Take off Your Shoes

And Stay A While!

So far this school year has started off incredibly! The Holy Spirit is alive here on Bethel's campus and in many of the conversations I have had with people. God is definitely working on this campus and people are responding! Recently I have been used in ways I have never been used before! I would love to tell you about them in person so I will let you find me to ask about them!

Coming into this year I was anticipating something big was going to happen. Last spring God showed me glimpses but I wasn't sold on it. It was like seeing a preview of a movie that looks pretty good but you think that they showed only the good parts in the preview. Then this summer, God kept working on me and speaking to me saying, "Really, I'm going to work in big ways at Bethel and there is nothing that can stop Me from doing it." So I started believing him. Because I started believing it I got really excited and wanted to be a part of the experience and put on my shoes of readiness. In our Koinania service at the beginning of the year, a student spoke on having our belt of Truth and shoes of Readiness on. I was already ahead of him on that.

I had my Nikes laced up tight and was ready for lift off!

These last two weeks have been incredible, the presence of God has definitely been felt here at Bethel (House of God). In all of this excitement and readiness I have tied my shoes so tight that my feet are blue (figuratively speaking).

Tonight I decided to go to Praise Gathering at North Central University. I've become extremely hungry to see what God is going to do next. I was worshiping by singing and dancing and jumping and crying out.

Then, probably a little over an hour into it a friend put his hand on my back and handed me a note. At first I was like "Yes! God is speaking to me!" Which he definitely did...just not what I thought He would say. The note said, "I think I'm supposed to tell you that taking off your shoes will help?" At first I didn't really know what it meant except that I should take my shoes off. Would it make me lighter on my feet so I could be more graceful as I danced? Nope. I started praying about it and God revealed that I have been living these last few weeks anticipating and seeking out physical acts that God can do. I wasn't taking the time to sit in His presence. So basically, God challenged me to "Take off my shoes and stay a while."

I was very anxious but God gave me peace in that moment.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:4-7

Once I took my shoes off I felt a peace and it was so much easier to Praise our Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious, Matchless King! I have been so anxious to see how God is going to work all around me that when I have felt a special presence of God I have kept my shoes on, ready to be used by God. Sometimes we need to just take our shoes off and stay awhile. I want to run into God's arms and feel His warm embrace, then let him tell me things I cannot anticipate happening!

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." ~Jeremiah 33:3

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