I tend to be a pretty serious person. Anyone who knows me will probably roll their eyes at that statement, cause look – I do crack a lot of jokes. But I think a lot. Kind of non-stop. It’s really easy to cracks some jokes. It feels pretty terrible when you feel like a joke.
At times I can be really defensive, and the same patterns of risk-assessing, over-thinking, and wall-building has followed me into my relationship with God. I treat him like I’d treat my closest friends in a lot of ways – he knows me more than any person. But when things get a little too real with God, I deflect the tension and walk away.
I remember the first time I experienced worship at Ignite Conference. It is one thing to stop working to come to prayer, but it’s a whole other task to turn your thoughts completely over to God, especially when you’re prone to overthinking.
But just like I do with the prayers in the mass, I started to think about the lyrics of the songs. What they meant, who they declared God to be. Who they said I was in Him. Without even noticing, I stopped thinking about the words, discerning their meaning. The songs became prayers, and my prayer became worship.
There is something all-consuming about welcoming him into your prayer and into your life through praise and worship. Sitting, standing, kneeling. Hands open and raised, or held together in prayer. At Ignite Conference, I was able to hear so clearly what the Spirit was saying all those times I’d walked away when it got too real. He was saying, “Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in his deeds among mortals.” Ps66:5.
At Ignite Conference, Jesus calls us to come and see the wonders; the wonder of vulnerability and freedom in prayer. See it, experience it, live it.
Written by Brigid Todd from Ignite Youth, she will be presenting at this years Ignite Conference.
“Walking up the mountain is way harder!”
These words might be ringing in your ears from the final talk as you walk down from the mountain top experience of Ignite Conference. You may have already faced challenges these past few weeks. You might feel alone. You could be doubting your experience…and don’t those old habits and relationships that are no longer compatible with this new way of life look attractive?! I said that the people who told you life would be difficult when you walk down the mountain were lying… you may be thinking that I was the one who lied to you.