Stories From The Gathering ATX

The Gathering ATX Worship night saw roughly 315 students worshipping together on the UT campus. On this night the conversation was about names that have been given to you. What was talked about was the names that you have let define you that are not the truth about who you are in God's eyes. Names like worthless, unloveable, helpless, a failure..and  any of the other ones that sometimes without us knowing it we have let define us.
But who does God say we  are? And in one of the most powerful moments of the night name after name was spoken, and its corresponding verse with it. Loved (John 3:16) Chosen (1 Peter 2:9) Worthy (Acts 5:41) Forgiven (Col 3;13) Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14) and Redeemed (Psalm 107:2) and over 50 other ones. It made me weep as I heard them spoken over the room.
Then everyone was given the opportunity to begin to walk in the freedom of their new name by being prayed over. I had the blessing of praying over two boys. One who felt worthless was being replaced by worthy, and the other who felt like fearful was being replaced by courage that comes from the Lord. What an incredible opportunity to literally watch these boys shoulders relax as the burden of this old name was lifted, and the freedom of wearing a new name replaced it.  
This evening continues to be a place where students are encountering the Lord in such incredible ways and are leaving refreshed and restored.  What a blessing to be a part of such an evening.