As the year comes to an end, did you experience the change you hoped for?  What is the current reading on your hope, joy, and peace meter?  Are you continually experiencing peace like a river within?  Do you need a recharge?  Do you need a supernatural gift this season that takes you into the new year with anticipation?  Really consider it, do you need some deep rest in heart, mind, and soul?  Close your eyes and ask yourself that question.

In the beginning God created...  In the beginning, God's power was executed through His spoken Word and the Holy Spirit.  He hasn't changed.  The Word and the Holy Spirit of Jesus are still His agents of change.  The biggest question for us is, "Do we want that change?"  Will we open ourselves up to linger in His presence for the supernatural newness He offers?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.- James 1:17

Last Friday I did another "Lingering with the God of Hope" online session for a private group of leaders and their team.  It was a group of 12 made up of men and women with ages that ranged from young adult to seasoned adult.  We had a chance to debrief together at the end of the session.  The things they shared, and the breakthroughs they experienced, were the same as in every other group.  They received personal revelation and love relevant to their deepest needs within.  Without disclosing too much, the bottom line is they heard from the heart of a good Father who affirmed them, comforted them, gently revealed truth, drew near to them, and deposited supernatural hope.  The majority shed tears.  Not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy and relief at the loving and supernatural touch of God!  God was not dramatic with them.  He didn't force himself on anyone or expose anyone.  He led them like a Good Shepherd leads his sheep to lie down and rest, leading them beside quiet waters.  The God of hope deposited joy and peace for an overflow of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! 

Experiencing this type of rest and quiet under the protective presence of God is a good and perfect gift sent from above.  It is experienced by lingering in His presence, a discipline that needs to be practiced.  It does require that we choose to schedule that kind of time.  But it's not easy on our own to linger for a long time in prayer and meditation.  Most people really struggle for spending some extended quiet, reflective time with God.  That is why Into the Waters is offering these online sessions!  We want to help you flow through the time, prompting you along in simple prayer and meditation exercises.  God's Word and His Spirit do what He did in the beginning, hovers over our deep, sheds light and brings new life!  In the hustle and bustle of your life, in the flurry of your unending thoughts, do you need those types of gifts this season?  

If so you have an opportunity to join us on December 15th at 8pm EST.  See button below to sign up! We are praying that you say yes.  If you need more encouragement to do so, consider even more outcomes... 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been meeting with a few of the folks who attended the November 2nd online session.  I have already posted the survey results which can be found by clicking this link- NOV 2nd SURVEY RESULTS.   However, there are more detailed accounts with powerful testimonies of real strongholds that were broken in attendees.  A few shared those stories with me in detail.  It so touched me that I have asked a couple to share their testimonies in a more public way.  They agreed.  So in the coming couple of months, we are finding a way to record those testimonies to be shared for the encouragement of others.  Stay tuned!

Until then, ask yourself if you need a good and perfect gift from above this season.  God makes it simple for us.  His is a simple invitation, "Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest."  Say "Yes!"  His Word and His Spirit will be present to do the rest!  This season, be filled to overflow with HOPE!

Curious about what happened at last Saturday's online prayer and meditation session?  Listen to the video to hear the highlights or read below for a deeper dive into the participants' survey answers!

Click the link to register for Sunday December 15th at 8pm EST!  Click here- Lingering with the God of Hope

Similar sentiment to the quote above came to me awhile ago from someone who has attended multiple events.  Her name is Marty and I adore her heart in pursuit of God.  She has continued to invest in pursuing time alone with God through these sessions.  She is serious about earnestly seeking the healing and renewal God promises.  She said to me after one session, that attending the event was like getting a massage.  She meant it in the most complimentary way, likening it to how relaxed she felt after, experiencing a release of tension, and wanting to be quiet for the rest of the day so she could get all the benefit from the experience. 

Just like after getting a massage, "I so needed that!" is a common response from attendees.  This is the reason Into the Waters exists.  We believe people SO VERY MUCH need extended time in God's presence for rest, renewal, and relieving their hearts and minds of tension.

And that is what survey after survey proves with November 2nd's online session being no different.  It was our first online session, where people could engage in the prayer and meditation exercises from the comfort of their own home.  The session lasted about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  You might be like, "Whoa, that is a long time to spend in prayer!"  And I would agree with you that yes, if you attempt that on your own, it may be quite a challenge.  But the beauty of Into the Waters' sessions is that you aren't attempting it on your own.  The session is moderated in such a way that you are gently led through a series of biblically grounded exercises so you are not thinking of "what do I say or do next?"  Instruction is clear.  Exercises are easy.  God helps you.  Most people think the time flies by.  So with that being said, here are the full results of the survey that almost 90% of last Saturday's participants took.

• 100% said they would recommend the session to others!
• 75% were very satisfied with the session, 25% were satisfied!    
• 100% thought the length of the session was "about right".
• 37.5% thought it was "very easy" to engage in the exercises.  50% thought it was "easy".  And 12.5% thought it was "neither easy nor difficult".
• Participants were given a choice of 5 answers to express how they mainly experienced God in the session.  They could choose as many options that applied to them.  
  • 4 chose "experienced the love and comfort of God"
  • 6 chose "able to unburden my heart to Jesus"
  • 3 chose "able to quiet and still myself in His presence"
  • 3 chose "able to sens His still small voice"
  • 4 chose "received revelation about areas in need of healing"
  • Some comments from them in this section are the following-
    • Your email instruction prior to the session helped to prepare my heart to communicate with God.
    • In the listening prayer exercise your shared Isaiah 61:3, the Lord gives beauty for ashes.  I believe this was perfect timing and God's message for me from this prayer session.
    • Was encouraging to transfer through direct steps to led to God revealing areas in need of healing, the "root".
    • When Gina makes our time intentional and points us to God and His direction, He always shows up!  She is anointed for this.  I am so grateful and most highly recommend others do this!
• 100% felt they either had "enough time" to process between exercises or "for the most part" had enough time.
• Participants were asked how they would like to experience an Into the Waters' event again.  Since these are scenarios myself and the board of directors are praying through, we will just share that one future option is also a current option.  You can experience this event with your small group together.  Just send an email to [email protected] and she will follow up with you!  30% of survey participants from 11/2 want to have a small group session brought to them or to do together online.
• 100% said the technology worked fine.  They could hear and see the session fine. 

Highlighted at the beginning of the blog is a parting comment in the survey by one participant that perfectly summarizes the reason for investing in this time with God.  She wrote, "Setting time apart and waiting in anticipation to hear from God was exciting.  Allowing my heart to receive from, as well as being still in his praise, healed deep brokenness".  Yes!  The God of supernatural hope showed up!  Thank you Lord!

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.- Psalm 130:5

​Our sessions are FREE!  It is a ministry by faith, so free-will donations thankfully accepted.  Don't hesitate, invest in this time to linger longer with the God of Hope!  Sign up for the December 15th session at 8pm EST.  Here is the link again to register- Click here.