Prepare to Host His Presence

The Lord reminded me today of a significant dream I had a number of years ago. Prior to the dream I had been wrestling with some things I felt He was asking of me concerning increasing the level of prayer in our church body. In the dream, my husband and I were seated at a humble dining table in our home. Across from me sat a guest in our home, a prominent Christian speaker that I deeply respected and admired because of His walk with the Lord. We were serving him steak, but as he cut into the meat we served him, he remarked to us that it was still frozen. I was mortified, and quickly jumped up and said we could microwave it. I then noticed that the plate we had given him was chipped, and the other plates and things on the table were mismatched and carelessly laid. I served our guest the microwaved steak, but his embarrassment in our lack of preparation was tangible.

I awoke from that dream very troubled and pretty sure that God was speaking, but I did not have the immediate interpretation. About two weeks later I was sitting in a service listening to a speaker who said the words, "We must prepare to host His Presence" and God quickened my spirit to know that this was the interpretation of the dream. The guest speaker in the dream represented to me "God's Presence" and we were not prepared to host him well. Prayer would be the necessary preparation to hosting His Presence at a greater level. I repented of my resistance to the things God was asking of me and moved forward to obey His voice.

I feel God highlighted this dream to me again because we are in a key time of greater preparation to host His Presence and the New Wine He is pouring out. Prayer or seeking God is the key to preparing our hearts, churches, and cities to receive Him in greater measure. Prayer "thaws things out" in the Spirit realm where they have seemed "frozen", lifeless, or undone. Prayer raises the spiritual temperature and opens up the atmosphere for movement and transactions to take place from Heaven to Earth.

Make Way for the King!

The Spirit of God is moving powerfully right now in hearts and lives to cause us to have wineskins that are ready to hold the new wine. Recently the Lord spoke this phrase to me from the familiar Christmas song, "Let every heart prepare Him room". It is a season right now of preparing Him room.

"Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in."

Psalm 24:7

A couple of weeks ago I was meeting with a group of intercessors and asked the question, "How many of you are feeling an unusual urge to declutter your homes and lives?" Almost every hand in the group shot up! God is speaking loudly to many, "Make room, make room!" So, even in the natural we may feel a strong urge to declutter our lives, and get organized so that our lives are streamlined and able to accommodate and carry more. A similar thing is happening in the Spirit realm as God is moving powerfully in hearts right now to "declutter" and make room for the new thing He is pouring out.

Don't Forget the Oil!

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps." -Matt. 25:1-4

It is a time to buy oil and secure our lamps so that they will be lamps that burn brightly with the oil of His Presence. God is giving us this preparation time out of His mercy and goodness. We are not to be fearful or striving in any way, but just simply stepping into the stream of grace from Heaven that He is releasing this very moment. Prayer is key right now to the new thing God is wanting to do. Even our thoughts and preconceived ideas about "prayer" might need to change as we embrace the New Wine. Prayer is our conversation and ongoing communication with God. Prayer is the means we are given to touch Heaven. Prayer is how Heaven touches us. Prayer releases the "oil" from Heaven that will keep our lamps burning brightly.

When you host an honored guest in your home you spend time getting everything ready. You may do deep cleaning, and much preparation to make sure every dish is cooked to perfection. You set your table putting out your best dishes and all this is done out of love, honor, and respect for the guest you are about to welcome. It is a time to declutter, make room, and prepare our wineskins to host the New Wine of His Presence. Let every heart prepare Him room!