Blog by Pastor Sharon Kelly
Ephesians 2.19 ‘This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. YOU BELONG here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building.’
Well beautiful one, here we are on the eve of another Devoted Conference. I personally am so grateful that God has His hand on this. I truly believe this is a God-breathed conference and I want to remind us all that over 10 years ago, before our building at Great Neck was completed, Pastor Alun Davies who was speaking at our church prophesied that our auditorium would be filled with women. I never want to take for granted what God has entrusted to us and so over the next month leading up to conference I’m going to ask all of us to be praying. Everyday there will be a new blog post, and I want to encourage you to read with us, and pray with us. We will be praying for salvations, and healing, for the Holy Spirit to be so present, for women to understand their significance, for amazing friendships to be forged, for supernatural miracles to take place, and to really know WE BELONG in this incredible part of Christian history with a mandate to make the world a better place. Also would you join us in fasting each Thursday commencing on February 2nd? Whether it’s all meals each Thursday or just one meal, let’s drawer near to God like never before and together see ‘His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!’
This year our theme is ‘YOU BELONG’, and the truth is while we know this in our heads our hearts often struggle. We struggle with trying to fit in, thinking we’re not good enough, striving for acceptance or to prove ourselves to others, and sabotaging great friendships because we don’t know who we really are. Sometimes I think we just forget that our identity can only ever be founded in Christ. Our security alone is in Him. And because of who He says we are, we can take our place and play a significant part (a part that no one else can play) in this big life, and seek to bring ‘heaven to earth’. God knows the earth is screaming out for peace and kindness, and security, and comfort. I’m praying that women would understand this in a profound and fresh way, and that there would be such a sense of God’s presence in every session.
If you are reading this and have never been to Devoted, can I really encourage you to come? Honestly the worship is just magnificent. When the girls gather and worship, it really is breathtaking. There are moments when I close my eyes and just listen to all the girls singing and it really sounds like ‘heaven on earth.’ Of course there is always brilliant teaching and lots of fun and surprises, but I promise you, you’ll cry and laugh, and leave with a greater sense of who Jesus is in your life. You’ll return home and seek to be a better mom, wife, sister, grandma, aunt, neighbor and friend. You’ll want to see justice come to the earth and you’ll have a company of women who are standing with you ready to see the same. And be the change. It’s pretty powerful. And wonderful.
So beautiful girl thank you for being on this journey with us. Thank you for praying. Thank you for drawing near to God and wanting to see women’s lives changed and transformed by Jesus.
Love you dearly,
Sharon
Dear Lord,
We begin our month of prayer praying for those who don’t know you, to come on home. As we go about our everyday lives may we be inviting women we meet. Inviting our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends and family. We pray that there would be a powerful move of God, and many would come to know you. We pray that they would know how much they belong in your story. A story of complete love and forgiveness. A story that gives them a future and a hope. And Lord thank you for entrusting Devoted Conference to us. We are so grateful and we are expectant and ready for whatever you choose to do in and through us!
In Jesus name
Amen.