Tonight is the Night!

How many of you read my title and started to instantly think of that song Betty Wright sings? I must admit I did. Sorry what I am blogging about today has nothing to do with that sort of thing….maybe another day. I wanted to talk about my journey planning the Daughters of the King ALL Night prayer retreat. This is my second year leading the Prayer Retreat and it is very good for my soul. Last year I was totally unprepared for the trick and pitfalls the spawn of hell had for me but this year I was better armed and sited up for all the things ahead. I truly believe that often we are so unprepared for the war we have to fight daily. We all have some kind of war going on…whether it’s a war on a lying tongue or war on choking the life out of someone who almost ran you off the road on the way to work. We all have a thing we fight daily. Well…while I am planning these prayer retreats everything that may be laying dormant in my spirit wakes up full force. I have tests and pop quizzes that I couldn’t ever imagine. I was so exhausted last year after all the different things that happened and to top it off the same week of the retreat I got super sick with a dreadful cold. It was kind of funny how the different prayer retreat leaders were bringing me meds and orange juice because they dreaded me not being there to lead the retreat. Nonetheless, I made it through and loved the end result. I have learned as an adult Christian that each time God wants to take me to the next level there are a series of test that I go through and until I pass those sufficiently or learn the lesson to be learned I have that same test over and over. There is nothing worse than a redo! It’s like being lost and thinking you are finally on track and realize you passed that same gas station an hour ago!!!   This year I must admit I do have a couple of redos because I have definitely not arrived and I must say I can be a bit stubborn when it comes to sooo many things!  Trust me though God definitely doesn’t give up on us even when we think we are so set in our ways we have no need to change.  He has a compelling way of getting us to conform. When it’s all said and done I am so glad that God chose me to represent Him in this way. I start off each time with the purpose of enlightening someone else but in order to do that I have to be enlightened. God always puts the perfect study in my path and I can definitely say that has happened while I studied the book “Unglued Making Choices in the Mist of Raw Emotion by Lysa Terkeurst”. Just reading the title gave me chills and I knew that was what we needed this year. I know I have lots of raw emotion that is just out of control at times. I have been accused of having a bad temper when I get upset there is no stopping me and if anyone attempts to them they can get some too. You did notice my blog is Memoirs of an IMPERFECT Christian? Don’t judge me. (J) This book taught me so much about controlling my emotions and not letting them control me. I even was reminded that when I allow someone to get me all bent out of shape and lose control of my emotions I no longer have the power because I have gave it to them! She touches on amazing points regarding how to handle raw emotions and help them work for us and not against us. I chose the name title for the retreat Daughters of the King because I am all about empowering women to live as God’s (the King of all) daughters. What better way to start that than knowing how to handle our raw emotions. I am so excited! Tonight is the night and I pray that God is pleased with what we have put together through His direction and guidance. Meanwhile….I have lots of running and last minute work to do before 9 tonight! I guarantee you though I will be tested all the way through…I sure hope I pass them all so I can be at the next level!