A Love Story Penned by God - Part 3: The Power of Prayer

In this update, find out how Month 2 plays out for Summerah, Montaña, and their Creator in this latest update to “A Love Story Penned by God.”

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After heaving her gear into the arms of one of her fellow warriors to be loaded for transport within Hong Kong, Summerah stepped gingerly onto the bus, her eyes roving the seats for a vacant seat. Moving down the row, she selected a seat in the back and settled into the seat, trying not to pay attention when Montaña stepped on and chose a seat in the front. As the two teams neared their first location, Summerah found her thoughts wandering toward the upcoming month and her typical concerns of meeting the contacts, interacting with her team, and engaging in ministry.

Upon arrival at the ministry base and unloading the gear, everyone settled into life in the two apartments allotted to the girls and guys…except for Summerah. She was anxious after all of the traveling to explore the area and go running. After asking all of her usual running partners, Montaña overheard her and asked, “Can I go running with you?” Summerah was a bit shocked, pondered whether it was wise to run with him alone, and then, in an attempt to avoid any awkward silences, quickly assented with a nod of the head and a bright, “Sure!” Heading out to run and explore Hong Kong, Summerah was immediately put at ease as she and Montaña fell into amiable conversation. Before she knew it, they were running to the beach, jumping fences of locked parks, finding dead-ends…this was not her typical running experience and she found that she truly enjoyed the spontaneity and adventure-seeking as opposed to logging distance and time.

As time passed at the base, Summerah wondered how Montaña was doing. He seemed distant and perhaps even hurting. She noticed that his adventurous nature could isolate him from his team and was often blamed for many misunderstandings among teammates. One particular night while Summerah was playing a card game with some teammates, Montaña walked into the room and slumped into a chair. When the girls in the room started asking him questions, he began to share some of the struggles he had been having with the Creator. After sharing, the three girls desired to pray for him and Summerah was overjoyed because NOW she could actually pray for him as they were in a group! While the other two prayed, Summerah was silently asking the Lover of her heart and Montaña’s heart how to pray for him. Her natural instinct was to pray for freedom and a correct view of the Creator; however the Creator had other ideas! He began flooding her mind with images of mountains, maps, airplanes, and adventures for Montaña. The Creator showed Summerah how He had placed the wild spirit within Montaña for many reasons – to develop leadership, to be bold and courageous, to follow the Creator no matter the cost… Summerah was stunned and a little jealous that she probably wouldn’t be able to experience those seasons of Montaña’s life with him. While she waited for the other girls to finish praying, she grew more nervous about telling him what she felt the Creator saying and what the others would think of her. Yet, when the other girls finished praying, Summerah spoke out boldly:

“Montaña, I see a topography map and God is leading you across it. He has made you to be a leader and a risk-taker, one that goes on before others will think about attempting the ascent. I know it’s difficult, but if you let your team bring you down from the risk-taker I know you to be, I will be really upset!”

At the end of the prayer time, Montaña said to Summerah, “I’m not really sure what the picture meant that you received, but thanks for the prayer.” As all prayer members dispersed to their rooms, Summerah shrugged her shoulders and thought, “Well, it was a pretty cool picture, O my Creator. I know that you will faithful to show him what it means.”

A week after that prayer, the two teams left for mainland China. At first, Summerah struggled with the feelings of oppression and lack of freedom. Changing her speech to protect her relationship with her Creator and feeling struggles with team, Summerah sought our friends and other leaders to be reminded of the hope she had in the Lover of her soul. It was during this time that she recognized the easy and genuine friendship she shared with Montaña as daily, when she saw him, she would ask, “How are you doing?” He would sigh and look at her; almost as if he didn’t really believe she actually wanted to know. Again, she would prompt him saying, “It’s okay, Montaña, you can tell me. I actually want to know how you’re really doing.” Finally, he would acquiesce and relay his feelings. It became a familiar pattern, where Summerah felt comfortable talking with Montaña and he could more easily share his feelings with her.

At the end of the month in China, there was a grand feast to give thanks for all the Creator had done in the lives of all His children. During the great banquet, the commander of all the groups of warriors gave the order, “Speak words of affirmation over each person at every table. There will be no idle chatter!” As the banqueting hall filled with voices of love and encouragement, Summerah found herself surrounded by friends, mixing easily into conversations as she began to clear plates when the meal was over. She was so involved in her discussions and duties that when Montaña approached her with something to say, she hastily retorted, “I’m just in the middle of something. Please just wait a minute and I’ll be right with you,” as she turned back to a previous conversation.

Not a minute passed when she felt a presence behind her and a tap on the shoulder, “I really need to tell you this now, Summerah. Can you please listen?” She turned to see Montaña facing her with a solemn look on his face. When he saw that she was attentive to his request, he launched into his message: “I wanted to speak this life over you ever since our first week in Hong Kong.” (As he spoke, Summerah felt as if all life around her had stopped or faded away, as his words washed over her heart.) “When you prayed for me at the house, you really encouraged me. I was in such a great struggle at that point in time and your words showed me that I am important to God. I want to thank you for speaking truth over me and the love of God into my heart. So, thanks.”

When he stopped speaking, Summerah managed to say, “I’m glad the words encouraged you. I had no idea.” Her mind was still fuzzy from his revelation and she was surprised by his boldness to tell her his thoughts with all of the other warriors milling around. It was a comment that would stand out for months to come.

Some days after the banquet, the team of warriors packed up their belongings once again to head onto the grand adventure of Africa! Summerah was completely ecstatic to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of reaching this particular continent with the Lover of her soul. Praising Him for His perfect plans, she could only imagine the adventures awaiting her as she sat on the plane, peering out the window, searching the darkness for the first glimpse of life below. Once again, she became aware of a presence and there was Montaña standing on the aisle, asking if he could sit and talk for a while. Summerah motioned him to sit down and exhaled in the rest and delight of being his friend.

Throughout the next two months in Africa, Summerah occasionally saw Montaña in the large warrior group gatherings, even receiving a “comrade-type” hug from this strong warrior or a playful attempted dunking on the Nile River. As time passed, all of her previous romantic feelings and struggles with emotions toward Montaña were slowly fading and she truly began to believe she didn’t really have feelings for him at all. She was delighted to find this freedom in her heart, thanking the Lover of her soul for protecting her heart. It was at the beginning of the fourth month when the news was announced: “Teams will be switched next month!”

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What will the new teams bring?

You’ll find out in the next chapter!

The Power of Voice

The importance of your story...

When meeting people, we often tell them a story from our past or details about our present such as where we live or what we do. What about the future? Do we ever share our hopes for the future with the people we meet? Sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t. Why?

Perhaps we shy away from talking about future hopes for numerous reasons; maybe doubt it won’t happen, fear that we will sound foolish or prideful, worry about what other people will think or say… Yet, each time we minimize the importance of the hopes and dreams living inside of us, we let a piece of us die. Yes, I am proposing that NOT sharing the hope that lives inside of us KILLS the future. Each time I minimize the dreams and desires God has put upon my heart, I effectively make it more impossible for the dreams to happen…mostly because I forget.

Jesus shows us the importance of story. When He was born, people spoke about His future: His Aunt Elizabeth, His mother Mary, Simeon a priest, and Anna a prophetess (see Luke 1 and 2). They spoke boldly about His future as the Redeemer of Israel. They spoke out what God put on their hearts for the future about this boy. What were they proclaiming? His mission; His mission to “preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to the proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3). His future was the hope of Israel (and the world).

This is where the promise of story comes in! After Jesus’ death and resurrection (which many of the disciples did not believe because women came to tell them Jesus had risen), two of His disciples were walking on a road and they ran into Jesus yet didn’t recognize Him. In fact, they responded to Jesus and said, “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21, emphasis added). Hang on a minute! It has already been proclaimed that Jesus is the hope of Israel (and the world). Of all people, His disciples should know who He is…but they don’t. WHY? They forgot what had already been proclaimed! They let the enemy steal their hope in Jesus and therefore the future.

This is why I proclaim that there is power in your story, power in what God has told you and promised you, power in the dreams of your heart because He has given you those dreams! Please share your story with the world!