I want to know You

Blog three july 23, 2012

I have my first day of classes today! Time to begin a semester of work but it turns out I have five classes: two of Australian history, one theology, bible, and photography course. With all the wonderful-ness of Australia (note picture on left, focus on teh beautiful background, not my face) it’s hard to remember that I am here for school but I’m sure as soon as classes start I will remember.

God is so good. Already I am seeing Him work and move within me and within the Australians and Americans at Wesley (which is the school I’m at). We got a chance to go to Hillsong church in the city’s college group last night and it was so good to see people so far from home worshipping the same God I do. Being united with that commonality is such an inspiring event. There were a couple songs that I really loved and wanted to share. The first was a Hillsong song called I Surrender:

“Here I am
Down on my knees again
Surrendering all
Surrendering all

Find me here
Lord as You draw me near
Desperate for You
Desperate for You

I surrender

Drench my soul
As mercy and grace unfold
I hunger and thirst
I hunger and thirst

With arms stretched wide
I know You hear my cry
Speak to me now
Speak to me now

I surrender
I surrender
I wanna know You more
I wanna know You more
[x2]

Like a rushing wind
Jesus breathe within
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me

Like a mighty storm
Stir within my soul
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me”

Letting those words over take my heart was huge for me, this is what I want my prayer to be this semester for myself and also for my friends and fellow students. Ultimately it’s about having the desire to surrender all, purely wanting to know Him more, and then allowing Him to have His way in us. The minute that becomes my heart’s prayer is when God promises He will show up. I was reading a passage over again that Kimberly, who is in charge of the program, said during orientation from Jeremiah 29:4-14 and found that verses 12-14 applied specifically to this concept when it says “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.^” It’s beautiful really. The Hillsong worship team followed that song by repeating the end of a Jesus Culture song: “I want to know you, let your Spirit overwhelm me, let your presence overtake my heart.” It was just an incredible time of surrendering my will over to His once again. This will probably end up having to be a day by day surrender as I continue on with this semester.

Anyways, take those words as you will, maybe give the songs a listen as you start your day because they are the best kind to be stuck in your head for the day as a constant reminder.

Please be praying for peace among personalities in the program, there have not been any conflicts but with any group of people it is easy to have personality quirks wear on you after a while. Please also be praying for my brothers as they begin college in about a month, and tag along with that pray for my parents as my mom hopefully will begin working again and they become empty nesters. My heart is heavy for the family I miss back home and flourishing with the relationships I have been making here as my family of friends grows.

May the ever abounding grace of our Savior be with you this week.