My Powerful Encounter with God.

This was my third time attending the North East Winterfest Conference at Rochester. My sole purpose of attending was that I wanted to be in a big congregation of believers; I wanted to worship. I went with absolutely no expectations than to worship and get a short weekend getaway from school. Spiritually my relationship with God was phenomenal and I started to get to a place where I felt like there has to be more to our relationship: something deeper and more profound. I had reached what I'd call the peak of my relationship with Him (I know right? So naive) and I was wondering if there was something more, something deeper. I'd hear others talk about what the Lord was doing with them and I wanted Him to do more with me. For sometime I got nothing so I stopped pressing Him about it and concluded that maybe this is as far as I could go.

Winterfest is an all weekend event so I was pretty much excited. Friday night was astounding, it's always amazing to fellowship with other young believers. Saturday morning, the preacher and her sermon literally blew me away. Her name was Devine (I will never forget it) and as she started preaching, I felt as if God was exposing me in front of everybody. I vividly remember every moment through that sermon, she was talking about some of us being called to climb the mountain first so we could lead other people up and we need to stop being hesitant. I literally just sat there ashamed, shy, angry and remorseful because this lady was telling my business to the world, I knew that word was for me.

It was followed by an altar call which I casually walked up, worshiping and speaking in tongues like every other person. The next thing I knew an overwhelming power overtook me (remember I was standing in front of the stage). It was so intense that I could not prevent myself from moving back and falling onto the first row of seats. I found myself bouncing on them, my back and legs were doing their own thing at this point. My tongues were on a different level. All I could think of was to try and get a hold of myself because now my body was hurting but I couldn't, the power was too strong. And all this while God was telling me "Didi I love you, Didi I'm not done with you. Didi I love you I'm not done with you." Repeatedly. Again and again. You can imagine being under such power and your body moving vigorously, I started to shout "Okay. Okay! Okay!"

In that moment I felt sorry for believing there was a peak to our relationship.
Ashamed for assuming He was done with me.
Relevant because why would He make such a scene just to tell me He's not done with me?
Loved because yoooo God just told me He loves me!!!
And above all, thankful that He loves me regardless of my shortcomings.
But thank you to the lady that came and held me because I was struggling at this point: body was aching under this power, I was drenched in tears and my outrageously speaking in tongues mouth was dry.

The next morning on Valentine's day I received the gift of new tongues. Someone wasn't kidding when He said He loves me and what better way to show His love than a gift on Valentine's day. Can you tell I fell deeper in love with God this weekend? It was a power and love packed weekend for me and I was so joyful!

Now imagine how the devil wanted to steal this encounter from me this last summer by telling me God couldn't use me? Isn't he such an opportunist? Don't let Him take what belongs to you, stand your ground and protect your portion.

Stay shining! :)
Didi