These last few weeks, the Lord has really been teaching me
some cool things and reminding me of some truths that I somehow have let slip
away. First off, I got into an argument with someone a couple of weeks ago. I
said some things that I instantly regretted. I’m realizing that I can be greedy
at times. Not for tangible things, per-se, but like personal space, privacy,
respect, etc. When I feel like these things are taken from me, I can become angry
and do things that aren't Christ-like.
After the confrontation, we apologized to each other but I
was still feeling like total crap; just tons of condemnation on me. I fell
asleep that night praying and had two consecutive dreams from the Lord.
In the first, I was walking through a city. The buildings
were all made of concrete and looked cool, except that, in the neighborhood
where I was walking, they were all collapsed, like some great earthquake had
hit and there was no one around. I walked farther and ran into an area that
looked brand new and completely renovated. It was teeming with life. I met the
Lord there and He was so happy and joyful in His work of renovating.
Progressing at His own pace but showing no worry about the other parts of the
city still torn down. He showed me a garden that He had planted. In the center
of the garden was a tree of Life. He told me to take and eat, so I plucked a
fruit and bit in. It was amazingly delicious! It had the taste of pomegranate,
but somehow better, and none of the mess of digging out seeds. As I ate, juice
dripped down onto my arms. It looked like blood. Jesus told me to rub it in
and, as I did so, my skin began to glow with radiance and a tangible
righteousness. Other people began to eat. The Lord told me that we were in my
mind and that He was working to rebuild the areas that had been destroyed by
the enemy, by lies, by the world, and by bad choices I had made. As He fixes
each part, it becomes a place where others can come and partake of Life. And He
is sooooo happy with His task and not concerned with the other areas at all,
knowing that they will be repaired eventually.
The next dream I had, I was walking hand in hand with two
men. They were skipping and trying to get me to skip as well. They were so full
of joy and laughter. I can’t describe it. I've never seen such joy in my entire
life. As they were skipping and laughing, they were singing the same lines over
and over again: “Come let us return unto the Lord” I knew then that I was with Jesus
and the Holy Spirit and that they were happy to be with me, even in those times
when I turn away from the Father. They consider it pure joy to bring me back to
the right path and that, even when I stray, they love me so much that it’s
joyful for them to follow with me and just be with me. So stinkin encouraging!
Another thing that I've been thinking about is how I respond to things that offend me or confrontations, etc. I'm realizing that my responses are not bringing life to people. Instead of reminding them of who they used to be (or maybe even still are, outwardly) I should be calling out of them what they were made to be. Responding in deep love, encouragement, and help instead of condemnation, anger, or defense. This is going to be an interesting experiment =)
