Vision:
I have been shaken to my core with this trip to England and South Africa . I know that the Lord is taking me to a new level – one we can all share if we are willing to pay the very small price of a real relationship with the Lord…on His terms, not ours.
The Lord showed me my condition which is far removed from the condition He would chose. Why did I have to go to South Africa to learn faith? Why did I have to go to South Africa to be convicted right to the bottom of my heart…only to be found wanting in so many areas of my life?
I was utterly shaken and the Lord showed me the difference between me and an effective Christian – one accomplishing the commission of the Lord by administering the miracles of healing and restoration in the lives of others.
I learned in Africa that there is no plan B, C or D in their vocabulary. There is only a plan A – God. He is their only plan because He is all they have. They have tried their witch doctors. Obviously they have not healed their problems. They cannot try medicine. It is out of their reach. So they lie on the streets dying with untreated cancer, HIV, other terrible conditions that are stealing their lives. They look death in the eye and watch helplessly as he walks ever closer…ever closer. Maybe a friend drags them to a man of God, one who believes in a healing God who created them and loves them despite their sin. Renouncing their sin and taking responsibility for it, disease dies and new skin is regenerated in a matter of minutes and days.
This is not just a chance miraculous incident – it is commonplace.
So, what is the difference? Why is my belief and Christian life so mediocre? I certainly am not moving mountains or changing the world? I see visions. There has to be more to life than just seeing visions. My heart aches for the life of the apostles here and now, working through me. My heart aches for that level of faith that believes anything can be done and anything will be done in the name of the Lord.
My heart aches to say to the crippled man on his bed – Take up your bed and walk. But here, there is so much red tape and ideologies to cut through. I remember when I was organizing a few people to go to the hospital to pray for anyone who wanted prayer and we were not permitted to enter the hospital. Why did I not stand on the street and command everyone to rise and be healed? That is the vision of God I have; one where He is all-commanding, all powerful, all encompassing.
But where is the power? The work of God can only be done to the extent we will allow it to be done. We limit His hand by our unbelief, by our unacceptance, of His work in our lives. That is what our free will has done to us…it has made our Creator impotent in our lives. It has caused us to sin against the Lord in ways we haven't imagined. We have locked Him into a box.
Lord, I fall on my face in shame. Teach me Lord to give you back control…total control. Where do I get off thinking that you cannot do something about everything in my life when You created my life? Where do I get off thinking you do not care about every facet of my life…and Your desire is always towards me to do what is best for me in every portion of my life. Why is it in my head but not in my heart? Why is it not so much a part of me that I am never separated from You, not for a moment of the day?
How do I reconcile Your life and my life?
Oh Lord, I see it, I taste it, I smell it…but I don't feel the reality. Lord, I believe…help my unbelief.
We are in the last 1000 years of man's time on this earth just as we are – still living in sin. The Muslims are taking the world by storm with little interference from Christians. What is the difference? The passion.
Repeating the challenge given to me by Andrew, the Lord showed me that if I prayed in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day, my teeth would be replaced, every cell, muscle, tissue, etc. would be restored and I would be healed completely from head to foot. I would be transformed, renewed, restored into the person I was created to be.
If I would pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day, I would reach levels of spirituality that I have never envisioned. Seeing visions and commanding spirits into the pit until the time of their release is but a step. There is always a higher level, and with that level in mind, conviction in my heart, I take up that challenge.
The Lord showed me that the level of our spirituality is in direct proportion to the amount of time we spend praying in tongues. We receive ten-fold what we give. That is His economy.
He told me that when we talk to Him in prayer, we simply ask Him for things. For most of us that is the extent of our “relationship” with Him. But when we pray in tongues, we talk to Him on His terms, not ours.
We want God on our terms and by our own methods. I stand convicted of my own lack and insensitivity. I stand convicted and shamed by my own arrogance in this matter.
Do you want to heal in His name? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
Do you want to see His face? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
Do you want to touch heavenly realms? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
Do you want to draw out of the spiritual realm into the natural realm? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
Do you want an enviable walk with the Lord? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
Do you want to be as the apostles? Pray in tongues for at LEAST 1 hour per day.
It is a sacrifice. It is a struggle. It is difficult.
But it is what the Lord requires – our spirit speaking to Him from our hearts, not our minds. Speaking to Him about what we hope for, dream for, long for….
It is time we, as God's people, got serious with our walk with our Lord.
Father God, I lay upon my face before you. I have given you lip service and have not lived my life for you, not fully. Life has gotten in the way too many times. I have forgotten you are my life. I have denied Your power in my life. You are the reason for my existence. You are the reason for our existence. Lord, I am so sorry I have let this life separate You and I. If our relationship was full and complete, this life would not be as I am living it – it would be so much better. I could have eternity here right now.
Forgive me, I repent, for I have sinned mightily against You. I have placed You on my level and not risen to Your level. I need to rise, to stand up and meet You on Your terms. Father, forgive me. Jesus, forgive me. Holy Spirit, forgive me.
If the fallen one can reach into the heavenlies and draw down those things he needs to enslave mankind, I need to reach into the heavenlies and draw down those things I need to free mankind. Lord, help me take that next step of faith and love so I can teach others to reach into the heavenlies and draw out their freedom. Lord, not just saying something, but actually doing something that is real and alive. Not just empty words or ideas…not thoughts that don't amount to anything.
Lord, take me to the next step… to be effectual in Your way. Lord, to do what I hear You tell me to do. How wonderful that would be, instead of trying to do everything in my way. Lord, help me not to do things under my own power or simply in my own understanding, but Lord, I ask you now to teach me to do things Your way.
I have seen people whose only hope was desperation forcing them to turn to You…they turn to You, their Creator, as a last resort…how pitiful, how sad. But I don't even do that. I turn to You when I think I have the time, when I can spare the time. Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me for ignoring You.
Help me to be faithful to You. Teach me to be faithful to You. Honor my heart, dear Lord. Honor my heart that is breaking because I want more of You…need more of You.
In Jesus' name, amen.
God bless you all
Jessica
