I have to confess, the first time I heard about IHOP I was intrigued but it scared me. I was at a place in my life where I did not want to attempt the "unknown" in prayer. I wasn't even sure if I "truly believed" in prayer...I know Christians are supposed to...but I questioned whether it really worked or not.I was thinking about Chronicles of Narnia and came to this analogy. Imagine if Lucy had found the wardrobe, knew there was another world on the other side but never mustered the courage to walk through and experience it. I know I can become so accustomed to the world around me that I miss super natural opportunities placed right before my eyes.
Maybe we get the idea in our heads that a land like Narnia is only for the "young and adventurous" or it's only good for the "people that found it." Maybe like me, people are too scared to open up the wardrobe because they're flat out scared of walking into the unknown.
I think Mr. Lewis was on to something big here that we tend to skip over all too often. Lucy took the plunge and look what happened as a result of it! Going down to IHOP was like entering a whole different world to me. I saw the Holy Spirit work and move. I saw people physically and emotionally healed. I watched people be delivered from life long habits of oppression, drugs, fear and self-hatred (to name a few!!).
I am continually learning the POWER of prayer. There was a point in my life where I couldn't say those words. I began to say it but wasn't too sure I believed it. Now I am believing it--and I have learned that prayer is not boring!! I'm not locking myself in a dark old wardrobe to perform my "christian duty and pray". I've found the secret door leading at the back of the wardrobe that's introduced me to fun and exciting prayer.
