Repent, Cleanse, and Refresh
(Written while incarcerated in 2001)
by Katie Souza
Yesterday in church we sang “Grace and Mercy”. Then, Pastor Roy requested that I sing “Closer to the Heart of God”. Agnes told me that Pastor wept more than she’s ever seen him weep since she’s been here. After I sang, he said that he wants to ask permission to record us doing that song. Today I need to have the Father deal with me on my past pride in what I am doing. I have to get rid of all of that “self”. Father, I repent of glorifying the past. I need to let go of that “big shot” thing.
At prayer meeting and Bible study, I have been focusing on dying to self. Today I heard that a word from the Lord is a sentence used to give credit to the divine source of that revelation. Today we prayed for Bonnie’s mom’s alcoholism and for Hulda. There are only five weeks left before I’m being released, but still no further revelation about it. Today is Thursday the 18th. I prayed and asked God to tell me whether I was going to court or straight home. I stopped to listen and had such a strong feeling of faith that He could answer and that I could hear it. But, I got nothing. I’m reading a prayer book by Becky Tirabassi, and had another realization that He wanted me to ask Him to go straight home. So, I did. Becky said that having “perfect peace” about a prayer is a clue that we are on target.
Today I found out that a woman I prayed for was healed! She had a clogged artery in her heart. I prayed specifically for the clog to be dissolved, broken up, and removed and for the artery to be cleared. When they went back to prep for surgery, they found that the clog was gone! Thank you, God!
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
I need to repent and cleanse myself every day to get renewal and refreshing. Father, grant me the grace to look at You and not the promise You have given to me. To seek You and not more comfort and reassurance of an answer that You have already given. Let me be focused on You and not my release on the 21st. Show me what else I need to learn before I leave here. in Jesus name. Amen.
Had great fellowship with sister Agnes today as we had choir practice and 12:30 church. It’s so good to be with someone who wants to talk about God as much as I do. I’m reading Psalms again and want to make it a daily habit to repent, cleanse, and refresh.
I read “The Prayer of Jabez” book for the last two nights.
Wow, church services at both 1:00 and 6:00 pm were packed! Holy Spirit poured out! Willow sang “Grateful” and I sang “Walk Like Jesus”. Before service, I prayed the Jabez prayer over the choir. Lord, bless us indeed. Extend the choir’s territory… Oh that you would put your hand on us and keep evil from us. When I prayed and asked Him what else he wanted me to do, God told me the word “Holiness!”
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
Step into the Jordan so the river will part. You have to step in faith first, then the river will stop flowing.
I’ve been praying for Marcia Dugan and she has been receiving words from the Lord exactly like what I prayed! I prayed she would act on the word and she has!
The lesson I learned about repentance, cleansing, and refreshing is still blessing me today. Are you doing as Acts 3:19 tells us to do on a daily basis? Or, do you have a Jordan River experience that you can tell us about? What happened when you stepped out in faith like I did when I prayed for the woman with the clogged artery or for my friend, Marcia? We really care about your spiritual growth and want to hear from you!
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