There is coming a day – and is already here – when others will look to us with an expectation that we lead them to safety. It will be a time where we will already be dressed and ready to serve the needs of many. I call us “First Responders.”
“Be ready for service and have your lamps lit” (Luke 12:35-4 HCSB).
Who are the first responders? These are the ones who have been trained, equipped, ready to go into any situation and rescue the injured. In Israel, the first responders were everyday people who went about their jobs; but in an emergency, they were easily identifiable and ready to move into their trained position – night or day.
We are spiritual first responders. We will be those who have practiced living as victors and not victims in each and every crisis exercise that we have walked through thus far in our life. Our mindset is well established so that no matter what comes along – economic or political shifts, natural disasters, wars, earthquakes, famines, floods, “accidents,” illnesses – our eyes are fixed upon the Lord and we are full of faith for His salvation, healing, deliverance, provision. We know that we live in a different Kingdom, under the economy and provision of Heaven that sets us apart from earthly kingdom’s circumstances.
With recent world events, many of us feel that we have been called to a special “high” alert in these days.
“Those servants the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed…If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those servants are blessed” (Luke 12:37-38 HCSB).
Seek the Lord!
About three and a half years ago, I had an urgent appeal in my heart from the Spirit of the Lord: “Seek the Lord while He may be found!” It was an urgency that came with a sense that I needed to drop everything and be shut away with the Lord to hear what He had to say to my heart. I did that, and the results were nothing less than transformational in my heart and life. I dealt with many issues of my past and present that made way for the future God was moving me into. It was an intense transitional phase of my life.
I got the sense then that only as we heed His urgings to come apart for awhile to seek the Lord will we be adequately prepared for what is ahead that we cannot see, but He can. Whenever the Lord says “Seek my Face!” it is because He intends to show us something valuable in His character that we desperately need. As we see Him with more clarity, this revelation of His character has the ability to transform our heart and be established deep within our core to alter the course of our life by changing our ways, and not simply modifying our behavior.
I have found that a season to seek the Lord opens my spiritual ears to hear Him with a new clarity and opens my eyes to see him as He is. I have come to appreciate a fresh, daily revelation of who God is to me, which fuels a momentum towards His Presence. Faith to trust Him in today’s impossible situation will be strengthened as we measure it against the greatness of our God.
Called Into His Presence
One particular night in recent weeks, I did not sleep well. I kept waking up about every 2 hours. I was curious about that because normally I sleep very well. But I have come to learn that in such times, I simply commune with the Lord and am drawn directly into His Presence as I worship Him. I was taken by surprise at the intensity that I felt in God’s presence all night long. I got little sleep this night, and when I did fall asleep, the dreams were about the Lord. I awakened with such a sense of the Presence of the Holy Spirit that through many tears, I rededicated my life to Him as I lay on my bed. I was still puzzled about this amazing night in the Presence of God as I got up at 6:30 that morning.
Passing by my office, I noticed that my phone had messages waiting from my eldest daughter in Hawaii. That’s odd . . . Her text from around 1:00 am read: “Evacuating up to the highest point of the island!” My mind could not take in what would have happened that she was being evacuated on Maui! I rushed to my laptop in the living room and read the news headlines about the 9.0 earthquake in Japan and the Tsunami warnings issued all around across the Pacific. Oh no!! There was no cell reception as I tried to reach my daughter.
In that moment, I understood my night. There is a posture that we take in the Presence of the Lord 24/7 that allows God access to our spirit where we come into agreement with Him. Most times as we pray, we really have no concept of the power that is going forth as we are postured before the Lord. I have come to realize that God will intentionally draw us into His presence into a deep season of worship, adoration, and intercession, and only later do we understand the significance of that time spent alone with God in the secret place. In such times, the shalom of God settles upon our hearts that holds us through the stress of the unexpected.
Upgrade Needed
I determined to receive an upgrade from the night of the Japanese earthquake when I laid awake in God’s presence. I would like to have much more sensitivity to what is on God’s heart. So, I came up with a list of questions to ask the Lord in a future similar situation:
What do you have for me at this time?
- A specific family member?
- A nation? A city?
- Is there something you would like to speak to me about?
In this way, we are more intentional as we wait in God’s presence to see the focus He may lead us into. I have learned that a period of adoration of Jesus, and exalting Him above all earthly kings and kingdoms establishes an atmosphere of a high level of praise that is productive against the plans of the kingdom of darkness – routing the enemy of our souls, and our families – without me even being aware of anything specific.
I have had times where God awakened me with a clear impression to pray for a specific family member, only to learn the reason the next day – or days following. He’s just good that way.
In this moment, however, I felt I was in need of an upgrade. I truly want a keener sensitivity to the Spirit of God – with ears to hear, and eyes to see (Revelation 2:29).
The Nations
Following the initial news of the catastrophe unfolding in Japan, I began to move into my familiar pattern of praying for a nation in crisis. Having lived in Israel 20 years, I learned how to “watch and pray,” which often meant, watching the news live, while reading my open Bible with my spirit engaged praying. I prayed this way through countless bus bombings in Israel, wars on Israel’s borders, the Iraqi war, 9/11, etc. In addition, maintaining a 24/7 vigilance in the presence of God as we pray for a friend or family member through a crisis or illness is a solid way of standing for them. Praying in faith means that we often pray opposite of what we see with our eyes! We are crying out for God’s mercy and for Him to work miraculously in the midst of distressing impossibilities.
I have a particular interest in Japan. When I was 18 and in Bible School, I became best friends with an Okinawan girl and since we were both musicians and singers, we often sang together. She went on to become a well-known Christian recording artist in Japan. My friend invited me 3 times to minister and sing with her throughout Japan. I also traveled with her on the West Coast and Hawaii ministering and singing in the Japanese churches. So, this earthquake in Japan was not just statistics for me, but rather, I had specific people I was concerned about. I continued my vigilance every day praying as God led. I’m still praying for Japan, and I know you are too. God loves the Japanese people and I believe they are about to experience His manifested presence in a powerful way. Let’s continue to pray for God interventions on all fronts – spiritually as well. That has been the heart cry of the Japanese for decades as they have never experienced a national spiritual revival.
I believe God wants us to have a heart-engagement with the nations. He loves the people of these nations and we are His connection to them. There have been numerous times when God has given me dreams about nations – prior to some catastrophe, disaster, or war – and I realize it is to bring a prayer focus for the people of that particular part of the world. Weeks before Egypt erupted, for instance, I had two dreams – one about the sun exploding. Around the same time, I had a dream about a huge tidal wave that broke over a coastal city. I’m learning to pay closer attention as God continues to show me things about nations, cities, and families. And, I’m going for an upgrade.
Friends of God
As we mature in our relationship with the Lord, our intimate communion with Him in the secret place as the friend of God allows Him to impress upon us the urgent needs on His heart. We can train ourselves to become very responsive to the Lord. By turning our hearts towards Him 24/7, we are telling Him: “Here I am . . . just to be with You.” God longs to share secrets with His friends in the secret place.
His friends become the first responders.
And, how desperately the world needs expressions of God’s merciful compassion as the first response to disasters, famines, earthquakes, and injustice.
This is dedicated to all the silent heroes who are selflessly serving those in desperate need . . .
http://www.youtube.com/user/devotedworshipper#p/c/E881972681695479/16/gZoEnrIelIM
Carol Cantrell ::: Spiritual Musings 