Stop, Stay Away!
Hi Friends,
I hope you are all well. There is much going on in the world today. It seems as if everything is being shaken. Nothing remains static - there is shifting going on in the heavenlies just as it is in the natural.
Years ago, we had an earthquake where the center was near Washington, DC, but we felt it here in New Jersey. I remember that I was on a high ladder painting a space that I was renting from a church. I did not feel anything because I was on a ladder, but I heard something. It sounded as if someone was dragging a heavy weight across the floor above me. It was loud - a grinding sound. The associate pastor and the secretary came downstairs and asked me excitedly, “Did you feel that?”
I replied, “I didn’t feel anything. But I heard a loud grinding sound like someone dragging a piece of heavy equipment across the floor.” The secretary told me that she was sitting at her desk when suddenly the chair she was sitting on, began rolling by itself!
Perhaps if you live in California, you might be used to this sort of thing, but in New Jersey? I never experienced anything like this before.
At the time, there were several people questioning, “Could we be living in the last days?” Some would refer to this scripture of the end times: “There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” Mark 13:8
Jesus told us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…..Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 24:36 and 25:13
Just recently, I began watching the news on the television, after having taken a several month break from it. The news these days is so full of emotion and finger pointing, that it is easy to become caught up in the drama. After yesterday evening, I decided to take another break from the television news shows, and simply read the newspaper to get the updates - without all the emotion. Some political leaders and news casters are stirring up anger and outrage for political gain, but to the detriment of the nation as a whole.
I would like to share with you what can happen, when we take in all the negative reports. The enemy of our souls, would love to rob us of our peace and create in us an anxious and fearful heart. He is willing to use anyone or anything to accomplish his goals: “to steal, to kill, and to destroy.“ (John 10:10)
The wicked one loves to cause division and pit one against another. “A house divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” And politically speaking, “a kingdom (nation) divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” Mark 3:24 and 25
The enemy would especially love to create fear and unrest among those who pray. Each prayer that is inspired by the Holy Spirit, is like an arrow, which has a purpose: “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish the task for which it was sent.” Isaiah 55:11
When our prayers come from a place of fear and doubt, the arrows or prayers become misguided. The enemy loves these prayers for they do not accomplish the will of God, but can bring confusion, and human sourced solutions. Instead, we need to come from a place of faith when we pray. When we are focused on magnifying the Lord and praying prayers that are inspired by God, the results can be dramatic: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Matthew 11:5
The vision and its meaning:
First I saw a large serving spoon filled with melted butter poured over a generous serving of mashed potatoes.
Next I saw a toddler looking at me with her hand covered in red and blue finger paint. Her hand and arm were extended as if to say, “Stay away, don’t come near me.”
Then I saw a the sole of a barefoot. There were no calluses or marks. It looked like a healthy foot.
The Toddler
As I considered the vision, I knew that all three pieces of the vision worked together to describe a circumstance. The piece that I prayed about most was the little toddler putting up her hand to say “Stop or Stay away.” Her hand was covered in the colors blue and red. As before, we have seen that blue represents law and justice. The red generally represents sin or blood. As I prayed I realized that the toddler was trying to establish a boundary. “Stop. Don’t come near. Stay away.” Children do this if an older person invades their personal space. Particularly if the person wants to kiss the child. The child will turn its face away. I’ve even seen little ones try to hit someone who is getting a bit too close.
So after praying, I believe that the child’s hand represents a boundary. Because the colors on her hand are blue and red, this represents a boundary that is established by law and protected by blood. I believe that this boundary is our nation’s southern border.
The Butter
Butter is considered a rich food, and anything with butter in it is considered rich. The potatoes speak of the Midwest, among other parts of the U.S. The people groups that eat potatoes are generally European, even though the potato came from the Americas. The United States is both European by heritage, and American by location. We are a wealthy nation compared to most other countries. So the butter, and mashed potatoes represent the United States.
The Sole of the Barefoot
The bottom of the foot is a most sensitive part of the body. It has to be, to be able to detect harmful objects underfoot, and respond quickly before any damage is done. The foot represents those traveling through Mexico on foot from Guatemala and Honduras. Their destination is the United States. However, they must be able to cross the border in order to enter.
So the Vision depicts the three elements of the Caravan:
The Travelers: (sole of a barefoot)
The Border: (the toddler)
The Destination: (a wealthy nation)
The news media and governmental leaders are causing a lot of fear and anxiety over this “caravan.” There are strong feelings expressed by people from all the differing points of view.
But after the last week of watching the news and listening to all the commentary, I had two nights of dreams that I would considered nightmares. Then three nights ago, I had a dream that was absolutely vile and perverted. I woke up in the middle of the night, and knew that the enemy had entered my mind and had given me this dream. There was no doubt as to where it came from.
When the enemy comes in, we must ask ourselves, “Where is the open door?” I knew that the enemy had come in through my fears and anxious thoughts that were created by watching the news. I had allowed fear to get a foothold in my heart, rather than taking the thought captive. I had been earnestly seeking God with an answer to these questions: “How should I think about this? How am I to pray? How do you see these circumstances?”
I can’t tell you how important it is to get God’s perspective on the situations that we bring before him in prayer. The Lord told me once, “Put up your periscope.” (A periscope is the viewing instrument on a submarine that provides a view to the surroundings above the water.) By this, God was saying that I needed to stop looking at the people and circumstances around me, but to get above it all, by putting up my periscope. Through seeking God in prayer, we see from a different vantage point. We see things as the Lord would have us see.
Because of this evil dream, I realized that I had opened a door to the wicked one by entertaining negative thoughts, that had come through the news shows. When we listen to people who are not aligned with God’s values, and who do not have the Spirit of God, we expose our minds and spirits to fear and other strong emotions. If we do not separate from these influences, we can become ensnared. After all, we become like the company we keep. So by watching television night after night, taking in other’s values and the things of the world, we become like the world and less sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Scripture warns us: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father in not in him.” 1 John 2:15
We must be careful not to let the enemy in through our eye gates and our ear gates. “I will set before my eyes no unclean thing.” Psalms 101:3 As people of God, we need to walk in love, walk in the Spirit, be in the word everyday and not get overwhelmed by the difficult situations in other’s lives. When we pray regarding these situations, we must pray from God’s perspective. If we pray from fear and doubt, we will not have peace, and we will pray amiss. We will not understand God’s heart in the situation.
The Bible tells us that when we don’t know how to pray, we should pray in the Spirit. I hope you have been Baptized in the Holy Spirit, and speak in tongues, for it is so important. It gives us power to overcome, and it edifies our spirit and brings more revelation, and the presence of God. When we pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit prays through us, the perfect will of the Father. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through groans that cannot be expressed through words. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
This is how I have been praying for the caravan of people coming to our borders. When we pray in the Spirit, God will pray through us, for we may not understand his heart on this issue. What I remind myself is that God loves us, and all people. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. And nothing is impossible for him.
I made it a point to not pray from a fearful mindset, for if I would, I might be praying contrary to the will of God. So I pray, “Lord have your way in these circumstances. Work in everyone’s life: those that are on their way and those who are already here. Thank you Lord, for you love us all.”
It is funny, as I am typing this, I am recalling how birds will share a roof line. As a bird comes to rest on a roof, the birds that are there, will space themselves to accommodate the new arrival. Each of the birds gives space, because they know how important it is to let another bird rest from a long flight.
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no store room or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds.” Luke 12:24
Also: “Do not be anxious about anything, but with prayer, petition and thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6
The Other Side of the Coin
Now after saying this, I must speak on the sovereignty of our nation and its borders. A very important thing to note, is that when we do not respect authority and we disobey the laws of the land, we become rebellious. This leads to anarchy, which highly displeases God. “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.” Romans 13:1
Rebellion is so destructive to our society. The primary reason that America has succeeded as a self-ruling nation, is because people have been taught to respect the law and choose to do so. However, when the law is no longer respected, people will do whatever it is that pleases them. This is the shifting that has been taking place. We see it everywhere, there is an attitude of entitlement that seems to justify stealing. People engage in all types of fraudulent activities against the government, their employers, against insurance companies and in commerce. Corruption and lack of integrity seems to be expected as the norm for our society.
Sin not only abounds, but it flourishes. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 16:25
“For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23
We must take this situation to prayer:
We must pray for our leaders, that they will have the heart of God and the wisdom of Solomon to deal with this. Let’s pray that there will be compassion, and understanding on both sides of the border. Let us pray that the motives of men’s hearts will be revealed. And that anything hidden in darkness will be exposed. And pray that no one is harmed, and that all people will treat each other as the Lord taught us: “So in everything, do to others, what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
“Give your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you!” 1 Peter 5:7
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
And we all said, “Amen!” God bless you and keep praying for God’s best! There is a solution - his name is Jesus!
