seriously just had the best five days of my life. like not even lying to you. and not even being a classic always saying that after a camp, but actually, seriously feeling so so great.
camp was incredible, powerful and life changing. God did so much in my life, holy spirit messed me up a bit. it was flippin awesome.
going into camp, for what seemed like quite a while before hand i was going through quite a dry season where i fell away from God a bit. like not playup falling away or anything bad like that, i guess i just wasn't reading my bible and praying/communicating with God as much as i should have been. i wasn't feeding my spirit and as a result i was feeding my flesh with apathy and complacency. i knew i wasn't as close to God as i should be, and i found myself unable to get out of this spiral because my flesh had overtaken my spirit. i was letting the world get on top of me, instead of me getting on top of the world. but going into camp i had a few expectations because i knew it needed to stop. and for me, each session was seriously the platform for the next. without fail God would speak to me and change my life every session.
from worship on the very first session when we sung hope is erupting, something broke. God pretty much hit me with the "you're better than this, you're bigger than this, you're called for so much more. time to step up your game" card.
and in benny's session about fathers he did an altar call at the end, and i was kind of like i've already dealt with the issues with my dad, but i hadn't really learnt to embrace or trust in God as the father. someone prayed for me from behind, and i didn't even notice they had taken their hands off me. because as gay as this may sound, though she had taken her hands off me, i legit felt like they were still firmly and securely placed on my shoulders. and God just said to me, "you have to trust me fully, i've got you. you are safe and secure in my hands, i won't let you go".
one of my favourite sessions though would have to be the wednesday night one, where benny did the anointing. he was talking about a king living inside of us and it was actually just incredible. he was saying that though we may feel God has called us to something greater, we need to operate as kings in every situation, especially in the place that God has put us now. and that was pretty much exactly what i had needed to hear, ha ha, shot Jesus. but then ps ben busts out that he wants to anoint everyone with oil. so i got anointed with the oil, and then nat came and prayed double anointing over my life, and as soon as she started praying God's presence came upon me. it wasn't one of those like crying, slain in the spirit types of encounter though. it was like a strength, power and vision filled encounter. it was seriously great.
on thursday morning ps john preached about pitching a tent outside of camp. which pretty much meant making sure you were encountering God and having legit quiet times outside of church. making sure we put Him first, that he's getting the best of us. that we're hanging around the right people and living a pure life, etc. it was a teaching message, it was convicting and a smack around the face. but it was awesome, definitely a wake up call and what i needed to be reminded of.
but definitely my all time fave would have to be the last session, thursday night baby baby. ps benny was talking about dangerous dreams God had put in our hearts, how powerful it was, what will hold us back from it, and how we need to guard it because the devil will do all he can to stop it from coming to pass. i had been holding out for this session because i knew this was the one that ticked off the biggest expectation i had. when altar call came around though i convinced myself that it didn't apply to me and that i'd already let go of all that would hold me back. but as i stood there i felt an urging and remembered what ps levi said about not just watching a move of God, but being a part of the encounter. i was worshipping, and someone came and lay hands on me. again, not sure who it was or what they were praying over me, but God sure got me good. holy spirit came upon me and i went down and probably had the most incredible but simple revelation of the whole camp. God just said "you feel that weight pinning you down... that fear? that's the exact same thing that nailed me to the cross. the thing i died for so that you wouldn't have to experience it. so take as much time as you need, but when you're ready i want you to get up and walk in my freedom. when you get up, it will no longer be upon your life".
and throughout the whole camp, he gave me confirmation of the dream he placed in me, and made me more passionate to go after it with everything i've got.
once again i am pumped for life.
Jesus i thank you for all that you did over this past week. i thank you for your presence, that you showed up and did a mighty move of power in hundreds of hearts. i thank you that lives are changed, and that we will never be the same. That we are starting a whirlpool, a movement of change in this nation. and i declare authority over the devil, that the gates of hell will not prevail and that he will not rob us of the dreams and encounters had. i pray that these would be defining moments that we'd remember for the rest of our lives, that you'd cement it and set it in our hearts and set it like concrete, that we would not forget or lose sight of them. Amen.
