Holy Spirit Rain Down

 I spent the last two days at a retreat for students. My role was intercessory prayer. What I witnessed God do last night made a lasting print on my mind. The Holy Spirit rained down on us. The event organizers lost control. The schedule was thrown out of the window. 

The speaker did not really preach. He opened the door for the Holy Spirit to have His way in our midst. A service that was planned to last 50 minutes lasted two and a half hours. Most of that was the invitation and students responding to God. Students surrendered to Him. God weighed heavily among us. For starters the students began leading themselves in worship. Not for just a song or two. For nearly two hours. One would start a song, and many would join in. Next, students repented of sin and began praying for one another. Tears began flowing. I made my way from the back of the room to be available to pray for any students God might send to me. He sent over a dozen throughout the course of the evening. 

I kept sensing God wanted some students to testify. I felt deeply impressed to pray for that even when I was praying for those who came to me. I felt the Spirit of God was brooding over us waiting to breakthrough. Time passed with singing, repenting, salvations, and prayer. 

Then a young freshman stepped forward. He told the story of how a year ago he intended to kill himself. He drank a bottle of alcohol trying to numb some private pain. Next, he took a knife and intended to press it deep into his stomach. He said he felt alone. Like nobody cared. With knife in hand, he decided he would check his phone one more time to see if anyone had reached out to him without knowing his plans. He had a text message from a friend he had not heard from in a long time. The friend sent the message, "Just wanted to tell you that God loves you." With that reminder he put the knife down and did not go through with the suicide. 

This story was shared in deep tears. The several hundred students got up and surrounded the young man pouring out his soul. Prayers followed. Another testified about deep seated anxiety and what caused it. There were more tears and group surrounded this hurting one.  People prayed over this one too. There were others. One student testified she had never felt God move like that and she led a friend to Jesus and prayed for numerous other students. God moved and had His way. 

When the service ended, each grade level met for a breakout groups. In one group 14 students reported they had trusted Christ for salvation that night. Others were saved during the evening. When asked how many were saved last night or rededicated their life last night[, two thirds of them stood up. 

It was a special night. When a group opened their hearts to God and got out of the way. God did the rest, and He gets all the glory. Praise be to His wonderful name.