November 13, 2007

Lord, May Our Bowls Overflow!!!

The other day, while in prayer, the Lord opened up this vision to me...

It is not any new revelation, really. As an intercessor, however, it is so encouraging! Such a powerful reminder! I kept thinking of that scripture in Revelation that talks about the angels and the bowls of intercession. What an encouragement to KEEP praying... in this vision I found it interesting that each person had numerous bowls, each representing something that was being prayed about... and the bowls were all various shapes and sizes. Whether you have been praying for something for a long time, or the Lord just put it on your heart, do not back down... some bowls are larger and require more prayers to fill them to the top!

Here is the vision:

In the midst of prayer, the eyes of my spirit were opened up and I saw myself, along with several others, kneeling in prayer and individually praying on our own. As I began to look around this prayer meeting, I noticed two angelic beings beside each intercessor. One looked as if he was praying along with the person. As we each prayed, the words - whether spoken or prayed in silence, became tangible in the air and began to float heavenward. The second angel would then capture the prayer and immediately flew to heaven - so fast that I could not actually SEE him leave... and then he would return nearly as fast. It seemed as though no time had passed. After a few times of watching this happen, I asked the Lord - "What am I seeing? Where is he going with those prayers?" Immediately I was taken up to a room with no end. I could not see far enough in any direction to see the walls of this room and I followed this angel I had been watching and saw that he went directly to a specific section of this room! It seemed that each section was dedicated for a specific individual, and each individual, it seemed had several bowls. There was an angel attending these bowls and protecting them... watching as the other Messenger emptied each uttered prayer into the appropriate bowl.

This visual made me think of the scripture in Revelation chapter 5. It reads, "He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders of the heavenly Sanhedrin prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints). And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Rev. 5:7-9)

Then, in the vision I asked where this room was and I was shown on the door that entered into the room a sign that read, "Intercessors Lab & Infirmary" Interesting... in looking up the official definition for infirmary, Websters defines it as "a place where the infirm or sick are lodged for care and treatment."

Back to the vision... when the bowl is filled to the rim, the Lord Himself appears before the angel and the bowl. His sudden appearance requires the angel to bow down in worship, and as the angel bows, the bowl tips over and spills out over the angels' worship... this brings a smile to the face of God and somehow I had the knowledge that at this point, whatever the prayer was about... the answer comes. When the bowls are full, and spilled out in worship to the Lamb, He releases His answer and sends it back to earth.

Isn't it reassuring to know that not only does the Lord hear our prayers, but they are attended to with such care and urgency! He collects them. He gives His angels charge over us and sends them to cover us and to collect our prayers and deliver them to a place where they can be cared for and treated! This gives me such a powerful visual when the Lord puts something or someone on my heart, seemingly out of the blue! He is trying to fill up their bowl! This also gives such encouragement to CONTINUE on in prayer! Sometimes we can get discouraged because the answer seems slow in coming. Maybe the bowl for that particular prayer is larger than most... and yet we can rest assured that He hears our prayers, and they are not being lifted up in vain... Keep on keepin' on!

"Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I pray this week you will find yourself being showered by answered prayers... may our bowls overflow Lord and may we press on in prayer, having confidence in, and giving thanks for You and Your great Love for us!

~Karrilee~

"Is that enough?"

It seems this is the question that the Lord keeps asking me...
"Is that enough"... or in other words, "Am I enough?"
Now, we can all get holy & religious
& say that we would always say yes.
But in truth - while we know that we SHOULD say yes,
& we know that He SHOULD be enough...
there are times, or situations, or circumstances
where, in all honesty,
we hesitate in giving our answer.

It's okay... He KNOWS that we are going to hesitate...
He knows that that very question
is what we are battling with
even when we are unaware of it!
It's in His Grace & Mercy that he calls us out on it
& causes us to remember that if He is NOT enough,
then something is off balance in our lives & priorities
- because, in all realty,
He is not just enough - He is our everything!
Whatever we have or are blessed with comes from Him...
every blessing, every victory,
every ounce of forgiveness & every drop of grace
- it all comes from Him.

And yet, we get so caught up in the Daily part of our lives,
that we can forget the bigger picture.
We can forget that these blessings we live with
are extra... not required.
Now, don't get me wrong,
I am still a Word Faith girl
& I strongly believe in God's desire
to pour out blessings & cause us to prosper. I really do!
But I think we can tend to lose focus
on what 'Prosperous' really means.

I can honestly say that I am amazingly prosperous...
in all areas of my life.
Does my bank account reveal this to the natural world?
No... not even close!
Does what I drive or where I live attest to this fact?
Hardly...
However, I am rich in all things important!
I live my life in a constant state of thankfulness
and I live at peace, as much as is possible, with all men.
Could I use more?
More business, more money, more opportunities,
more... (fill in the blank)?
You betchya!
Do I NEED more?
No...
Does more always mean better?
Absolutely not!

A few weeks ago, while at prayer...
the Lord began to remind me of this question "Is that enough"
in regards to the conference I attended, selling my creations.
I blogged about it in September I believe.
He asked me if I was to not sell anything,
but I knew that He was pleased with me, would that be enough!
Even in that simple question
surrounding that unimportant situation,
I hesitated!?
I mean - I wanted to know why He would call me to do something
& then not bless it...
but sure - knowing He was pleased with my efforts
- even if I was not able to 'prosper' from it all - was enough!
It really was... is... enough!
What more can we ask but to know that we are pleasing to Him?

He went on to say, "Much like in the conference
when I asked you if it was enough that I was pleased...
much like that, I want you to know
I am so pleased with you.
I was there in that room with you
& it blessed Me to watch you lay hands on Kevin
& to hear you pray.
It blessed Me & I am pleased with you. Is that enough?"

Huh!? sigh...
Well that was an emotional one-sided conversation!
I did MORE than hesitate.
I mean - yes - it was enough!
It IS enough!
I am at peace about that whole situation
& I know that that experience will not be in vain.
It has stirred me up even more
& I will not back down.
But, to have this visual of God with me in that room
(which I KNEW He was!?)
& to be able to visualize Him standing next to me
listening & watching & waiting...
it was too much!
I knew He was in the room...
I felt His presence & I knew He was with us...
& yet - the confirmation of that fact,
& the fact that He did in fact hear my prayer...
it was just too much.
I wanted to go back & remind Him
that I had unanswered questions about that
& that I wanted to know the Why's & the How Come's...
But once again, He gently lovingly reminded me
that He does not answer to me.
I am not the boss of Him...
as much as I would like to be sometimes!
So - instead of bombarding Him with those same questions,
I hesitated...
I actually breathed in and sort of held it for awhile...

And I believe that it is the space, the measure of time that passes
in the midst of our hesitation
- no matter if that lasts a mere split second,
or a few days... or longer
- it is in that space -
that I see God at work.
He is pruning & planting at the same time.
Me, and you!
We are living in a time where we will not have
the luxury of hesitation,
the luxury of beating around the bush.
Those days are over... for us, & for the Lord!

No matter what comes at us,
we must move forward in boldness
& know that no matter what, He is enough!
We must decide NOW, beforehand,
that we choose to Trust in Him in all situations.
We are living in a time where the Lord is done
hinting around at things and He is approaching us,
and calling us to approach others, in boldness.
In LOVE, yes... but in love with BOLDNESS!
Our time is short... and there is much to do in the Kingdom!

So - whatever you are facing today... or tomorrow...
Is Jesus enough for you!? Honestly - is He enough!?

More to come...
~Karrilee~









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