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A Briefcase, A Fire Truck and Blue Shoes

Hi Friends,

I hope you are well.  Today is a vision is about a young man in trouble.  We have been praying for him for almost 10 months now.  God is faithful, and when we call on him, on behalf of others, he does hear our prayers.  This is God’s response. But he asks us to continue in prayer, because there is a war in the heavenlies, and our prayers can support the battle.

This is the four part vision:

1. First I saw a woman dressed in a black suit.  She wore her long dark hair, pulled back, and bound into a ponytail, near the nape of the neck.  She suddenly fell. In her hand was a briefcase, which flew up into the air. However, she continued to hold onto it.

2. Next, I saw a car on the opposite side of the street, drive past me.  As the car continued forward, a fire truck was seen following behind. There were no lights flashing.  There were no sirens sounding. The truck was not in a hurry.

3. Then I saw a pair of dark blue tennis shoes next to a wall.  The shoes had white soles and their laces were untied.

4. Then I saw a large strong man carrying a woman over his shoulder.  I could not see her face, but she was wearing a red dress.

This is what I believe the vision means:

The Woman with the Briefcase

I believe the woman represents the demonic powers operating in the situation.  Jesus calls the devil, “the accuser of the brethren.” Whenever we feel condemnation, we should not believe it is coming from the Lord.  When the enemy attacks, it can often be with words of condemnation: “Boy did you look stupid!” “Whatever made you think that, doing that was a good idea?”  “I bet everyone thought you looked foolish!” The enemy plants these thought in hopes that you respond with internal vows. “Well, next time I won’t go forward.  I’ll never do that again! No one will ever get me to ______ again!”

The enemy wants you to be so bound up with fear, (what others will say or think) that you never do anything for the Lord.  He wants you to sit in your pew, and just look pious! He wants you to trade the presence of the Lord, or something truly genuine, with something that is false, and only a “safe,” non-threatening, lukewarm, replica.

Sometimes the enemy can accuse so relentlessly, so vehemently, that the person becomes dejected, depressed, and even suicidal.  Deliverance is needed. This is something that only God’s authority, and the truth of His word can dismantle, and completely overcome.  Deliverance brings freedom.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”  Luke 4:18

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 Corinthians 3:17

In the vision, the woman fell, but still managed to keep hold of the briefcase.  The briefcase contains all the accusations, and plans of the wicked one. The enemy still controls the arsenal. His plans and accusations still continue against this young man. But the woman fell. This means that the authority that she thought she had to accuse, and to destroy, is being taken from her. God has the final say in all things. Through our prayers and our declarations - we bind the enemy “in the name of Jesus.” We take authority over the powers of darkness, and we command the enemy to loose the young man, “in the name of Jesus!”  We uproot the accusations, and lies of the enemy and declare them to be null and void, “in the name of Jesus!”

The Fire Truck

In the vision, the fire truck  was not seen at first, but hidden from view by a passing car.  When the fire truck appeared, it was driving along, at a normal speed.  There were no signs of urgency - no flashing lights and no sirens blaring.  I believe that God is showing me, that the fire truck is ready, for it is already on the road, but there is no fire or emergency yet.  It is as if the fire truck were patrolling the streets.

Because we have been praying now for ten months, I believe that the Lord has been watching over the situation all this time.  He is saying to us, “I have this under control.” We have to see with eyes of faith. The enemy would have us panic, fret and worry.  But God’s word tells us to “wait upon him,” to trust Him for this young man’s deliverance.

When we pray, we give God our troubles, and our burdens, and he give us peace!  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The Blue Shoes

The pair of blue shoes represents a person’s walk with God.  They were tennis shoes or “sneakers.” These shoes are not like leather dress shoes that make noise as you walk across a hard surface.  They are quiet. Perhaps, this young man’s walk has been quiet, keeping to himself. Perhaps God is the only one who really knows his heart.

The color of the shoes are dark blue and white.  The dark blue represents the law, truth, and God’s authority.  When Moses met with God on the mountain, it says that “Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire clear as the sky itself.”  Exodus 24:10. My study Bible suggests that what was translated “sapphire” might have been better interpreted as lapis lazuli - a dark blue stone.

What God chose to represent the foundation upon which he stands is a dark blue gem, representing who he is - “I am the way the truth and the life.”   John 14:6 His word is truth. His word is law, and his word is authority.

The white presents holiness, and purity, also attributes of God.  For God is perfect. He is the very essence of purity and holiness.  

When I see that the blue shoes have been removed, with their shoe strings untied, I see that this young man has left God’s authority, and truth.  He has abandoned God’s laws and his ways. He has rejected purity and holiness to choose his own way. However, these shoes he has placed next to the wall, side by side, showing his intention is to return to God and his ways.  He intends someday to live a life pleasing to God, honoring his law, his word and the truth.

This gives me hope, that in spite of where this young man is now, there will be a return to the Lord.  I have been praying now, all these months that the charges will be dropped against this young man. I have faith to believe that God will do the impossible.  But I must also believe and know that God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. What God wants from this young man is his devotion.  

Ultimately, it is God’s desire that “none would be lost.” John 6:39  The Lord wants everyone to come into a true relationship with him, based on love and devotion.  He wants us to put him first in our lives. Most people cannot appreciate this. They squeeze God into their busy schedules, whenever it suits them.  This is offensive to God. God does not care for a half-hearted, lukewarm attitude towards him. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---neither hot nor cold---I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelations 3:15-16

The shoes in the vision were placed near a concrete wall.  This is a divide, a separation between what is God’s way and our way.  It is a divide between the inside and the outside. It can be a divide between being at liberty to go where you want to go, or to be confined and unable to leave.

I am praying for this young man, that he is not to be confined, but to walk in liberty.  I am praying that he chooses the Lord’s ways, over his own ways. If after this ordeal of months on end, he chooses to go his own way it would be a terrible shame.  However, because the shoes are carefully placed next to the wall, I believe he will someday return to the Lord, and walk with him in purity, truth and holiness.

The Man Carrying a Woman

The man in the vision I believe was an angel.  He was carrying a woman in a red tight dress over his shoulder.  I believe that she was a demon. God never offends me with visions, that is why in so many visions I do not see the face.  God will show me the face of an angel. In fact, often he will have the angel look directly at me. But in this vision, the angel is on a mission, to carry away the demonic force working against this young man.  Wherever there is discord, division, hatred, evil and confusion, you can be sure that a demon is working behind the scenes to cause chaos and mayhem.

This vision gives me much hope.  When we pray in the Spirit, or declare in our own language what we know is the will of God, things happen.  By praying on behalf of this young man, the enemy is taken captive, and the Lord wins the battle for this man’s soul.   For me, this is the best news of all. God wants all people everywhere to be saved. “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”  John 6:39

We want to give the enemy no room.  We will not harbor or abet the enemy.  When we say no to our natural tendencies, and say yes to the things of God, we give no foothold to the devil.  We become useful to the Lord in accomplishing all that he wants to do in the lives of those for whom we pray.

So I continue to pray for this young man. He is in a difficult situation, and what we are praying for is mercy and the favor of God to rest upon him. We are praying for his liberty and his salvation. “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13

The times we are living in are tough, so we must encourage one another to live each day unto the Lord. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22

God bless you all! And please continue to pray for those whose lives are “hanging in the balance.”