On Intercession

The Lord has blessed me with a gift and calling in intercession. Along with this gift, though, comes along many testings and trials that I need to overcome.

I believe (and have seen in my life) that the Lord speaks to His people in dreams, visions, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, etc. Mostly when I pray, I pray because a request has come up, but there are times when the Lord places on my heart these incredible feelings for the person or situation.

Sometimes I'm awakened in the night with a dream or a thought to pray about something.

Other times, the Lord uses my own feelings and such to show me an area to pray for - regarding myself, but also for others.

Last night was one of those circumstances. And it showed me that I need to infuse myself even more with Him so I don't let those feelings rule my emotions.

I was having a very irritating night. There was a fly in the house that kept biting me, I had to "frog" most of yesterday's accomplishments on the blanket I'm working on (all because I didn't wait on the Lord to show me what to do), I was irritated by the speakers at the debate and when I wanted to just go into a room to drown out the noise, THE FLY WAS THERE!!!!

I didn't handle it all very well and almost drove my poor husband out of the house. Thankfully the Lord has also blessed me with a kind, compassionate, patient husband and he didn't throw ME out of the house. One day I hope to repay him and be the kind, compassionate patient woman God wants me to be.

Anyway, I sat on the floor and just cried out to the Lord to help me. The feelings that overcame me were so scary! Depression, craziness, and others. Wow. Through all this a name came into my head. I knew I needed to pray for this person. And I did, but because I've not been into the Word like I should, because I've not been in communication with the Lord like I should, my mind didn't stay in prayer for this person for long. I kept going back to ME and what my behavior was doing to my family.

Well, the Lord, in His goodness, finally let me stop crying enough to go back to bed and I woke up refreshed and in a normal mood - so much so my husband commented on it.

But it was a stark reminder that I let this intercessory opportunity get the best of me. I let the feelings rule my emotions. I believe that I was feeling what this person that I was praying for was feeling. But had I been more in touch with God during my waking hours, it wouldn't have affected my emotions like it did.

Now, God doesn't love me any more or less when I do or don't take time to read or pray. But my response to circumstances sure is different when I've been in the Word, praying and surrounding myself with knowledge of His goodness than if I'm not.

Supernatural Living

I'm reading a book by Bill Johnson called "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind". It is forcing me to believe that I need to live a supernatural life. To call Heaven down on earth. The Lord's prayer - Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. That is what we are called to do. See and operate in God's will on earth as it is in Heaven.

My husband and I believe that the Lord has dropped an opportunity to purchase a home from a friend in our lap. The home is worth $50-$100K more than what we are being asked to pay. The home we are currently living in is 1,656 square feet. The home we are being presented is 2,738 square feet. We were given a tour of the home this past weekend and it is beautiful and there is more to it than what we originally thought.

I have learned to be content in the small home I live in. Prices for homes in the city where I live have gone up considerably. But so have the property taxes. I am aware that If we moved into a home worth 3x the amount our current mortgage is for, our taxes will go up.

We were reminded last night that we may not be able to afford the mortgage payments on this home. I cried. But it was something I knew deep down. I couldn't understand why the Lord would present this opportunity to us if we couldn't afford it.

I woke up this morning with a new outlook. No, we may not be able to buy this home on our own efforts. But we are called to live in the Supernatural. Even Jesus said He could do nothing in Himself (John 5:30), while living on this earth. In our own power, we may not be able to afford to make mortgage payments on our friends' home. But I have a Father in Heaven who is the God of the universe, the creator of all things. If I still believe he has given us this opportunity, then I also need to believe He will provide a way for us to own this home. My prayer is no longer, Lord I want be able to get a mortgage for this home. My prayer now is to own this home debt free. With God all things are possible.

John 15:5-8 (New King James Version)

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.