Friday evening I entered the C-HOP House of Prayer with less enthusiasm than normal. I wasn't feeling well, and one of my daughters was feeling worse than I was. We would be leaving early. On top of that, only few people showed up -- those fifth Fridays throw everyone off. Nevertheless, I sat down to worship and focused my heart on intercession. Nearly immediately, these words of prayer came; "Lord turn the intentions of my heart into the flow of your mercy, love, and grace. Let me flow with your currents, my heart breaking with your passions, my soul longing for communion, my spirit embracing your intercession. " It was his gift to me -- a prayer to open the heavenlies.
Like a true embrace, I could feel myself held by the Lord and at the same time reaching out to hold those for whom I was praying. My heart burned and tears began to flow. Through tears I prayed nearly silently (for in the natural my throat still hurt, and I was a little worried that crying out would cause more throat pain.) So, I penned my prayers through the tears. "I grab hold of your intentions for ... " and then I let the names flow onto the page. A whole page of names flowed, and yet for each one I felt the fire of embracing that person in intercession. Power poured forth.
I cried out in intercession, and yet there was more, so much more. The Lord wanted me to cry out for Him -- for communion with Him in the Spirit. He pulled me into a place of longing and desire in which I felt my heart would explode with the hunger for being near Him. I knew that I was indeed sprinkled with His blood and accepted into His embrace of passion. I could feel my spirit within me leaping and longing for freedom. Jesus hands drew me up into a dance of love that I had not experienced in a long while.
Throughout this experience I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings. I knew that one of my children was digging mints out of my purse, and I only felt an internal giggle. I sensed that not everyone in the room was entering in, and I interceded, longing for them that they would feel what I felt. But mostly I was just lost in His Presence, the glory, the mercy, the grace, the passion! The intensity rose to a 10.
The Lord brought me to the point of travail for a few people as I prayed and worshipped, and yet the whole experience was more a passionate encounter with God than anything else.
I penned one last prayer with tears streaming down: "Lord, I embrace what you desire, because there is nothing like it in the universe. Help me, Lord! I feel as if I might explode if I hold on to you, and yet I can't let go .
All my children were with me that evening, yet clearly the Lord designed that encounter strictly for me, keeping them (for the most part) from distracting me. I wish they could have been caught up with me. Perhaps another day....
I am so thankful for this encounter Friday evening! The following two and half days have been filled with physical pain and little energy to direct into prayer - battling an illness. But I look forward to the victory that is mine on the other side of this sickness. I long for a sweet reunion.
Advice: Keep showing up -- keep opening your heart to Him -- you never know when he will sweep you off your feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment