Trust and Peace with God
Hi Friends,
I hope all is well. I wanted to share a few visions with you that the Lord has given me recently. The Lord is our provider, our healer and our deliverer. No matter what is our concern, the Lord is always the answer to every problem. When we call to him, he will answer us, for he is faithful.
The Visions
The Dog
In the first vision, I saw a dog sniffing around a stack of wooden boards that were lying on the ground. The grass was growing around the boards, showing that they had been there for a while. The boards, 1” x 8” and about 8’ in length, were painted white. So they were prefinished, ready to be used.
It is quite normal for a dog to be sniffing the ground. He is looking to discover what things, and what creatures are in the area. However as I thought about the vision, I saw the dog as representing faithfulness. And the boards that were painted white, I believed, could represent righteousness, or perhaps believers. The grass that grew around the boards showed that they had been neglected or abandoned. Could the white boards represent those who were once living for God, who were saved, but are no longer going to church? Were they offended or betrayed by the church? Were they deceived? Did they become disillusioned with the faith, and leave?
I was not sure as to the meaning of vision, so I prayed. Suddenly, there was an expression that came to mind: “The Hound of Heaven.” I believed that the hound referred to God, so I decided to look up the expression. It was said to have originated with the Puritans and was later a name given to a poem written by Francis Thompson, published in 1893. The website “Reasons for Hope* Jesus” provides a pdf file for the poem. This is an excerpt from the article:
This title was inspired by a 182-line poem by an English poet named Francis Thompson (1859–1907). The title was often used by Puritans to refer to God, because it descriptively tells of God’s relentless pursuit of man.
Thompson’s poem was first published in 1893 and it gained popularity in the early 1900s when it was recognized and affirmed by G. K. Chesterton and J. R. R. Tolkien. Chesterton said, “it is the most magnificent poem ever written in English,” to which Tolkien responded by saying Chesterton was not giving the poem the credit it deserves.
The poem is written in a style with words that may be difficult to understand. But the idea conveyed is that even though the poet knows that he is loved and pursued by God, he continues to run.
“...For, though I knew His love Who follow’d, Yet I was sore adread Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside…”
The poet seemed afraid to surrender to the Lord. His fear of having to give up everything to follow the him, seemed too great a price to consider. He would “have naught beside…” So he continued to run.
I was reminded of one of David’s psalms:
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12
I was also reminded of the cost of becoming a disciple. A rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God. After discussing the need to follow the Ten Commandments –
“Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
The Lord was making the point that we cannot consider money, possessions, or anything or anyone else, more important than him. The rich young ruler’s identity and financial security were found in his wealth and in his possessions. To sell everything and follow Jesus, must have challenged him. Having to trust his entire future to Jesus, not knowing what his life would become, was more uncertainty than he could bear. Yet, giving greater value, and importance to money and possessions is to make them an idol.
Idols can be material possesions. But they can be anything that you consider more important that God, sports, children, your spouse, televison, drugs, alcohol, sex and anything that consumes you and your time. Those are idols.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
If you love ******
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
The Lord’s disciples paid a price to follow him:
“Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Matthew 19:27
All the disciples except John were martyred for their faith in the Lord. They paid a price — but now they are in heaven with the Lord and for all eternity they can be with him!
Returning to the vision, we see that the dog represents the Lord who continues to pursue us, wanting none to perish.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
The white boards in the vision were seemingly abandoned, lost, or neglected. If the white boards represent believers then how can they become lost, abandoned or neglected? We know that God is faithful even when we are not. There is nothing that we experience alone.
“The Lord Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
I believe that the Lord knows us even while in our mother’s womb. He knows our character. He knows who will choose to give their hearts to him. So I believe that the boards in the vision were painted white to represent those who are predestined, and chosen by God to be adopted as sons.
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–” Ephesians 1:4-5
Jesus said of his disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” John 15:16
There are many people today, who belong to the Lord, but for some reason, have not yet surrendered everything to him. Some are running from God because they fear that he will ask them to do something they do not want to do. Jonah, a prophet, is a great example of this.
God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, and preach against it. God’s intention was to warn them to repent of their wickedness or else, be destroyed. But because Nineveh was Israel’s enemy, Jonah abhorred the idea. He actually hoped that God would destroy the city. So in defiance of God, he boarded a ship that was headed to Tarshish in the opposite direction of Nineveh.
However, because of his great mercy, God pursued Jonah. He brought a great storm against the ship which threatened to destroy it and everyone on board. Jonah knew that it was his disobedience that caused God’s wrath to be poured out upon the ship, so he asked to be cast into the sea, to protect the lives of the sailors and the ship. Upon doing so, the sea calmed for the sailors, who with grateful hearts sacrificed to the Lord God.
The Lord sent a large fish to swallow Jonah. During the three days he spent in the belly of the fish, Jonah had a change of attitude and repented. After promising to fulfill the Lord’s assignment, the fish coughed up Jonah onto dry land. (You will find the story of Jonah in the Book of Jonah in the Bible.)
Just as the Lord pursued Jonah, he continues to pursue us. And again I quote Jesus’ words:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” John 15:16
A Triplet of Visions
First, I saw a very plain salad, with only greens and a few vegetables.
Then, I saw a large bowl of bean soup. The soup was very simple, with not many vegetables in the soup.
Then I saw a left shoe that was new. I did not see the other shoe.
I believe that all three visions point to shortages in food and necessities. But I believe that it is the Lord’s way to increase our trust in him. “Give us this day our daily bread…” Matthew 6:9-13
The Salad
When I make a salad, which I consider a meal in itself, I usually put in 10 or so, different vegetables and one or two fruits. Being a vegetarian, I usually add a few hard boiled eggs for protein. I use olive oil, avocados, and grated hard cheese for fats. Of course it varies based on what I have on hand, but generally I make a huge salad that would probably serve 6 if it were divided into more normal portions. My husband and I split the salad for dinner. From time to time I might make a smaller salad if we decide to have something on the side. I dress the salads with olive oil, Balsamic vinegar and 5 to 7 spices. I don’t know why, but I never seem to be bored eating pretty much the same thing every day.
But in the vision, the salad was very simple. Not a lot of ingredients. I believe that the Lord is preparing me for more meager, simple meals.
I am sure that you have heard of the food shortages that some leaders have projected for the near future. We have already heard about the shortages in baby formula. Many of these negative projections are self-inflicted. It is our governmental policies which are creating havoc and social distress. The mismanaged and unrestrained government spending is causing a terrible inflation that will devalue the US dollar, and jeopardize the poor and those on fixed incomes. Small businesses may not survive. The middle class and the nuclear family are being attacked. Parental authority is being usurped. What’s next?
We have to keep our eyes on the Lord. As Christians, we must see this as an opportunity to let our light shine. Let us keep our focus not on the problem, but on the one who answers our prayers. We can fret - but who is helped by fretting?
Jesus teaches about worry and fear:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34
Paul also speaks on worry and anxiety:
“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 Soup
In the vision of the soup, I saw a large bowl about 10-11” in diameter, filled with a white bean soup. The broth looked a bit grayish/brown. There were no vegetables that I could recognize as such. It was mostly liquid with only a few beans poking up out of the broth.
I usually have soup for lunch and a salad for dinner. When I make a vegetable soup I add a lot of vegetables and two beaten eggs. It is mostly vegetables with only a bit of broth. The soup in the vision is not quite the same. It was a more humble meal, not like the robust soup that I normally make.
The vision of the soup is similar to the vision of the salad. Both mean the same thing. There will be less food available. We need to prepare for the days ahead. Just as Joseph directed Pharaoh to store the surplus in the years of plenty, we might want to take steps to store food for our own families.
However, we are not to overreact out of fear. Worrying about the future and about our food supply or essentials can rob us of our peace and undermine our faith in the Lord to provide. This is the time to remember the Lord’s faithfulness and all that the Lord has done for us. Let’s be strong and encourage others to stand in faith too.
God’s provision in my life:
Years ago, when my husband lost his job, I could see his emotions were like a roller coaster: vacillating between hope and despair. About the sixth month of his unemployment, I was nursing our third child, in the rocking chair. I asked the Lord to tell me what was going to happen to us. Suddenly God gave me a vision. I saw myself standing next to a tall, heavy blue curtain. A huge hand, about 4 feet in length, appeared between myself and the blue drapery. On the hand was an equally large matzo cracker covered in honey. I heard a voice say, “Here, take this.”
I knew that it was the Lord’s hand. He was going to provide for us, and it was not going to be as bad as I was imagining, because there was honey on the cracker!
And the Lord did supply! The Lord provided a beautiful luxury apartment at $1000.00 less per month than what our neighbors paid. We have lived in this apartment now for 20 years. This is a savings of $240,000.00 over the course of those 20 years. God is good. He really provides for us! What a blessing!
Trust in the Lord!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:1-10
The Shoe
The shoe in this last vision is identical to three pairs of black shoes that I currently own. One pair I wear when working with messy or dirty projects or activities. Another pair I wear for everyday use. And the third pair I reserve for “nice casual.”
However in the vision, there is only one shoe, the left one. Where is the other shoe? I believe that this vision, like the others, speaks of going without some things. But again, what do we do? Everytime we hear a bad report, or something that causes alarm, we must choose to take these thoughts captive and declare over our lives, “It is well.”
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Let us praise the Lord and be encouraged in his provision. Let us live for him everyday, for we know that we can trust him with our tomorrows.
Please share this post with others. God bless you and your family, friends and loved ones!
