Thursday, July 31, 2014

                                     A Fresh Encounter... 

I have been reading a book with this title, authored by Henry and Richard Blackaby.  I have discovered that we all need a fresh encounter from time to time.  We need a fresh awakening in our life with God, we need a freshness in the air we breathe, just as we experience after a rainstorm.

Here in America we have experienced 2 great awakenings in the life  and history of the Christian church. The First Great Awakening occurred during the 1730's and 1740's. This awakening happened in the churches, it was noted to have strengthened the protestant churches to a point of bringing people into that experience of a fresh encounter.  Then during the 1800's The Second Great Awakening took place on our shores here in America. This movement was reaching the unchurched people and bringing them in droves into the churches across this great country.

Then in the 1960's- 1970's we had The Charismatic Renewal. This was both found in the Roman Catholic church and the protestant churches through the experiences of the young people known as the Jesus Movement.

Today I am praying for a fresh encounter with God which will reach both the church and the unchurched people. 

I pray that God reveals this fresh encounter for all people; so that we learn to focus our hearts and eyes on the Creator of the universe, through the love and grace we receive, because of the greatest sacrifice known to humankind. The death and resurrection of the Son of God, who freely gave his life; so that all people would experience eternal life!

Let us today be in prayer for this fresh encounter like we have never experienced before. That God through the power of the Holy Spirit would bring an everlasting change to every heart in the world!

                                 Can I get an AMEN!