Psalm 91: God’s Shield of Protection

There is a place deep in the heart of God where we may find shelter. It is a place of refuge and safety from any evil that might come upon us. Psalm 91, a firm favourite of many Christians, holds powerful promises which, if believed and acted upon, are life-saving. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (v.1)

Do take time to watch the short video of this beautiful psalm with lyrics (link below). Note how the psalmist gives an astonishingly comprehensive range of catastrophic circumstances in which we are assured of God’s total protection for those who are resting in the secret place of His heart

https://youtu.be/67wC6-kWWSo

Unprecedented Protection for an Entire British Regiment throughout World War 1

There are awe-inspiring testimonies of miraculous deliverance from acute danger in time of war. It has been recorded that during World War 1 (1914-1918), L.T.C. Whittensley was a Regimental Commander in the British Army. Every morning his regiment recited the 91st Psalm, declaring aloud their faith that God would protect them from danger. This regiment went over the wall on a number of occasions during the course of the war, facing furious enemy fire and almost certain death. Thousands of men were killed on their left and right sides, but not a single one of the soldiers in this regiment was wounded. It was reported that the German bullets seemed to bounce off Regimental Commander L.T.C. Whittensley’s men.

The Passion Translation puts it succinctly: “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done!” Psalm 91: 7-8.

British Soldiers Going Over The Wall in WW1

A Miraculous Escape from Certain Death in World War 11

An awe-inspiring event took place during World War 11 (1939-1945) at Dunkirk, France. It was reported by war correspondent, C.B. Morelock, that more than four hundred men were trapped on a beach without any shelter from the enemy whatsoever. Sixty German aircraft flew very low directly over the men, firing machine guns, and bombing the trapped soldiers. The men were lying face downwards on the sand, packed closely together. They were facing certain death. All the four hundred men were not only reciting Psalm 91, but shouting it at the top of their voices, proclaiming in faith that God would keep them all safe from the deadly fire of the enemy. Not a single man was even scratched! Navy personnel who rescued the survivors from that Dunkirk beach reported hearing them still shouting the Psalm when they came to their rescue. The Word of God, spoken in faith by our mouth, is as powerful as the written Word of God. Our God always backs His Word when it is spoken out loud in faith. It is in this way that our faith is released, and God honours that.

Many would be inclined to describe the deliverance of four hundred soldiers from certain death as ‘unexplainable.’ However, those who enjoy an intimate personal relationship with God, living in the heart of our Heavenly Father, know Him as their refuge and their fortress’ (v.2). They know that “He covers them with His feathers and under His wings they can trust” (v.4). This brings to mind the words of Jesus,

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings.” (Matt 23:37). Truly the heart of God is to protect His children as tenderly as that.

Hurricane Andrew Hits Florida

On 24 August, 1992, Hurricane Andrew made landfall Near Homestead, Florida. It developed into a category 5 Hurricane with wind speeds reaching 175 mph. It is the second costliest tropical cyclone in United States history: $26.5 BN. In Florida alone 25,524 homes were destroyed, and a further 101,241 homes were badly damaged. 1.4 million people lost their electricity, and 150,000 lost telephone services. Major job losses were incurred though, on the other hand, many benefited from the urgent need of construction workers, roofers, carpenters, electricians, highway builders and many other skilled workmen.

A Few Facts About Hurricanes

Wind speed 74 – 95 mph . . . . . Category 1: Minimal

Wind speed 96 – 110 mph. . . . .Category 2: Moderate

Wind speed 111 – 130 mph. . . .Category 3: Extensive

Wind speed 131 – 155 mph. . . .Category 4: Extreme

Wind speed 156+ mph . . . . . . . Category 5: Catastrophic

The storm surge of Hurricane Andrew rose to over 18 feet and the wind reached 175 mph.

The word ‘hurricane’ comes to us from the Spanish Conquistadores (conquerors, explorers) who carved up the New World for themselves in the 16th and 17th centuries. They picked it up from Taino, a language spoken by the Arawak, indigenous people of the region. ‘Huracán’ was the Taino word for ‘storm.’ Some authorities suggest the word can mean ‘evil spirit’ or ‘storm god.’

Only One Family Escaped the Destruction Unscathed

This testimony is astounding. As Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc, demolishing everything in its path, the entire property of one family remained intact. Every single house over a vast area around them was either razed to the ground or seriously damaged. Garden sheds were tossed high in the air like match boxes, trees were uprooted and fences destroyed. Nothing escaped the fury of Hurricane Andrew’s 175 mph winds — apart from one house — to the utter astonishment of the insurers who soon visited every resident in the area. What could be the reason for this, they wondered? There must surely be an explanation. There was!

As Hurricane Andrew roared through the area, sounding like a freight train, sweeping everything out of its way, one house remained unharmed. Not a pane of glass was broken, not even a plant was disturbed. The garden shed was untouched and the fence remained intact. Why was that? It was unheard of, given the catastrophic force of this fearsome hurricane. Del and Pat Hicks had prepared well; food and water was ready; they had already weathered four hurricanes. As the storm roared all around them, Del and Pat Hicks knew the authority that they had in the name of Jesus. They remembered how Moses had been instructed by the Lord that the blood of the lamb had to be applied to the doorposts of every Israelite home when the Angel of death devastated the land of Egypt, so they applied the blood of Jesus and quoted the wonderful promises of total protection in Psalm 91.

Earlier, Pat had walked through their yard laying hands on the trees, declaring that they were now under the shadow of the Almighty, and touching the shed and the walls of the house, placing every single thing under the protection of God. Fourteen family members gathered in their home. They could hear things crashing into the house. At one point it seemed that the house was about to break in two and the roof be blown away. They all laid hands on the walls, commanding them to stand strong and continue supporting the roof.

In the morning they saw that, although their shed door had been blown open, everything was still there. They had suffered no damage at all. Their property immediately became like a tourist attraction. Everyone in the area was dumbfounded! This family home alone was unscathed in a forty mile disaster zone. What a glorious testimony to the unfailing efficacy of confessing out loud the power-packed promises of Psalm 91! How God was glorified! May we all learn to follow their unwavering example of confessing out loud their faith in the Word of God!

The Angels were working overtime to protect this family who leaned entirely upon their God!

YouTube has several extraordinary videos on Hurricane Andrew. These two are not very long and are well worth watching:

https://youtu.be/9wILrZwCnoY

https://youtu.be/7JZlC7r-NGk

Psalm 91 Protection from Plague and Deadly Diseases

The facts given here are simply horrifying. The ice is melting in Antarctica , and this is bringing back old diseases, and also some new diseases. This map draws its data from the World Health Organisation and shows the current state of affairs. In the very near future we will be hearing much more about the comeback of old diseases. It is a fact that the Black Death is back with a vengeance. New dangerous diseases are being found at a rapid rate. It is stated that public Western outbreaks are not far away. Our overuse of antibiotics has also caused problems and now there are many “superbugs” that are 100% able to continue even after antibiotics have been taken.

However, Psalm 91 promises “Surely He shall deliver you from the deadly pestilence” (v.3) Pestilence is any virulent or fatal disease. It is an epidemic that affects huge numbers of people. God promises us supernatural protection. We also have God’s promise that “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!” (Psalm 91:9-13)

Note from So Greatly Loved

God is for us! God is with us! God will not fail us! We can safely commit our lives entirely to our faithful God and His total protection and provision. It would be an excellent idea to memorise Psalm 91. It is undoubtedly becoming increasingly important to pray the protection of this Psalm out loud daily over ourselves and our loved ones. We have nothing to lose — and so very much to gain.

The Joy of Lingering in Worship

Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is the highest activity of which man is capable. Jesus taught in John 4:23-24 that God is seeking those who will worship Him. Since we know that He is seeking worshippers, how eagerly we should run to Him whenever we can, to be lost in His Presence, worshipping Him, caught up in His Love, oblivious to all around us, unaware of the passage of time! This is precious beyond words. It goes so very much deeper than our Sunday worship times in church. Oh how the Lord waits for us to run to Him! How His heart aches for our fellowship in worship as we abandon ourselves to Him!

Angels help us in our worship

As I wrote in a previous post, “Childlike Faith Works,” Angels sometimes join us in our worship. The breathtaking experience I describe, which took place in the early 1980s at an Easter conference in Somerset, in the south of England, was glorious. There were hundreds of Angels worshipping with us, and many of us were able to see them.

The beautiful hymn “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven” mentions that Angels help us in our worship: “Angels, help us to adore Him, ye behold Him face to face.” I read of someone who had a NDE (Near Death Experience) and was taken up to Heaven for a short time. We can read of so many such experiences these days. YouTube has a large number of testimonies on video, and some of these privileged people later write a book about what they were shown in Heaven. The person to whom I refer heard the hymn ‘Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven’ being sung in Heaven! When he commented that we sing that on earth, he was told that it originated in Heaven, and that the inspiration to write like this comes from the Holy Spirit.

An intimate relationship with Jesus

Many musical groups are being anointed nowadays to minister Love to the Bride of Christ, and to bring the Bride into His arms. There are so many wonderful, solid, Bible teachers who are now teaching this. The Lord has anointed this for this season, and it is a huge movement all over the world.

Jesus has spoken about this, saying, “I wait for them to come and sit before Me, with nothing in mind but Me. Just the sight of one of My Brides sitting quietly with Me on her mind, though it be interrupted by a thousand and one thoughts… still, it brings Me much comfort and pleasure.”

One of the beautiful songs of pure love for Jesus, and total surrender to Him is by Christ For All Nations:

All of Me

“When I’m captured by Your gaze,

The whole world fades away

And the troubles I once knew

Dissipate in Your embrace.

When Your beauty I behold,

In my heart one thing I know

Earthly things are counted loss

Just to know You even more.”

Chorus

“So let me pour my love on You,

Like fragrance from my heart

And feel Your love surround me as

You wrap me in Your arms.

Take me to Your chambers where

Your beauty’s all I see

The place where nothing matters

But to give You all of me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Where are those who will linger in My Presence in this season of Acceleration?”

This prophecy was given through Lana Vawser, an anointed prophet from Australia who is much in demand internationally as a conference speaker. I receive her prophecies regularly by email.

Lana shared the Lord’s heart with us:

I had a powerful encounter recently with the heart of God that has left me broken with longing for Him in such a gloriously, deeper way. It was an encounter that moved me so deeply. Experiencing His heart at such a deep level, left me never the same. Hearing the longing from His heart so deeply awakened in me again, the deeper cry to lay down my life and everything to KNOW HIM! To minister to Him! To love Him! To worship Him! That my life would MOVE HIS HEART!

I heard this cry, this deep longing out of the heart of God, so deep, so yearning, it set me alight and yet hurt my heart so deeply… I heard Him saying “WHERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL LINGER? WHERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL LINGER IN MY PRESENCE IN THIS SEASON OF ACCELERATION?”

LINGER: stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave. (Definition taken from Google)

I was left undone!!!! Hearing the heart of God in such deep longing for His people, such deep, deep yearning to know His people and for His people to enjoy His presence. To simply be with Him, to sit as two best friends sit together, even without words, just enjoying each other.

“For just one day of intimacy with you is like a thousand days of joy rolling into one! I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful, ready to go in and worship my God, than to live my life without you in the most beautiful palace of the wicked.”

Psalm 84:10 The Passion Translation

The Lord spoke to me that in this season of acceleration there is a temptation to NOT LINGER, but actually in this season of acceleration, the people of God must be EVEN MORE INTENTIONAL TO LINGER in His presence!!!!!

As My people say YES to Me in this season, waiting on Me, delighting in Me, sitting with Me, I will raise up a COMPANY OF THOSE WHO LINGER and they shall be the ones who KNOW the secrets and meditations of MY HEART!!!!!!!!

The Lord showed me the danger of getting caught up in the ‘winds of acceleration’ and striving, self-promotion and ‘building your own kingdom’ in this season will all sprout forth from a life that does not linger. As the people of God LINGER in His presence, His Spirit is dealing with, breaking and healing those issues.

The PRIORITY in this season MUST BE ‘OUR LINGERING!!’

You will know those who LINGER in My presence in this season as they will walk with a DEEP REST that is TANGIBLE and you will see the fire of the revelation secrets of My heart in their eyes. Those that linger will see the largest LIFT OFF of their lives in this season and it will be by the wind of My Spirit alone. The season of acceleration does not mean ‘busier’ it means I am doing things faster. Breakthrough is happening with greater momentum and velocity. But the more the acceleration winds increase, the more you are to LINGER My people.

The Lord then highlighted Joshua to me in Exodus 33:9-11:

“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshipped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, DID NOT DEPART FROM THE TABERNACLE!!”

Joshua LINGERED!! Moses LINGERED!! Abraham LINGERED!! David LINGERED!!

There is such a deep and glorious invitation to LINGER in His presence in this season. The greatest joy is to know Him and carry His heart. To know what He is dreaming about! To know what the secrets of His heart are.

The Lord is PURSUING US and He is CALLING OUT THE PURSUERS!

“Where are those who will linger? Where are those who will linger in this season of acceleration?”

His eyes are roaming! His eyes are searching! He’s looking! Does that not cause you to be undone? The heart of Almighty God is looking for those who will LINGER. Why? So He can REVEAL His heart and fellowship with His people.

“There is a private place reserved for the lowers of God where they sit near Him and receive the revelation-secrets of His promises” Psalm 25:13 The Passion Translation

In the LINGERING there is a depth of His heart and rivers of the Spirit being entered into by the people of God that have never been experienced before.

There is NO END to discovering the heart of God and He’s inviting you and I in. Let us not take His invitation lightly! Let us not cast away His question. Let us cry out together, that His Spirit burn that question He is asking SO DEEP within us, that we are MOVED! We are shaken out of any areas of complacency and awakened to deeper intimacy and friendship with our Beloved. Let us be INTENTIONAL to INVITE His Spirit to CONVICT US!

In this season of acceleration, let our priority be to LINGER. Let His eyes fall upon us and our LIVES and POSITIONING be an answer to His question.. “WHERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL LINGER? WHERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL LINGER IN THIS SEASON OF ACCELERATION?”

******************************

This prophetic word made a profound impression on me, as it did on Lana. Like her, I was undone! To learn that Jesus is waiting for me – longing for me to break off from my busy schedule to simply sit quietly before Him, adoring Him, overwhelmed by His Love and His holiness, worshipping Him quietly – what an unspeakable joy and privilege is this!

To the best of my ability over the past few months, I’ve been lingering long in the presence of Jesus, lost in the awesomeness of how Holy He is – how Worthy of our worship – how altogether Lovely Jesus is. However busy I may be, I have been doing my utmost to make time for prolonged worship and adoration several times every day. In fact He has even said that these times mean more to Him than any work we may actually do for Him. That shook me to the core! It affected me deeply that it should mean so much to Jesus that one of His little ones would delight in simply being with Him – two best friends together.

Graces are dispensed during these times of intimacy with our Lord. He opens up so much to us, sharing what is on His heart. New works are granted for us to do for Him. New talents are given, and fresh opportunities arise to help others on their journey with Jesus. However, the most precious thing of all to me is that everything stems from our close intimacy with Jesus as we fulfil the deep desire of His heart. I do not have words to express the heavenly bliss of resting in His arms, seeing only Jesus.

Note from So Greatly Loved

To receive Lana Vawser’s frequent prophecies by email, search her website Lana Vawser Ministries.

Going Deeper in the Heart of Jesus

How my own life was transformed

Worship has been a large, very precious, part of my everyday life since Jesus brought me into a much deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the Still Small Voice channel where the anointed teachings began totally transforming my Christian life some years ago. I have known Jesus for 58 years, and heard Him speaking frequently in my heart for 54 of those years. However, I had no idea how much more than hearing His voice, Jesus has for His children to be enjoying until I ‘happened’ to click on a Still Small Voice video one day out of curiosity.

Jesus Himself shares His heart on this channel. Through it thousands of Christians worldwide are entering into greater depth in their walk with the Lord, as I am. Many of us are now moving under fresh anointings, discovering new talents and abilities granted to use in previously undreamed of ministries for the Lord. The fruit borne by the Still Small Voice channel in new ministries birthed, can only be described as remarkable. This teaching is too good to keep to myself, so I am sharing some excerpts from messages on the channel that have greatly blessed me. It is no wonder that the enemy hates this anointed channel and does his utmost to discredit it. The devil trembles indeed to see countless numbers of Christians becoming so liberated now, through this input from above, and moving into their own God-appointed destinies, far beyond their wildest dreams.

On the Still Small Voice channel, Jesus addresses us as His Brides: those who are making sure they are ready for the return of their heavenly Bridegroom to catch them away to Heaven in the Rapture. The word ‘Rapture’ means ‘to snatch away out of danger.’ Many people around the world understand that we recently very narrowly missed the outbreak of WW3, the so-called ‘war to end all wars.’ The world situation is calmer now, but could easily change with little warning. It is very important indeed for Christians to be ready for Jesus’ return.

Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25 in which ten young women are waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom, describes the day in which we live. Jesus said that five of them were wise and five were foolish. The wise had oil in their lamps, plus plenty of oil to spare: they were filled with Holy Spirit and ready for their Lord’s return to take them to Heaven, where they would enjoy the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). The five foolish ones, on the other hand, ran out of oil and therefore missed the Bridegroom’s coming; the door was shut and they were left behind. This looks as though Jesus is saying that many in the church will not be ready for His coming. What a warning! How many are heeding it, I wonder?

Are we forgetful Brides?

Jesus talks to His proven prophet Clare du Bois about many issues on the Still Small Voice channel. In the following excerpt He is speaking on Worship:

“Some of you, My Brides, are forgetting to spend substantial time in worship with Me. I have so many new anointings and gifts for you, My Brides, but you must enter into praise and thanksgiving. There is nothing I will deny a praising, thankful soul. Eventually, every desire of her heart will be fulfilled. But as you throw off the fetters of the day like old rags, and reach your hearts up into the Heavenly courts to worship, My very arms and heart swing open to receive you and together we enter into worship and your soul is restored. As you sing about My Beauty, I cannot help but reciprocate, My Lovely Brides. Yes, I sing over you! In worship, while you are driving, in the store, and in the mornings, especially. Yes, I love to sing over you in the mornings and establish your day on the solid foundation of My Love and Trust in you.

“I love to remind you of your beauty before Me. It is not a beauty of this world, it is Heavenly, and a masterpiece to be appreciated by all of Heaven. For not only are you the redeemed, but you are as well My Very Spouse for Eternity. And how lovely you are in the garments of praise. When you sing to Me, when you enter into the lyrics even without singing, but your heart is expressed through them, there is a certain honey that is released. Spiritual Honey, both in fragrance ascending to the Throne, and a calming blanket of adoration that ascends to enfold Me as well.

“You do not yet realise what your worship means to Me. If you could see the pockets of darkness around this Earth, you would realise that truly Earth has many dungeons… places where joy and worship are not practised, places where I am not known, places ridden with crime and sin. Then you would see the twinkling lights that spring up in the darkness and shine, twinkle and pulsate with praise. Yes, what you are beholding are praising souls who are glorifying me from the heart – either in song, in supplication or in appreciation of all that I have made.”

All Creation is Praising God

“It is true that nothing should be a mystery to you, nothing. All things revert back to Me. But you have not yet heard the symphony of the stars, the crickets, the many waters, the fragrant winds. In each of these elements Creation praises Me and therefore I am now calling you all to a higher form of praise.”

Clare added, “you know, that’s interesting, because I felt that when I was sitting under the gigantic tree in our yard. I just felt the presence of the Lord so strong in the rustling of the leaves.” Jesus continued, “Worship Me in spirit and in truth like never before, but begin with a heart of thanksgiving, noticing all I have placed around you for your enjoyment. And the rustling of leaves as you walk by. Do you know they are clapping their hands? Marvel of marvels, they are praising Me who lives inside of you! Yes, they have intelligence and knowledge enough to worship. Have you not read, “The trees of the field will clap their hands?”

Isaiah 55:12You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Psalm 98:8The rivers will clap hands together and the mountains will sing … and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

“Yes” Jesus said, “over and over again, all of Creation worships Me.”

Romans 8:19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21. the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

Jesus continued, “How could Creation suffer if it did not have any consciousness? It couldn’t. So you see, everything in union with man is expecting, anticipating liberation along with you. So, when you walk in the park or the forest and hear the rustling of leaves, you are hearing My Creation worshipping Me. Will you not join in and acknowledge them? Do you see? Your thanksgiving and worship are a part of everything I’ve made. There is nothing that does not sing out My praises.”

Psalm 19 “The Heavens proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Clare added, “It’s interesting here, as an aside, it says ‘they have no speech and they use no words.’ Well, we know now that there are vibrations that can be turned into sound. And you can actually hear the music of the spheres, the music of the stars and the planets. We have the technology now to hear that, which we’ve never had before. And no doubt they are communicating the Glory of God to one another!

“And another Scripture that came to mind was: Revelation 14 “And I heard music from Heaven which resembled the sound of many waters and the roar of loud thunder; and the music which I heard was like that of harpists.”

Jesus continued, “So, My Brides, what I am telling you is happy is the soul who worships Me; great are the gifts to be showered on such a one as this. Come into My courts with praise and watch the doors of Heaven swing open and reveal My Presence in your midst… Allow the ebullient honey of My Love to pour over your weary souls, and bask in the fire of My presence. Allow Me to restore and equip you anew for the battles ahead, the challenges you face, things unheard of that I have already equipped you for.

“Yes, enter My Heart singing praises and allow Me to endow you with a spark from the eternal fires of My Love. And as you go out into the world, the fire of that love burns. It burns everything it comes in contact with. That is why Satan hates praise, hates musicians, and preeminently hates the intimacy we share in the chambers of My Heart. Protect this priceless gift and dwell with Me, for truly your God inhabits the praises of His People. “You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22

“Keep your heart purely for Me. Tend to Me, Clare, meet My needs.”

Clare explained: “Jesus is talking about keeping Him company, just being there for the Lord above all other things. You know, there are conquests that we can go on, there are all kinds of things we can do for the Lord. But the one thing that He values so much, aside from setting the captives free, because that’s part of our job as Christians, is our company. Our loving company and being there, being present to Him.”

Jesus continued, “Your time in worship, listening to worship music, praising Me through the sunsets and the crickets and the snowflakes – worship and praise will elevate your minds even higher beyond the death that is everywhere in this world. Worship is simply recognising Who I am and thanking Me for My care and benefits. You can do that anywhere, anytime and I will respond by drawing you up into Myself.

“The music is very helpful when it is anointed to worship Me, but you don’t have to have music to worship. You don’t have to open your mouth – many times that will be inappropriate. Worship in spirit and in truth. Magnifying Me in your heart and mind – that, indeed, is worshipping in spirit and in truth. Sometimes opening your mouth makes you self-conscious and takes away from our deep communion.

“Worship as you are led, not as you think others say you should worship. You are not impressing anyone here. We are alone together in the sanctuary of your heart. No one is expecting a performance. I just want your gratitude and worship.”

You Have Abandoned Your First Love

Clare shared on another occasion that she had missed her close fellowship with Jesus terribly. She said, “Losing God and losing His Presence is everything. Just everything.” Jesus took her to Revelation, chapter 2, in which He had addressed the church in Ephesus: “These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands. I know your deeds, your labour and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for my name, But this I have against you: You have abandoned your first Love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen! Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2

Jesus began to speak, “Clare, there is never a moment I am away from your side. You are the one who drifts from Me, not I from you. There is too much busy work in your home. You need to run it like a cloister or you will never go where I want to take you. Less involvement with the world, My Precious. Less and less and less.

“Well, My love, you know I am no discriminator of persons. I have a great depth for each one of My Brides, but most never even approach it, let alone rest in it. You have been there many, many times – but your involvement with the house is distracting you… Enough is enough, and at this point it’s way too much. You will find great joy in My arms, Clare. Alone with Me is all you’ll ever need. How surprised I am that you do not avail yourself of that every moment of the day. If you would begin to practice that, seeing yourself held securely in My arms, you will see a change in your attitude from moment to moment. And you will go deeper with Me, much deeper.

“You will find more time to savour My presence and in that be transformed, going deeper into My love and heavenly provision for your spirit. The secret is to break-away. Most, including yourself, look forward to our times together as a sort of dessert after the main course of your duties everyday. May I say, you have it backwards? Your time with Me is the main course and the duties are on the periphery.

“This is the only way you will attain to that depth you are hungering for, My Love. Break away, break away… Continually throughout the day. Come to rest in My arms even when things are getting more and more hectic.”

Clare replied, “But Lord, how do I do that? When things get like that I begin to stress and push it to get it done and out of the way!”

“That’s what I am addressing right now.” Jesus replied. “I am the main meal. Those other things are simply appetisers, unappetising as they are to you. They are like the condiments on the table. But in My arms is where you will find your life and nourishment. Lose your life in the world to find Mine in Heaven.”

“Lord,” Clare replied, “I often think I would be happier in a much simpler environment.” But He answered me, “Practice simplicity in this environment, that’s the challenge. Oh, My Beloved, I ache for you as you ache for Me. There is not a moment of the day that I don’t long to see one sweet glance of your eyes. My heart soars when you look at Me with such longing. I hate to see confusion and stress tearing you away from Me. And this is the case with all of you, My Brides. How I long to see your searching eyes as they come in contact with Me, as you are looking for My presence.”

He continues, “This is the beauty of the eternal relationship we have. It exists outside the boundaries of space and time. It truly is eternal. Though your days are filled with time-consuming work, your relationship with Me is not subject to these same laws. This is why you can find Me at any moment by your side, drinking in the vision of the longing expression in your eyes and on your heart and mind. And My response is ever the same, ‘So…what’s keeping you from Me in this moment? Is it that important?’

“Today you got to the point where nothing was as important as seeking and finding Me. And I was there for you.” I answered Him, ‘Yes, I certainly did. When I got the Church at Ephesus, “Return to your first love.” That cut me so deeply I told everyone, ‘I’m going into prayer, and I’m not going to come out any time soon.’ And I came out a couple of hours later when everyone was gone.

Jesus continued, “I sent you that Rhema (anointed word that strikes you forcibly) because I missed you, Clare. I knew how you would take it. I knew you would immediately repent and seek My face. And you did not disappoint Me. I did not mean the harsh threat for you, dearest – I just wanted to call your attention to the fact that you were lapsing into more and more involvement with the world… again. And we both know what that eventually leads to…

“Yes, My delightful Brides, become so entwined and wrapped up in Me… Yes! Yes! I want to be your one and only distraction. You know what it feels like to fall in love and long for your Beloved. This is indeed how I long for you. But so few long for Me with that same intensity.

“Long for Me. Be distracted by Me. Be pulled away by Me – become forgetful of all around you by Me. This is the kind of love I ache to have from My Brides. As the saying goes, ‘Be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.’

“Yes, yes, I know… Your jobs, your duties – yes, they must be done. But remember back to a time when you had first fallen in love; your very first love. All you could do was long for that hour to come where the two of you would be together. This is the kind of love I long for from you.

“Oh, how beautiful the soul is that has cast aside the world to have this with Me. How perfectly their longing shall be rewarded, for there is not enough Heaven on Earth to give to such a one as this. Pray for this grace, My Blessed ones, pray much for this grace. And practise searching Me out with your spiritual eyes. Every moment of the day. And when our hearts touch, do your best to go away into a place of quietness and prayer, where we can dwell together and you can be regenerated. And I can be consoled by your love.”

There is a Price to Pay

“My people, if you want to draw closer to Heaven, you must learn to deny yourself and walk in self-denial. You cannot continue to feed the flesh and expect eternal rewards, for the flesh is in opposition to the Spirit and one cancels out the power of the other. So, if you want closer encounters with Me and with Heaven, deny yourselves some choice morsel and come into My presence stronger in resolve than ever. You must reach up and out of yourselves as you seek My fellowship and the sweetness of My presence.

“What price are you willing to pay, My beloved ones? What are you willing to deny yourself? The rich young ruler had done all the law commanded, but his heart was still with his possessions and future inheritance. The idea of disappointing his father was also something he could not even fathom… a slap in the face for his father’s years of planning and toil. Yes, relatives and security will keep you from your highest calling if you allow them to.

“I am calling you to press into My Heart. Dwell in My Heart. Do good wherever you find an opportunity, grow in virtue and fight against the temptations that assail you, even by calling your love for Me to mind. A demon cannot gain control of a heart that is full and running over with Love for Me.

“As you grow in virtue, I will begin to release to you the secret dreams of your heart. I will lead you with My Love and you will have a peace that is beyond what the world gives you, even in the lowliest of positions, even in the most difficult circumstances. You will have My peace. I will lead you step-by-step if you live in the present time according to My precious will. I know where I am leading you. In many cases, I have put a spark of love in your life for the very thing you will one day be doing. I will confirm it to you. I love to see the hopeless come to life when I breathe My promises into their hearts and minds So, My children, let me encourage you now, You have a very special destiny, each and every one of you. One that only you can fulfil – no one else can fulfil it. Seek Me until you find Me and I will reveal it to you. I bless you now with a hunger for Me and My calling.”

Clare added, “That’s built on intimacy with Him in prayer. It is a deep and abiding heart-relationship with your Creator and best friend. To worship and adore Him in spirit and in truth brings you into the throne room of His heart where all life and joy is manifested. Living for Jesus is the most wonderful adventure anyone on this Earth can have. It is supremely rewarding. And the sweetest thing you will ever experience in your life is His Love for you. As well as the deepest challenges and pain as you carry your cross the way He has asked you to. “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me.” He will empower you every step along the way. He will protect, strengthen and complete the good work He has begun in you. Don’t be afraid to lay your life down at His feet and say, “Lord, whatever Your will is for my life, I give You my life to live.” And remember, He said: “He who would save his life will lose it, but he who will lose his life for My sake will find it.” Matt 16:25

Choosing Worship Songs, and Avoiding Distractions

Clare’s advice is to allow Holy Spirit to choose our worship songs. She says, “I discovered a wonderful way to help me in worship: to allow Holy Spirit to pick the songs. If you make a playlist with all your favourite songs on it, and put them in any order, it doesn’t matter. And then click on “shuffle”, the shuffle option in iTunes, Holy Spirit can pick the songs He wants. It’s very edifying, because I know when a song comes up, it’s what’s on His heart and mind. And He has surprised me with a few things – really sweet things that I just wasn’t expecting. So that’s a head’s up for all of us who use iTunes and have that shuffle option. Terry MacAlmon is a very anointed worship leader. Terry’s music, to me, is more like what heavenly worship service would be like – or is like.

Clare added, “For those of you who have a zillion distractions during worship and prayer, I have a couple of suggestions that work for me and really help. One is to keep a pencil and pad nearby and write down any “to do” things when you think of them and then go right back to prayer. A lot of times our mind is spinning, spinning, spinning and when it begins to slow down, forgotten things register suddenly in our minds like popcorn. Another suggestion is to ask the Lord to help you enter into, and at the same time refocus, on worship and prayer until you can finally connect with Him and He takes charge of your thoughts.”

Links: a few of my Favourite Songs

I find Terry MacAlmon’s anointed worship songs lift me up into the very heart of Jesus. Terry has understood the heart of worship in a particularly deep way. I have a number of his albums. My favourite is his ‘Live Worship from the World Prayer Center.’ YouTube has a good number of Terry MacAlmon’s songs. You could make your own playlist. Julie True is another of my firm favourites. Several of her albums are also on YouTube, and likewise Kari Jobe, and others.

The lyrics of Terry MacAlmon’s song, ‘This is the Time’ beautifully express how Holy Spirit is leading us in worship now: “This is the time when true worshippers will worship Him. These are the days when My Father’s ways will be known to men. This is the hour when the Spirit’s power will move again, all across the land, as we worship Him in spirit and in truth. Holy, holy, holy is Your name. Worthy, worthy let all the earth proclaim. Mighty, mighty, there is no God like You, and we worship You in spirit and in truth.”

Terry MacAlmon Worship Songs

For the Lord is Holy

Blessing and Honour

Agnus Dei

Julie True Worship Songs

Oh My Soul

I Need You Lord, Meet Me Here.

Healing in Your Presence

It has been found by secular therapists that when people needing help listen to Julie’s singing, they are greatly helped. In centres in various countries her music is being used. The presence of Jesus will come with healing power and restoration, for He deserves all glory!

May the Lord bless you and overwhelm you with new revelations and impartations. Jesus can heal you… He can! Let the Holy Spirit take you to the throne room in Heaven.

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Note from So Greatly Loved

In this post there are excerpts from several messages given by Jesus to Clare du Bois. For information on the Still Small Voice channel on Vimeo visit the website: heartdwellers.org