New Attitude has a new name, new lineup of speakers, and a new location. A lot is changing for 2009.

When I saw the announcement about New Attitude testimonies, I didn’t think I’d send anything in. I’ve learned a lot from the teaching each year, but I can’t recall any personal Na “moments” that a lot of people have had. Then I remembered those wallet-sized cards we’ve all been handed at the end of the last few conferences. “Take it back.” “Listen. Apply.” And I realized that if New Attitude is about more than just four days each year, then New Attitude testimonies are about more than just powerful moments at the conference.

Thinking about this, I realized that the single greatest impact New Attitude has had on my life began not during worship or a main session, but in one of the morning community group meetings. Na06 was my first New Attitude. Up until that point, Bible reading was a regular part of my life, but Bible meditation was almost nonexistent. I had been told that journaling was a good practice, and had tried it a few times (maybe if a passage really jumped out at me), but really didn’t have a vision for it.

Then community groups came around, and everyone received a sheet of paper with a Bible passage. A big chunk of the session was set aside for each of us to meditate on the passage and journal along the way. The leaders included a few tips, which gave focus and direction, but it wasn’t complicated or rigid. To be honest, I can’t even remember exactly what the tips and suggestions were; but the effect of those mornings stayed with me.

A couple weeks after returning home from the conference, I pulled out an empty journal and sat down with my Bible. In the months since, I’ve come to better understand the truth of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:16 : “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. . . ” I’ve seen that the “all” part can’t be understood by just reading without meditating, and I’ve seen how helpful journaling is in meditating. The impact of journaling is one of those things that’s impossible to measure. But I know that, over the past two years, God has used His Word to make a deeper impact on my life than ever before.