Passion: Let it Stick

                                

The thing that I prayed most often at Passion as I would watch the students in Kneel (a blog to come!) is Let it stick, God. Don't let them get over this. 

When we had the simulcast at our church a few years back, Beth taught on the parable of the sower.  Jesus' explanation:

Luke 8:11-15  This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

So often we think that "the Word of God" in verse 11 is the gospel...and it is, but God does not stop speaking to us after we come into relationship with Him.  There is so much more that the Lord longs to say to us.  He is constantly speaking a Word over us...whether it comes in studying Scripture, a sermon, a Godly friend, in prayer, in praise, in a song, an answered prayer.  One thing Beth taught is that our hearts need to be good soil for that Word as well.  She talked about how life's worries or pleasures can choke out a Word...how Satan longs to snatch a Word from our hearts...how we can move on from a Word.  We can have hearts of good soil willing to listen and be changed.  It has stuck with me and become an oft spoken prayer when God speaks to my heart.  Please let it stick.  Let me hear the Word, retain it and persevere to produce fruit through that Word. 

So, at Passion I was constantly praying over students Let it stick, God. Don't let them get over this...knowing that we don't live on this mountain.  Now I am praying that for myself as well.  As I have gotten back to "normal life," I find myself asking God not to let the Passion experience leave me. 

Our youth always have a contest after a retreat seeing who can wear the armband longest.  I kind of thought is was silly...until I could not make myself cut off my Passion armband...a week or more later.  Cutting it off was like saying I was done with Passion.  I don't want Passion to be done with me.  God, let the ways You spoke to me stick.  I want to be different because of Passion 2011.  Please, God, let the Word given dwell in my heart and change it forever for Your glory.