing a beautiful picture. It’s the irregularities in the journey that make it spectacular!

Text and photography courtesy of Lenspiration.

Last week, both she and Madison returned to the Northwoods on another Journey. In this podcast, she joins Madison in sharing several important aspects of continuing to “live the Journey” at home.

Download audio file (Podcast_10-07-22.mp3)

Download Podcast MP3: Living the Journey at Home
(8 min. 12MB)

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