At the beginning of the year I wrote in my journal something that I felt the Lord was revealing to me about my personal life this year. I wrote: “This is the year for shaking. 2013 was a year for growing roots but 2014 is shaking and strengthening these roots….Your roots are not complete yet! They will continue to grow as you take to heart the seriousness and importance of the shaking around you. Respect me but do not fear. I am around you and my Spirit is within you! Be a fragrance, be a light. One word: intimacy.”
As we move into the month of March I have seen a lot of shaking happening around me. I have also been so thankful that the Lord has been my anchor in and through every one of these trials because through Him my roots have continued to push through the dry soil and strive into the presence of deep and true living water to replenish my soul. The refreshing water of the word has not only given me comfort but has allowed me to be of comfort to others. Throughout the past three months I have learned that in any situation there is only one valid question to be asked: What is God’s perspective on this?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105
Our thoughts are formed like trees according to human brain researcher Dr. Caroline Leaf. Every thought in our brain looks like a tree at the molecular level and as the thought develops proteins begin to form around the thought and create the structure of the tree. Scientists have proven that our brains are wired to receive and build on healthy thoughts because as we meditate on healthy thoughts the proteins build around them and then transfer into our bodies through chemical reactions, hormonal releases, electrical circuits, and eventually actions. Whether we have good or bad thoughts our brains continue to wire these thoughts and build proteins around them which constantly change the chemical makeup of our brain. Likewise, toxic thoughts that are built into a structure in our brain will eventually cause problems to us physically as Dr. Leaf explains “Nearly 95% of physical, emotional, and behavior problems today come from our thought life.”
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
As we choose to seek God for His perspective on our lives and situations we face we are choosing to build healthy “trees” in our minds that will eventually become so lush and strong that toxic thoughts and trees will wither away. I believe the key to knowing God’s perspective on things comes from intimacy and relationship with Him. Being sensitive to what we are thinking, praying, and speaking is birthed from closeness to the presence of God.
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3
The same spirit that hovered over the waters and responded to the words of our Father in heaven resides within us. Through salvation in Jesus we allow His spirit to hover over our lives and our situations and every shaking that we may face. Notice first the Spirit hovered and afterward God spoke. I believe this verse applies to us and our prayer life as well. The Spirit of God will hover over us and reveal to us what is right and what is to be spoken into our situations. Speaking light into our lives is partnering with Christ because He is the light of the world. When we speak light into our lives we are speaking the name of Jesus.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
David Herzog writes in Mysteries of the Glory Unveiled, “When the presence of God is hovering over you in a given place, and you hear his voice saying something……you must speak those words out. Learn to do it spontaneously as He is saying it, and when you do, creative miracles will begin to manifest themselves.” Our God is a creator and even today in our lives He works to create miracles all around us. He creates miracles of blessing, favor, wisdom, paths of outreach, healing, provision, guidance and comfort, and much more! It is up to us to speak the things we feel the Lord saying into the situations around us and into our lives.
“He (Jesus) was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14
Joyce Meyers’ discusses applying the word of God as a medicine. She explains that when we have a headache smearing an ibuprofen on our heads will not help it one bit. We have to by mouth internally take and digest the ibuprofen for it to cure our headache. Joyce believes that applying the word of God as medicine daily in our lives is one of the strongest ways to boost and push us towards healing and wholeness both internally and externally. I couldn’t agree more!
When I am faced with a shaking I have begun to find scriptures that relate to the situation. I seek the Lord and His word and when I find the applicable scriptures and compile them I pray and speak them directly into whatever situation I am facing. If I am interceding for a friend I will often find a verse or scripture that relates to that person and pray that specific verse over their life as well.
“But he answered, ‘It is written, ’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
Pressing in and learning to be still and wait on the Lord to give us His perspective is a discipline and a challenge that most of us tend to bypass on the first shot. We want fast prayers and fast answers so that we can move on with our lives. Then as an after-thought we wonder why our prayers are not being answered and why we seem to shoot a thousand arrows into heaven with only a few hitting the mark. This was not God’s design for us. We are created to press in and allow His spirit to hover over us so that we can then speak the light of Jesus and His perspective in a prayer that will hit the mark every time. The circumstances we are in are perfectly designed to bring us closer to Jesus and more Christ-like in character! Sometimes we don’t need fast answers; sometimes we need the process!
“How do we listen in on that conversation in Heaven? First, we enter God’s presence with thanksgiving. Then we still ourselves, finding rest in that secret place He has set aside for us. God will reveal Himself to us in a number of ways. We have the scripture because it tells us what the heart and mind of God is in certain situations. It’s like a heavenly cheat sheet…..We use prayer to pray the will of God, and that brings us into a place of faith and proclamations. We grow in confidence in the will of God, as our prayers change us to be more like Him. We have decided to follow the process that God has ordained in the circumstances He has allowed to unfold.”
Graham Cooke in Crafted Prayer
While I am convinced there is no set formula for intimacy with Jesus, I know that my time seeking His will in my life has brought me to a place of closeness with Him that I have never before experienced on this earth. It doesn’t always look like a silent room with me on my knees in prayer but often takes the form of everyday activities. His perspective will come to me during every day “aha moments” such as exercise, cooking supper, cleaning the house, speaking with a friend, meditating on scripture.
I challenge you to take a look at the things you are facing today. Look closely at the shaking that is in your life or the life of someone around you. Look at the shaking that is in your church, town, state, country, or our world. Ask Jesus what His perspective is and what piece you have been called to pray about. Compile scriptures, press in to the Light of the World, and pray with confidence. After all, Jesus is the one that said, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Let us also be imitators of Christ! (1 Thessalonians 2:14)
Crutchprints in the Sand 
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