This morning at church during worship, I was praying about God’s presence, and He gave me a vision of a river. The river started out as calm and still which signified soaking in His presence. Those moments when we just sit quietly at the feet of Jesus, times when we wait and receive from God. Those moments when we are in worship but tune out everything around us so we can hear His voice, and we fix our eyes on Jesus.
During the vision, the river waters started to move with a strong current. The waters were no longer calm and still, instead, it was like river rapids. The longer we sit in God’s presence the more intense His presence builds. We feel Him moving, and at that moment we have two options, to either go with the flow or try to resist the currents. In God’s presence He is drawing us closer to Him. Psalm 16:11 NKJV – 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
When you try to resist strong currents in river rapids you get tossed around. Not knowing where you will end up. Resisting will make you tired and worn out. But when you go with the flow and follow the direction of where the current is taking you, then a wild ride can turn into a fun ride. People who ride river rapids in a canoe, kayak or raft understand how important it is to continue with the flow.
Along the way when riding river rapids, you need to watch out for rocks and tree branches. In the vision the rocks and tree branches represented when the enemy tries to distract us or stop us from being in God’s presence. The enemy tries to make us lose our focus in flowing where God is leading us, where God is taking us, to slow us down. The enemy does not want us to draw closer to God. Four years ago, I preached a message called “Who are you resisting?” (you can find the sermon video on my Media page, and at the bottom of this post). In my sermon I used obstacle courses as an illustration of how during a challenge we are to find a way to go over the obstacle. I always loved obstacle courses, we did them in school and when I was in the military. But how much easier it would be if we just went around an obstacle, yes that defeats the purpose of the challenge, but still we could finish the obstacle course race faster if we went around obstacles. It is discouraging when the devil tries to distract us with obstacles, but what a great feeling it is when we learn how to get over an obstacle!
No matter what the devil tries to throw at you to trip you up in your journey, remain focused on Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have nothing to fear in God’s presence. There is freedom, healing, deliverance, and joy in God’s presence. Go with God’s flow!
Psalm 46 NKJV – 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Ezekiel 47:8-9 NKJV – 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.
“Who Are You Resisting?” by Mike Gates on 3/19/2020 at Transformation Church in Seminole, TX…
