Thank you for your support and prayers this last week. Fasting from technology was very good. I realized how often I check my email during the day when I really don't need to. The students who participated also benefited from the challenge. They were impacted by our speakers, Uncle Evan and Aunt Jewel from a boarding school in Africa. Several of the middle schoolers made decisions to follow Christ; many more have a renewed passion for their walk. One of the most exciting things is that some of the middle schoolers have been inspired to start a revival on our campus by dedicating themselves in prayer for our school. Some of the nuggets of things we learned this week:- Prayer is powerful
- God is bigger than my fears
- God is true to His word
- God allows us to be put in the fire so He can purify us, yet it's in that fire that we are set free from what keeps us in bondage
- When in doubt, dig! God wants us to investigate Him and what He says
- Searching for Truth can lead to growth. An unchallenged faith is a weak faith
- Faith in God invites reason
- Faith does not equal feeling
- Faith is not the absence of doubt
- Faith may doubt, but never gives up
- Faith is a commitment of will, a choice to head toward God, perserverance no matter the obstacles
- I don't have to be geographically present to have a positive influence over people's lives. Prayer can move the hand of God
- God specializes in doing the impossible
- God delights in answering specific prayers
Finally, here are some responses from our middle school students.How did you use your time differently this week?“I spent more time doing things I don’t usually do, chat with my mom, spend more time than usual on homework, pray.”
“I spent my time praying a lot more and I was really focusing on God.”
“Prayed to God more, put more time into my homework, tried my best.”
“By reading Revelation. I read 16 chapters.”
“Read, help my mom with dinner, longer devotion, basketball”
“Well I read a lot, I also noticed I prayed more too.”
“I focused a lot more on my bible. And my relationship with Him.”
“I walked with God. I was able to finish my homework, and not go to bed late. I felt happier.”
“I spent time with my brothers and sisters and I read my Bible more.”
“I really spent more time with God. I was able to do my devotions with God without being distracted.”
What do you think God was doing in your heart this week?“I think He was leading me closer to Him. This week really touched my heart and I think I was building a relation with God. He was really guiding my heart and leading me closer to Him.”
“I think he was cleansing it of our sins.”
“He was putting worship songs in my head over and over again and He was trying to get me to think about Him more.”
“I think he opened my eyes more to his word!”
“God was making me think about how blessed I am.”
“I think He was trying to really make Himself known to me.”
“He was showing me that I ‘lived’ off of those things.” Referring to tech. stuff
“He was really pointing out that I need to get closer to him.”
“I think he was showing me some areas in my life that I need to change.”
List 2 or 3 things that you will remember from spiritual life week.“I will remember that God puts us through hard times to make us stronger, and that God answers specific prayers.”
“Stop putting technology above God.”
“I learned that you don’t have to be geographically with the person. Prayers are powerful!”
“God is Bigger than your fear. Doubting is sometimes good because it makes your faith stronger.”
“That God gives us times of grief and trouble on purpose, because it is then that we really see and feel His presence.”
“You can have faith and doubt at the same time and you have to go through the fire to get stonger.”
“Jesus loves to be investigated. Having certain doubt can help you to strengthen your faith.”
How helpful was spiritual life week to you?“It was amazing. I really feel closer to God. He has really ‘moved’ me this week.”
“It showed me a whole new perspective on Christianity.”
