And once again i'm sharing the most important part of my life with you guys to encourage all of you that may read this heartfelt post of mine,
Warning!!!!!!! This post is a very long one and i suggest you read it without distractions and May you receive mercy, healing, deliverance and restoration as i did.
Sometime late last year, my connect group (aka cell meeting) group head shared his encounter with God at this mount carmel prayer village ife-wara, i saw beautiful pictures of the place and i congratulated him but i had no desire to go because i thought "aha na i can pray to God from my room na and He hears na, so why Go all the way pata pata i will just turn off my devices, pray on my bed and all" I just couldn't get those images off my head and i later said 'ehn i will go next year 2016"
December 2015 i started experiencing uneasiness, i became restless in important areas of my life( couldnt eat, sleep, i was panicking on how to live a balanced life, i had nightmares and very funny "i cant share here" dreams, i was praying but my spiritual life was dryyyyy, i needed to move from a head to heart experience with God and it started affecting other areas of my life to sum it up my dears, i felt confused, distressed and afflicted(Pardon me but i was experiencing some verses in Deutronomy 28 not all oh , some) . There was nothing i didn't do to make that feeling go away except to truly rest in Gods arm, surrender my burdens in exchange for His peace that surpasses all understanding, so i went for a communion service in church and my Pastor said someone will experience a divine encounter with God this month and i held unto the word, called my connect group leader and asked for directions to the prayer village, i googled and called them to book for some days.
I thank God ehn, Before i left, my prayer group noticed i was going through a trying period and i sensed they were praying for me but they kept on texting me verses of peace and restoration (staying connected to people who care about your soul, relationship with God and most importantly pray for you in their time with God has to be one of the best gifts in this world and i encourage you to get into one)
Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
I left for Osun state the next week and almost got lost asking for directions "i entered the wrong bus, the driver dropped me on the road "Gbogban or so" and told me to wait for any other bus going to Ile-Ife (HAA) I waited and waited (God was teaching me patience) i had never been that far alone
I prayed to God ( Looking at the sky and said Father in heaven bikonu, i came to far to get lost here oh and i really need You to save me, no one knows me here, please send someone to direct me to the prayer village please)
A lady crossed the road to where i was seated in fear, i asked and we entered the right bus and i found myself standing in front of the prayer village, thanking God that He indeed ordered my steps here.
I stood at the gate far away from home with distress written all over me, then i prayed again " Heavenly Father, Thank you for journey mercies, as i enter into this prayer mountain, i don't want to come out the same way i entered. Thank you". I said those words in desperation.
Sidenote; When you live in Lagos, Ph or Abuja and you don't travel to other places in Nigeria you would just think everyone is okay, i was humbled by how people lived in the areas i traveled in Osun, i saw primary students going back home barefoot covered in dust *gosh* but they were so excited some closed from school and were hawking in their uniforms, people hawking goods with determination and they would be grateful for each sale they made. i felt so so determined to live a life of non importance, nothing else mattered to me than to be refilled with Gods love.
Transportation was so cheap yet people struggled & fought to pay their Tfares.
I met with the booking manager (Emmanuel) whom i called, paid and got a room and a prayer hut, He showed me around the prayer village. I got to my room and i started feeling scared & asking myself how i got here sef, my connect group leader didn't come here alone oh, who sent me message, everywhere is too quiet, ha no face book, twitter, instagram, no series to watch, the mtn network was too poor, asin ZERO signal, no one to call or communicate with then i felt alone and afraid but the rooms had different scriptures hanged on the wall, mine had 1 Thessalonians 5:17-27 - KJV - Pray without ceasing. then I got encouraged, freshened up and headed straight to my assigned prayer Hut, i started praying oh but i said where do i even start from, asking God questions, how to hear from Him, How would He speak to me, will i leave here then i prayed the Thomas prayer " Lord i believe you will see me through please help my unbelief', i prayed for a long time then i went to bed and woke up with a nightmare, i prayed and i felt an urge to ask if i could speak to a pastor and the booking manager gladly handed me over to them that morning.
I had a conversation with them, asking them why i felt that way, i felt i was far away from God and i had gone through so much from my childhood, compromised so much even after i knew the truth, they prayed with me and confirmed revelations i had received concerning my burdens. They taught me why i needed to pray so much for Gods mercy and shared this verse with me to meditate on
Proverbs 28:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
My encounter with God changed everything, God healed, delivered and restored my heart, The Holy-Spirit comforted & strengthened me to pray for what and whoever hurt me and he told me that's how you forgive and forget so God can forgive and forget my sins too.
its so amazing that we all have unique encounters with God,
Two things hinder your prayers from being heard by God and they are Un-forgiveness and Doubt but
When i started praying the right way, there was an exchange, he took my worries and replaced them with peace, i asked for mercy, i stopped having the nightmares, i had a sudden hunger for the word, Jesus comforted me, Honestly i never imagined i could stay on a mountain alone praying. God truly made me understand that He will never leave me nor forsake me, that His love is unfailing and unending. i felt secure and protected, i cried from deep within, worshipped with all the strength i had, prayed hard & long till i found my self asleep then i would wake up and continue in that order. I started focusing on the cross, because the prayer huts are located on the hill, it was so mind blowing
That was it right there, i minimized my sufferings and God maximized his love and peace to embrace me right there as i soberly climbed the hill to my prayer hut.
God is the only one that can satisfy the hunger and thirst we feel, trust me when i say nothing, absolutely nothing can satisfy your emptiness, that's because we leak and we consistently need to get refilled through our relationship with God to make our lives balanced. Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I understood the power of the verse above when i entered my allocated prayer hut, no distractions, just God & Myself with a broken spirit and a sincere heart seeking for mercy.
Here's How I Pray
ARTS
1) Acknowledge God (worship and praise His name, Welcome His presence, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit
read out a verse before or after e.g Psalm 100
2) Repent & Confess your sins
read out a verse before or after e.g Psalm 51 & Psalm 79:8-9
3) Thank God for all he has done (Past, Present and Future) Romans 8:28-39 Deuteronomy 30
4) Supplication/Personal Request & Intercessory(Pray for your family, friends, church, country, mentors, Lost souls etc) Ephesians 3:20, John 14:27 , 1 John 5:14-15
Also keep a Prayer Journal where you write your prayer requests so you don't loose focus while praying and so when you get insight from God you can quickly write it down, You can track and give thanks to God for answered prayers(so you don't forget to give testimonies to encourage other people).
I read verses before or while praying so my prayers are resting on Gods word
Mathew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
In this day and age where distractions are so so much, i do advice to make an effort to continually stay hooked to God, it changes everything. I focused so much on creations instead of Our Creator, misplaced priorities and it was just a sign that i needed to reconnect with God because i had over-leaked. When we focus on God, He makes all things new, Read His Love Letter to you (The Bible) Listen to songs that constantly remind you of God, surround yourself with people who push you to God, when you find your self discouraged please talk to someone devoted who can pray with and for you because i had people who i could call to pray with me, it kept me going even when i didn't know if i would get better.
With a sincere heart i told God that i rather follow him blind than go off on my own with my eyes open.
Don't forget to pray for people going through what ever you went through. Pay it forward.
Im sharing this to encourage you to pick up from where you stopped or to keep going with Jesus and never stop because He has given us all we need to stay connected.
He's the only one that can truly save you.
I rededicated my life to God and left better than i came (God answered my prayers)
I encourage you to share this post with your friends and family, plan to go with them and share your encounter with others too.
Check out Pictures of the Prayer Village , The Address and How to get there so you don't get lost like i almost did.
Full Address;
Mount Carmel Prayer Village,
P.O Box 15, Ifewara, Osun State, Nigeria.
Telephone: +2348158778513
e-mail: mtcarmelprayerv@gmail.com
website: www.mountcarmelprayerv.com
Liaison Office:
RCCG Redemption Camp,
Ogun State,
Nigeria.
How to get there by Public Transport;
1)
Enter a bus going to Ibadan and stop at Iwo road
Enter another bus going to Ile-ife Osun State and stop at SABO or Lagode
Take a Bike or Cab to IFE-WARA the address above.
2)
Enter a Bus straight from Lagos to Ile-Ife from Oshodi park
Stop at Lagode or SABo
Take a bike to IFE-WARA the address above.
Accommodation rates are N5260 and above but you don't pay for the Hut.
Corporate prayers with the in-house pastors start 10:00am-11:30am and 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Theres an in-house restaurant so you don't have to bother about feeding, You pay N500 per meal
Here's How I Pray
ARTS
1) Acknowledge God (worship and praise His name, Welcome His presence, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit
read out a verse before or after e.g Psalm 100
2) Repent & Confess your sins
read out a verse before or after e.g Psalm 51 & Psalm 79:8-9
3) Thank God for all he has done (Past, Present and Future) Romans 8:28-39 Deuteronomy 30
4) Supplication/Personal Request & Intercessory(Pray for your family, friends, church, country, mentors, Lost souls etc) Ephesians 3:20, John 14:27 , 1 John 5:14-15
Also keep a Prayer Journal where you write your prayer requests so you don't loose focus while praying and so when you get insight from God you can quickly write it down, You can track and give thanks to God for answered prayers(so you don't forget to give testimonies to encourage other people).
I read verses before or while praying so my prayers are resting on Gods word
Mathew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
In this day and age where distractions are so so much, i do advice to make an effort to continually stay hooked to God, it changes everything. I focused so much on creations instead of Our Creator, misplaced priorities and it was just a sign that i needed to reconnect with God because i had over-leaked. When we focus on God, He makes all things new, Read His Love Letter to you (The Bible) Listen to songs that constantly remind you of God, surround yourself with people who push you to God, when you find your self discouraged please talk to someone devoted who can pray with and for you because i had people who i could call to pray with me, it kept me going even when i didn't know if i would get better.
With a sincere heart i told God that i rather follow him blind than go off on my own with my eyes open.
Don't forget to pray for people going through what ever you went through. Pay it forward.
Im sharing this to encourage you to pick up from where you stopped or to keep going with Jesus and never stop because He has given us all we need to stay connected.
He's the only one that can truly save you.
I rededicated my life to God and left better than i came (God answered my prayers)
I encourage you to share this post with your friends and family, plan to go with them and share your encounter with others too.
Check out Pictures of the Prayer Village , The Address and How to get there so you don't get lost like i almost did.
Full Address;
Mount Carmel Prayer Village,
P.O Box 15, Ifewara, Osun State, Nigeria.
Telephone: +2348158778513
e-mail: mtcarmelprayerv@gmail.com
website: www.mountcarmelprayerv.com
Liaison Office:
RCCG Redemption Camp,
Ogun State,
Nigeria.
How to get there by Public Transport;
1)
Enter a bus going to Ibadan and stop at Iwo road
Enter another bus going to Ile-ife Osun State and stop at SABO or Lagode
Take a Bike or Cab to IFE-WARA the address above.
2)
Enter a Bus straight from Lagos to Ile-Ife from Oshodi park
Stop at Lagode or SABo
Take a bike to IFE-WARA the address above.
Accommodation rates are N5260 and above but you don't pay for the Hut.
Corporate prayers with the in-house pastors start 10:00am-11:30am and 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Theres an in-house restaurant so you don't have to bother about feeding, You pay N500 per meal
All Glory to God and thankful for journey mercies back home.
Thank you for reading.
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