Blogs

Do rituals matter? When you pray does it matter whether you kneel or put your palms together, or even close your eyes? If prayer is a purely spiritual matter does your posture matter? I hear your prayers regardless of your physical presentation. Does it make it easier for you to pray if you assume the position? Everywhere you walk is holy ground but it is up to you to decide whether you will take off your shoes or not. Rituals are symbolic and symbolism is real. If some practice sharpens your focus and improves your spiritual awareness and devotion go ahead and go for it.

Question from Megan Montgomery: Hi, in a vision can I visualize myself as a child or an adult? I usually visualize myself as a child. For some reason, I struggle to visualize myself as an adult. I use the visual prayer A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee. I imagine myself as a child before it says you may turn into a young child. In most of my visions, I am a child. Also, how do I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus as I write? Sometimes my mind goes all over or the vision seems to move (ex: I am dancing with Jesus). I do not know if I am doing something wrong. I ask the Holy Spirit to make Jesus come alive also. 

How do you conduct conversations about issues of substance? Do you divide the world into in-groups and out-groups, with in-groups being those that you belong to and out-groups being all others? Do you assign characteristics by group identification and broad scale judgments against those outside? This is dehumanizing, rejecting the uniqueness of every person. Is there an alternative? Would humanizing conversation recognize the value and unique dignity of every person? Would it be inclusive enough to include the love of your enemies? Can you engage in humanizing conversation?

Hearing God's voice is as simple as: 1) quieting myself down (Ps. 62:5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His input and tuning in to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39), and 4) journaling out His words and visions (Rev. 1:9-11). These are then tested, and they must line up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2) and be affirmed in the hearts of my spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1).

I said that unless your righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees you would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This was a shocking statement to my audience who saw these groups at the top of the hierarchy of religious practice. Was it meant to be discouraging and present an impossible standard? The righteousness of the Pharisees was self-righteousness, and they loved recognition. I told my followers to pray in secret and they would be rewarded openly.

Do you see the goal of your faith as an act of transformation? The Bible refers to being transformed by the renewing of your mind. You normally think of your mind in relation to education. Does that imply that transformation can be accomplished by education? Have you found that the most educated people are transformed? In scientific terms transformation is a quantum leap. You can no more achieve transformation by education than you can jump to the moon. Yet it is still possible. Transformation is accomplished by encounter with me.

LaWanda - I see you, Lord Jesus, standing behind me with your hands on my shoulders.  I can feel in the warmth of your hands, your love flowing into me.  O Lord, I could sit here forever, but that is not your plan.  Your plan is to fill me up and send me out so that the love you pour into me can be poured out and into those around me.  O Lord, how I need to sit before you every day so that my tank is full.  Thank you, Jesus, that there is a never-ending supply of your love.  Help me to listen well today as Holy Spirit guides me.

Are all of your prayers spoken? You can pray silently in your thoughts and I will hear them just as well, but speaking your prayers aloud may help you to remain engaged. Are there other alternatives? The Bible refers to groaning too deep to be uttered. Have you ever experienced this? Paul saw things in heaven that he said were not lawful to utter, or perhaps they were inexpressible. Is the essence of your being the sum of your thoughts, or is there a place of pure presence that transcends even that? Are you prepared to be silent in my presence to find out? I will meet you there. 

It's been an awesome month filled with wonderful workshops, road trips, and incredible testimonies. Dad and I loved tag-teaming together in Niagara Falls discussing his brand-new book on Hearing God's Voice for Healing. We were blessed to have so many of you travel in from all over, with four states and two countries represented... it was the best time!