When Gary and I arrived in California last week, the sky was smoky and smelled like a campfire.
Prior to our arrival, we tracked the air quality numbers. The Redding air quality was rated “very unhealthy,” but showed an expected improvement to “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” so we chose to make the trip.
The usual views were obscured, the surrounding mountains hiding in the haze. On the third morning, a gentle breeze greeted us from the north. The smoke began to clear, and we began to see outlines of the mountains. By the next day, as the breeze continued, the mountains came into full view and the air quality was upgraded to “good.”
This “air quality” experience seems to reflect the spiritual state of our world in this season.
As the physical forest fires in California have clouded our vision in the natural, so the destruction, fear, illness, hate and confusion have clouded our ability to see spiritually. The smoke of hopelessness, fear, hate and division are a haze around us. The words clouding our airwaves are thick and blinding.
Where is God in all of this?
How can we as followers of Jesus help clear the air? How can we create a healthier environment for ourselves and others to see who God is and what God is doing?
In this current season of history, I’ve discovered I must be intentional to keep personal and world events in perspective with God’s truth.
When I feel myself getting “clouded,” two accounts from Scripture help me “clear the smoke.”
2 Kings 6:17
A remarkable description of how God clears the spiritual smoke so the entire picture of what He is doing can be seen. Enemy soldiers surrounded Elisha and his servant, who was afraid. Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes and “let him see.” The servant didn’t stop seeing the enemy soldiers, but his eyes were opened to see the “hillside filled with horses and chariots of fire.”
When the Lord allowed him to see the bigger picture, including the heavenly army, the issues before them minimized.
Like Elisha’s servant, our experience of world events does not mean we ignore reality, rather we ask God to help us see the bigger picture.
Luke 11
The disciples knew Jesus could see and understand the bigger picture. They asked Him to teach them how to pray. They wanted to know how to live each day like Jesus did.
So He instructed them to first address the Father. To fix their eyes on God and His goodness. Then Jesus taught them to ask and declare that what is true in God’s kingdom would be true on earth. “On Earth as it is in heaven.” When Jesus resurrected, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us.
The Holy Spirit is like a supernatural ethernet cable giving every believer direct access to God’s heavenly perspective.
When we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, we each have access to ask the Lord, “Open my eyes and let me see.”
There is more than fear, anger and destruction.
God is doing things I want to be aware of. I want to know how God sees things, so I can pray in agreement with heaven. When we talk to God and ask for His perspective, He is faithful to give it. As He opens our eyes to see the bigger picture, the clear heavenly reality instead of the earthly haze that blinds us, we are given the ability to pray for things to be on earth as they are in heaven.
What God shows us and tells us, we can release everywhere we go. We can release heaven.
God tells Joshua, “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)
At Dare to Believe Ministries, we take this seriously.
Because we have God’s Holy Spirit, we carry heaven with us. Because of Jesus, we have the ability to know what heaven is saying and doing and release that truth everywhere we go.
#praywithyourfeet
I am excited to announce an upcoming prayer walk initiative with Dare to Believe Ministries, starting September 20, 2020. Together we’re going to release heaven in our homes, neighborhoods and cities!
We’ll be sending out more information soon, but let us know if you’re interested by filling out the form below!
Let’s get moving to clear the smoke of hopelessness, fear, hate and division with the steady breeze of God’s presence.
God is moving. Let’s join Him!
Blessings,
Pastor Kristi