Intercession-Praying the heart of God

An important preface:

INTERCESSION: an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person; a prayer to God on behalf of another.

PRAYER:a devout petition to God or an object of worship; a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession; the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

I have a confession. I have always been a list prayer. You know the kind I’m talking about, right? It goes something like this…

1. Write down 10-20 people to pray for.

2. Each person get’s a quick prayer (2-3 minutes or maybe 5 if it’s a really serious request).

3. 20 minutes later, after each person has been checked off my list, my prayers are done. Bada-bing-bada-boom. Done.

About three weeks ago the Lord started giving me dreams. They were very clear. Some were of friends and others of acquaintances. In some dreams I had a front row seat in watching someone sin against God and in others I watched their world fall apart. Each morning when I woke I was a bit disturbed. Was the Lord showing me these things so that I would confront them, to warn them? After much supplication, the Lord made it clear.

“Dana, I don’t show you these dark places for you to run to that person. I tell you these things because their spirit is burdened-in bondage. They are too broken to battle in this waging war so I am appointing you to intercede on their behalf. Put your armor on, get on your face and fight for them”. Whoa. In the last week I have walked in obedience to this call and through it my heart has been drawn closer to God’s. I have been in a dry, desolate land for 5 years now and the Lord is finally showing me a glimpse of his heart. Ah, how HE loves. He wants you to know Him in the most intimate way. It blows my mind that God loves us so much…that he LONGS for each of us to walk in freedom so deeply that he would specifically ask others to intercede when we are too weak. What an AMAZING God we serve!

El Roi-the GOD who see’s

He sees when no one else cares to look.
He sees through the smile we wear when we’re dying inside.
He sees our hurt when we’re mistreated.
He sees us when we cry into our pillow because we feel unloved.
He sees beyond our sin into the depth of our need.
He sees when we’re hiding. Running.
He sees when we continue to sow the seed of His word even in the floodplain our or grief.

Sometimes we don’t realize we’ve encountered God until our vision clears.

Be encouraged. He DOES hear your cry. Your prayers are not idol. Keep seeking Him with your whole heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. He wants a real relationship with you. Real.

For all my single ladies…

Ok, hear me out.

How often do you meet a cute guy (maybe even see him from a  distance) and immediately start daydreaming about your first date with him…your wedding…how your children will look?  Come on girls, you KNOW you’ve done it!  We have ALL fallen into that trap at some point or another in our lives.  It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt right?  It’s normally you, and for good reason!

Before we even MEET the boy…before he even asks us on a date, we form a “crush”.  We run and tell our friends how cute and sweet he is (at least he seems to be “sweet” from the 2 minute conversation we had with him that ONE time).  Ah, that is where the fun begins.  He has not shown any interest in us, yet we fawn over him.  We place unrealistic expectations on him to call us, pursue us, date us when we aren’t even sure he has interest.  We manipulate dinner parties, game nights, and all that jazz so that we can just “happen to hang out together”.  I mean, maybe if we throw ourselves in the same crowd over and over he will EVENTUALLY ask us on a date right?  Oh, so wrong.  SO very wrong.  From my past experience(s), men are pretty clear when they like a girl.  Well…most men.

In conclusion, I think I have an  idea to keep us from being heartbroken without probable cause.  What if we choose to see every guy we meet as a “friend” instead of a prospect?  What if we kept our gaze solely on Jesus until He shifts it to someone special?  What is we have ZERO expectation when we meet a new guy?  The what if’s don’t mean anything if you aren’t willing to get down and dirty with the answer.  A lot of times WE choose our heart break.  We set ourselves up for failure.  I have good news…all of that can change!

Face-down

Last night was amazing. “My Church” (so WEIRD to say that outloud) has a once-a-month worship and intercession night called face-down.  The body of believers join together and pray and worship and then worship and pray some more.  Ah, words cannot describe.  It was just SO fun to look around me, to open my ears, to lift my heart…to see the body of Christ come together in unity with one purpose: To POUR OUT everything to the Lord…to WORSHIP.  It was beautiful.

Crazy story.  During the service the Lord gave me a word for a friend…I waited and I prayed, “Lord, it’s been a while since you have given me a prophetic word to speak and I’m not sure if I’m hearing you right…”.  Ah, but he kept speaking it over and over.  After the serivce my friend and I were sitting in the car and I just couldn’t contain it ANY longer.  I HAD to share what the Lord had spoken to me about her…for her.  I spent the next 2 minutes sharing what the Lord had shown me…both of us were overwelhmed.  I cried.  She cried. It was a very emotionally 2 minutes.  Everything the Lord had spoken to me during the service was the EXACT thing she had been praying in her heart…asking the Lord.  She begged for revelation…to hear from him about a certain “subject”..and that is the subject the Lord spoke to me about to share with her! I love how God works. A-Freakin’-mazing.

So, what about you…do you have a cool God story?  I’d LOVE to hear it!!!

Yesterday

We had some fun in the backyard!  I hope you enjoy these photos!

I found a Church!!

As some of you know, I have been praying and asking God to show me where to make my Church home.  I have hopped from place to place, waiting on the Lords peace to come over me!  This morning it happend.  It began like any other Sunday.  I woke up grogy, rushed to get ready, and made it to church with 8 minutes to spare.  I sat down in the chair, waiting anxiously for the music to begin.  It felt natural to sit there.  I knew strangers were around me, but it felt like home.  The music started and the Holy Spirit came on…quickly.  My body became numb from head to toe and a cool breeze blew across my face.  I began to sing the first few lines of the song and I began to weep.  I couldn’t control it.  My hands flew up, almost as being disconnected from my body and I engaged in worship like I hadn’t in a VERY long time.  My spirit was in unison with the Lords, I believe, finally.  I knew at that moment that THIS was the place for me…atleast for this season. 

For those of you curious, it’s called River Stone in Kennesaw, GA.

Are you where the Lord wants you?

Where I am….

5 years ago the Lord used Isaiah 61:1-3 to “call me” into fulltime ministry. I had NO doubt, no hesitaton that the Lord had spoken to my spirit so clearly. In the last year the Lord has brought to light EVERY stronghold, every bit of bondage that is in my life. He has shown me that HE LONGS to bring me freedom in area’s that I “thought” were under control. Don’t you LOVE how He loves us? Now, I say this with flesh that is slowly breaking away from me, HE IS CAPABLE. HE WILL DO IT! This past Tuesday I started counseling with the sweetest, most Godly woman. I am SO excited and believe that God has equipt her to walk with me through these strongholds….so if you could…pray along with us THROUGH Isaiah 61…that God would free me from my prison….that He would set me from captivity…that He would heal my broken heart…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor,
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified!

Resolutions

Yes, I am joining the 6 billion people making resolutions that will more than likely NEVER actually get resolved. Sad, huh? Here they are…(by the way…it’s the 6 and ALREADY I have failed. HA). But for fun…

-Wake up at 5:00am and be in bed by 9:30. Sounds extreme, but I NEED a consistent schedule. 2 days a week I wake up at 6:30am and the other 5 I sleep as late as I want..so my sleep is ALWAYS thrown off. Not to mention…this will allow me to wake up..spend GOOD time with the Lord AND maybe get a workout in. THIS IS THE TOUGHEST.

-I’d like to be healthier (from the inside out).

-I want to go through therapy (if you know of anyone who is reasonably priced and GOOD, let me know) . I have some issues I’d like to tackle this year.

-Make some head way on getting out of debt. Those school loans STILL haunt me.

-Get involved in a group of people…who I can do life with. My inner circle moved away…sad, yes, I know.

What about you? I KNOW you have at least one?

Exactly ONE week

until Christmas and I have YET to start shopping! Last year I was completely done by Thanksgiving! Oh, I’m suck a slacker!

Have you finished ALL of your shopping? When were you done?

Christmas Party

I am SO excited!  In 4 days I am having all 5 of my best friends over for a Christmas party!  We do it every year.  Normally we do some silly gift exchange, have a few appetizers, and spend some good quality time together.  This year I am especially excited because there is a THEME!  My mom is letting me use her china (which IS beautiful), and her crystal glasses!  The girls have NO idea.  I’m doing some Zuppa Tuscana soup, Italian salad, and wine (light but delicious).  My goal this year is to make them each feel special…cherished..because they are!  I just made this AMAZING center piece this morning before work.  I woke up feeling unbelievably creative! AHHH.

Here are the lovely ladies…

Ashley (maroon shirt) wont be with us this year.  She is living in Africa and will be greatly MISSED!!

I’ll try and take some pictures to post!