Hosea 10:12 says, "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord" (NLT). That's the call we're holding out right now.
You see, it's quite possible that thousands of us could gather next month in Salt Lake City, UT, hear incredible messages, sing great songs, have fun hanging out with our friends, and leave entirely unchanged, if our hearts are hard. On the other hand, if we come with hearts softened and prepared, there's no limit to what God can do through that week. He could bring us to the point of total surrender, radically transform us, and raise us up as an army to take His fame to every person on the planet who does not know Him.
There's a lot that God will do. He will do whatever it takes to confront us with the truth. But He asks us to prepare our hearts. How soft is your heart? Are there areas you've refused to surrender? Are there aspects of your life that you just haven't allowed God to investigate and clean out lately? How sensitive are you to His conviction and direction?
Now, says Hosea, is the time to seek the Lord. Start plowing the ground now. Don't wait until we arrive in Utah.
If you look through the Bible, you will find that most intense times of seeking God, repentance, and desperate prayer were accompanied by fasting. Fasting is a very tangible way in which we can set our heart, mind, and entire being on God. The natural desire that we have for food can be deliberately directed to God, allowing us to see our desperate need for Him.
The Challenge 2008 team has set aside Wednesday, June 25, as a day of prayer and fasting for the conference. I'm writing this to you to encourage you to take this day seriously. You don't have to fast the whole day. You can give up dinner. Or breakfast. Or TV. Or anything else that you feel you couldn't live without. Let God fill that spot in your life. You don't have to wait until June 25, either. You can start now (although it might not be wise to fast all food for a few weeks...). All we ask is that you intentionally give up something in order to set your heart more fully on God as we approach the dates of Challenge 2008. And that you pray.
Pray for the speakers, the lead worshipers, the drama teams--pray for their personal holiness, clear direction from God, and sensitivity to the Spirit. Pray for every group that will be going--for safety, prepared hearts, and transformed lives. Pray for the youth leaders--for rest, renewal, wisdom, and openness to God. Pray for the outreach and ministry projects--for effectiveness and right hearts. Pray for Salt Lake --that we would make a dramatic difference in that place. Pray for God's will, His way, His glory.
Praying with you,
Glenn Olson