Learning to Access God's Thoughts and Ways: Part III

When I was in the Spirit about one year ago, I had a vision where I was walking with the Lord on a beach. The beach was breathtakingly beautiful and extended infinitely into the mists in front of us.  I felt his captivating love for me as He said:

“My thoughts are as endless as the sands on this beach.  You can access as many of them as you choose to as long as you walk with me.  And my glory is like the waves on this ocean.  Wave after wave, I will allow my Spirit to break over your life until you are conformed to my nature.”

As he said this, I felt regret for how little I’ve sought His thoughts or His Spirit and I longed to remain there with Him.  I wept under the weight of love I felt as he said this and felt a burning desire to seek Him more, to truly know His thoughts and walk in His ways. 

Then, I started to ask Him about people in my life that I’ve been praying for —especially those who I didn’t really know or understand.  He picked up a seashell, at which point I noticed that many seashells were washing up on the shore.  Then he said,

“I will only reveal to you what I will do in other people’s lives to the extent that you love them as I do.”

As soon as he said this, I realized that the shells represented prophetic clarity about the people that I was interceding for.  He would give me the revelation to hold those in my hands who I would commit to love as He loves.

I also believe there was a hidden message in this parable.  As we walked, there were more and more shells washing upon the beach until it was almost covered.  There are many people who have been in God’s “breakers” for a long time but are about to land in the infinite expanse of God’s thoughts.  

The Psalmist said, “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” (Psalm 42:7) Revelation from God often moves in tandem with trials and brokenness. However, many have been walking in brokenness for a long time and it’s time for them to get grounded in the thoughts of God that can sustain them.  God is often in the brokenness because he uses it to knead the leaven of the kingdom through our nature.  The end result is not meant to be perpetual depression and confusion, but a breakthrough of the very Presence and voice of Christ into our lives that is utterly transformative.  

We can be confident that we are beginning to access God's thoughts and God's ways when we begin to walk in His love.  This is a love that begins with his desire for us personally.  However, if we are really walking in His love, then we will also sense his overwhelming love and great calling upon the lives of everyone around us.  This is why John wrote:

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8)

God wants to share his most intimate thoughts and deepest desires with us.  He wants to give us revelation of the heavenly realms and wisdom for living our lives as a service to others.  However, all of this begins with the amazingly simple revelation of His great love for us.

Since I had this revelation of the beach a year ago, I have had plenty of time to test what the Lord showed me.  I have found that this strategy actually works.  If I can not see or sense anything to pray for someone, then search my heart to make sure that I am loving them as much as God does.  Once I learn to love them, then it becomes an easy matter to see the Father's perfect will for their life and declare that it be done.

How will you walk in loving intercession today?

Photo courtesy of Rebloggy.

"I will only reveal to you what I will do in other people's lives to the extent that you love them as I do."