Shake it Up! By Lisa Burkhardt Worley, D.Min.

God often likes to shake things up.

When we are sold-out believers, regardless of our age, He will challenge us to move into realms of servitude that we never dreamed we’d tackle. Like pastoring. I was once inside the church as a women’s ministry leader, then was outside the church for eleven years leading our Pearls of Promise ministry. Now I am back inside the church as a pastor and also outside with Pearls. People call me pastor, and God has given me a heart for our new congregation. I know it is a new calling.

On Tuesday, the LORD shook it up again. We had a prayer meeting at the church, and our senior pastor gave us five minutes to “pray in the Spirit.” I have been asking our Heavenly Father for a prayer language for years, and even took a class on it, but it just has not happened, even though I’ve reminded God of this promise: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 9:7-11, NIV)

A few years ago, I attended a conference out of state, and the leader, knowing I did not pray in the Spirit, had me stand on the platform until I spoke in tongues. I was embarrassed and babbled something so I could sit down.

But this time, I got it. The pastor said, “When you pray in the Spirit, you do not have understanding.” I am reasonably cognitive, so letting go of my mind is difficult, and I believe that is why I’ve struggled. However, I was ready to release my thinking. I opened my mouth and was okay if I did not understand. I prayed in the Spirit for five minutes! I realized the LORD had waited until the first prayer meeting at our new church to give this gift. The timing made it more special.

Some people believe that speaking in tongues or praying in the Spirit has passed away, but that is not a biblical view. Jesus said in Mark 16:17: “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.” Paul said we should pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). In 1 Corinthians 14:15, Paul also stated, “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

How is God shaking up your world right now? Let’s be open to a move of His Spirit. When He does so, there is no alternative but to hold tightly to Him as He navigates us into new places and levels of spiritual depth.

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Our latest devotional book, Treasure, just won the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) Golden Scroll Award for “Devotional book of the Year!” It was also named the “Best Christian Non-Fiction Book” by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. If you have not purchased Treasure, it is not too late. Lane Jordan Burday and Lisa Burkhardt Worley, along with the POP Team, combined their talents to write the book, which is full of wonderful inspiration. You will be inspired by the messages, and receive daily treasure as God will speak to you through His Holy Spirit. To buy Treasure just click on the Amazon link that takes you directly to the page and check out our new e-book. https://tinyurl.com/2uj9sn5x.