Yesterday we had a wonderful ladies ministry time at our home. It was a precious time as we came together with open hearts to receive from the Holy Spirit. These times of men, women, and small groups coming together in such a time as this are powerful times that can’t be taken away. The Lord had put on my heart that as ladies we needed to get to know each other better. Many are new and the bonding of women is a strength like no other. So, we talked about our favorite food, favorite colors, and favorite Bible verses. Then we shared what our dream trip or vacation would be and finally one of the desires of our heart. Wow! These ladies shared from their hearts and in the end, after tears, prayer and deep compassion, we knew we could each go forward in all He had for each of us. He was awakening us to our destiny!
Here is a passage from Genesis that I shared: “Afterwards, the word of God came to Abram in a vision and said, “Abram, don’t yield to fear, for I am your Faithful Shield and your Abundant Reward.” But Abram replied, “Lord God, what good is your reward if I remain childless? I’m about to die without a son, and my servant, Eliezer of Damascus, will inherit all my wealth. A servant in my household will end up with everything because you have not given me any children.” Immediately the word of God came to him, “No! Eliezer will not be your heir. I will give you a son from your own body to be your heir.” Then God brought him outside of his tent and said, “Gaze into the night sky. Go ahead and try to count the stars.” He continued, “your seed will be as numerous as the stars!” And Abram trusted every word God had spoken! And because of his faith, God credited him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:1-6
As the ladies shared, we saw there was such a connection between our favorite Bible verses and the desires of our heart. Our dream trips then tied in with our other desires and we could see how important it is to not give up on what He has put inside of us. The Lord showed me that we must believe like Abram. We couldn’t get the desires of our heart with a tent vision but we needed a heavenly vision like Abram had when he saw the countless stars in the sky. A heavenly vision is an unlimited vision of God’s promise. A heavenly vision is our inheritance just as it was for Abram. His promises are our inheritance. Not a someday inheritance. His promises are yes and amen right now today and are already ours, we just have to believe they are ours and receive them as our own. Like Abram, by faith we know, believe and receive that every promise in the Word is 100%, completely ours right now! Abram knew what God had promised but he didn’t see it and actually had a talk to God about it. Even after this promise from God was given it didn’t happen the next day, Abram had to continue to stand in faith and know what God had promised He would fulfill. ” The one who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete his work in you.” Abram got impatience and decided to make God’s promise happen. We do that sometimes. We don’t like waiting and wondering when things are going to happen or when this heavenly vision will come to pass. Walking in His faith can wait and rest in Him and His promise. When we get into the flesh, we find a way to make things happen in any way we can and it is never fruitful results.
One of the greatest ways to be able to rest in a waiting season is to stay in thanksgiving. I shared last week about an “altar of worship”. The Lord spoke to me, “This is a time to build an “altar of worship” at every breakthrough, big or small. This is so important in this season.” Each time we see breakthrough in any area of our lives we need to magnify the Lord and worship Him as we realize that His promises are truly for us. Our prayers are being answered in the heavenly realm whether we see it happening or not. I like to remember the many promises He has fulfilled for me. One way is having pictures of my family around the house. I don’t want to take my family for granted for one second. As I see pictures of our parents, friends, children, and grandchildren I am reminded of His promise to me and my inheritance. When I see a picture of my children, I thank the Lord for His faithfulness to help us raise them in the way they should go and save their lives whether it was heart surgery at 16 months old, brought back to life from a stroke at 32 years old, saved in miraculous ways when deep in the Ugandan jungle with malaria, saved from a hard heart when rejected and tossed to the side or protected and sheltered under His wings when various attacks try to take your life. I worship Him daily for protecting and loving my 24 grandchildren as they encounter life every day. There is so much evil but I know that my children, grandchildren and great grandbaby are my inheritance and no evil can touch what is mine in the Lord. Each time a financial blessing comes in within seconds of needing I fall on my knees and worship Him. The Lord has never been unfaithful. We always want things like healing and financial breakthroughs right now but knowing He is faithful gives us hope in times of waiting. I have a picture of my Mom and her husband Dave and praise the Lord daily for their healing. Mom will be 91 this year and has some things that slow her down but nothing has slowed down her love for the Lord and her faithfulness to believe in His promises. I put favorite Bible verses that have ministered to us before our eyes daily. I have verses that I’m believing and speaking will be fulfilled before my eyes. My walls are a gallery of thankful memories that the Lord has given to us. Also, taking communion daily remembering what Christ did for us is one of the greatest parts of worship there is. It is so powerful in keeping your focus on Him.
Then after I had shared all this at the ladies gathering the Lord showed me that I wasn’t believing, standing firm on or trusting in a promise He had given Ed and I. He clearly spoke to me that a desire of my heart I was not believing /declaring as mine! I have TOTALLY fallen into the trap of the world and believed the fear tactic that we will very soon not be able to travel outside the US without the vaccine. That is a fact that is being spoken by the enemy and those that want to control us but WHY AM I ACCEPTING AND BELIEVING THIS? That’s definitely tent vision and not unlimited heavenly vision! I have spoken that if it comes to going to another country with a vaccine or no more travel if I don’t get the vaccine then I just won’t be going. It’s true I won’t let manipulation, control, threats and witchcraft govern my decision on that but why am I not declaring that I will go again and on God’s terms not the world’s terms. I have a desire to continue going to Peru and Kenya and I will speak, declare and see myself there with those children. It can so easily catch us off guard. We MUST keep looking up with a heavenly vision and preparing our hearts to go and fulfill all He has for us to do.
These are powerful verses from 1 Thessalonians 5 that give us insight and direction in these days as we are living in. “Now, beloved brothers and sisters, concerning the question of God’s precise times and specific seasons, you don’t need me to write anything to you. For you already know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly and as a complete surprise… But you, beloved brothers and sisters, are not living in the dark, allowing that day to creep up on you like a thief coming to steal. For you are all children of the light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night nor to darkness. This is why we must not fall asleep, as the rest do, but keep wide awake and clearheaded… But since we belong to the day, we must stay alert and clearheaded by placing the breastplate of faith and love over our hearts, and a helmet of the hope of salvation over our thoughts. For God has not destined us to experience wrath but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. He gave his life for us so that we may share in resurrection life in union with him—whether we’re awake or asleep. Because of this, encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another, just as you have already been doing….We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. Resist revenge, and make sure that no one pays back evil in place of evil but always pursue doing what is beautiful to one another and to all the unbelievers. Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. Avoid every appearance of evil. Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The one who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete his work in you.”