So, God has really has me in a place that was really uncomfortable. Let me tell you a little bit about it…
I made a choice of faith to come to Kansas City 3 months ago. I didn’t really know why. I believed in what the International House of Prayer was pursuing. Although I didn’t understand it fully, I felt that prayer was much more important than I ever understood. When I heard teaching on intercession and Christ return, I was moved because I agreed deep down that these two were connected. Now, after being here for almost 3 months and spending on average 36 hours a week in prayer and intercession, I am beginning to touch on the real truth of the power of prayer in this time. This truth is strongly connected with faith. You must believe that prayer shifts and moves things. This requires faith.
As I began to have faith and really believe in the power of prayer, I asked many close friends and family to partner with me once a week in prayer. They began praying for me for provision, revelation, safety, and growth. The difference when these partners began doing this was like a tangible wave of exhilaration in every one of these areas. To everyone that is doing this for me… I am literally about to cry thinking about how thankful I am that you have committed to this. Your personal investment in me now will have eternal weight, and there will be great steps and ground gained for the kingdom. I truly believe it. I feel it.
Let me tell you about one of the ways that God is speaking to me because I feel it will also speak to you. This week God asked me to take a step completely out of my comfort zone. I know that I want to finish the second track of this intercessory missionary training and service. It’s necessary for where I want to go with God and the purposes to which He is calling me. The cost was more than I have in my bank account. Making this commitment in a seemingly deficit spending situation does not make sense to my natural mind and even seems irresponsible. So, I began to ask God to provide before I had to make the choice. Turns out, this is not how it works.
One day on my run, I was talking to God about this situation. He told me clearly to make steps of faith as often as possible. Why? Because this side of eternity will be our only chance. On the other side of eternity, we will KNOW Him. There will not be opportunities to make choices displaying our trust in God despite any uncertainty. There will not be any more moments where we are uncertain of His character and whether or not we can trust Him in which we can utilize the strength of His Spirit to make a choice of love, faith, and trust despite uncertainty. Get it? He was telling me: Enjoy the excitement of trusting Me and seeing Me come through for you as much and often as possible.
On further recollection, I began to parallel this to dating vs. marriage. There is a certain excitement to dating while you are getting to know the person. On this side of eternity, we are able to enjoy this time as the time of growing in knowledge of God. On the other side of eternity, we will know Him. This can be compared to marriage, but we will look back always on the excitement of the period on earth where we were getting to know Him and making faith choices. So, let’s enjoy this brief period that we have and choose to dare to trust Him based on His promises and His word! We will be happy we did through all Eternity.
*Read about George Muller if you want to grow in faith
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
As usual I’m going to be very open and vulnerable. One thing I’ve been learning is that pressure makes us ugly. This week I have begun to feel the beginning of God’s pressing on my faith and trust. He has been using financial need that greatly outweighs the “seen” provision to test my faith based on the knowledge of who He is and His character. With each new financial pressure, I have seen myself become more self-focused. I see now why Jesus said be anxious for nothing. Because when we are anxious, we are taking our eyes off Jesus and placing them on ourselves. That is not faith. Anxiety is the opposite of faith. The directions for faith are given in Hebrews 12:2 “Looking Unto JESUS…” When we look at the character and personality of our Father through Jesus, what cause do we have to be anxious?
It’s another study point that this verse also includes considering and provoking one another to love and good works. I wonder if this means provoking them to take steps of faith by encouragement and support…
Studying Faith
Faith is the substance of things hoped for…
The evidence of things unseen…
This verse is astounding. It is beautiful. Each time I read it my mind is stretched. Faith is a substance. The next verse says that “through faith the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” So by our faith and our declaration/prayer, we are forming our reality. This of course is through our hope and understanding of God and His will through Jesus and the Spirit.
I wonder what the substance of faith looks like in the spirit world. Hmm…
One definition of faith given in the amplified version is “that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness” (Heb 10:22). I also like the way the amplified depicts our walk of faith in Romans 1:17:
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith… (KJV) Both springing from faith and leading to faith. (AMP) So, by taking steps of faith, we are creating a springboard for greater faith choices. These first choices create a well of faith experiences with God from which we can draw in order to propel us to make those choices in the future. This reveals the righteousness aspect of His character. ( Righteousness is most closely defined as just.) By going from faith to faith, we are taken from glory to glory.
Hebrews 10:35 Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.
In the Prayer Room, a woman came up to me and said she had a “Word” or prophecy for me. She said, “Strength and dignity are your clothing.” Another prophetic word was given to me later that also spoke of my strength and honor. It’s strange to hear what God says about you when you feel anything but…
As my heart has been opened, I have really struggling with not finding affirmation in others. I was rebuked strongly by God for flirting. This rebuke made me see my darkness, and that I am prone to go to men or even competition with friends for my value and affirmation.
During my quiet time yesterday, I was studying Song of Songs 6. In 6:4, God speaks to her. He tells her that she is beautiful and fierce (as an army). Six verses later, the world (ladies) see these same qualities about her. It is so important that we go to God, asks Him what He thinks about us, what He sees when He looks at us, what He says about our future and our situations. When we let this in to our spirit, the world will begin to see these same virtues because when God speaks, His words do not return void. He spoke the world into existence. He will call forth your strength and your destiny.
So, I finally made the cut. 8 years ago when I was zealously declaring my willingness for martyrdom to Jesus, God said, “That’s great! Would you start by cutting your hair?” That stung. My golden, rapunzel-like hair? Hmm… Ok maybe my martyrdom declaration wasnt quite as serious as I thought. Eight years later, God brought this memory to mind. I wondered on it for 3 weeks. Had my dedication to God matured? Well, it seems 8 years later…. I have taken some forward steps. Although I almost passed out twice… Like really…it was an amazing achievement today. Hair can be glorious, but there is no beauty like the glory that dwells inside of me. And after all,
“There is nothing as beautiful as a woman in love.” This is what God told me last night.
I can’t believe it’s already August. Well, I don’t have much time. So briefly, this is what God is highlighting. He began to emphasize that pleasure should be sought zealously. Also… Pleasure is not separate from worship & obedience. I’m reading The Dangerous Duty of Delight. I’ve been listening to a lot of Patricia King teachings lately. This is one I especially enjoyed:
http://heburnsforme.com/Patricia_King.html
Living Under an Open Heaven
Her glory school teachings have made me ravenous for a greater revelation of the cross. Paul said he resolved to know NOTHING but Christ & Him crucified. This is my same desire. Then all the other lovers fade away and we begin to live in the eternal reality of the supernatural.
Here is a video of Misty warming up before
church tonight:
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