By Patricia Persons Patricia's email: mpp@centurytel.net Tuesday, May 01, 2001

After a season of warfare and confusion I was waiting on the Lord this morning and He started to bring these things to my mind...it was a breakthrough for me and I sensed the Lord also giving me release to share this for your encouragement, as there may be others experiencing this same thing. Therefore, I submit this for your discernment and edification.

A THICK FOG ON THE WAY HOME

I was reminded of a particular time when our family was traveling by car, we were on our way home from visiting family in another state, when we came into a very thick patch of fog that lasted for what seemed hours...

We thought it would eventually thin out and dissipate, but instead, found it growing even thicker and more frightening as we were being passed by cars and would see their tail lights fade out only a few feet in front of us into the fog.

We were even noticing that the radio in our car was not getting any clear signals, so it was like we were traveling without any kind of communications with the outside world, feeling isolated and confused and afraid of coming upon a wreck, we slowed down considerably in order to give ourselves 'reaction time' in case there was indeed an accident (which often happens in the fog)..and I was about at the end of my strength/courage when I (finally) decided to call upon the Lord.

WITH STRENGTH GONE, "I STARTED TO REALIZE HIS SOVEREIGNTY"

It seemed to be an endless journey, and my strength and courage was all but gone. As I began to call out to God, I started to realize His sovereignty in the situation, that indeed if He called me out of darkness, that He was going to see His purposes fulfilled in my life and there was no need to fear anything, but I had to come into His presence to understand this. It was then I found myself in a place of rest, as I yielded to the care of the Lord in the situation.

SOME ASK, "HOW CAN OTHERS HAVE SUCH CONFIDENCE" AMIDST CONFUSION?

This does not refer to a reckless regard for the Lord's protection, but as I put myself under His care, and as I find relationship under the shadow of His wings,, there is no fear of anything that may come my way... I felt the Lord saying today that there are many who have been in a place of very thick fog [over their visual and 'audible' perceptions] of where they are in Him, and seeing many others pass them by, wondering to themselves how can they have such confidence in this place of utter confusion?

How can they operate in these conditions with such carefree attitudes? How is it the Lord has blessed them and not me? How does He always seem to give to them and why does He not give to me in the same way?

"Does He love me differently?"

In this process of thoughts I began to get more and more implications of rejection through my circumstances and relationships, feeling 'set up' in many instances, to appear worthy of rejection and judgment, not knowing how to combat it.

A FLOOD OF THOUGHTS NOT FROM THE LORD

This discouragement has brought a flood of thoughts [that are not from the Lord], they are from the enemy, as he[the enemy] has 'spied out' those that are slowing down, those that are struggling..and then sends a great barrage of negative thoughts that have come to bring more discouragement and despair.. But , the Lord sees and He knows, and He wants to bring clarity to you to bring you into the place of rest, to the place of peace and trust, the place of freedom [from fear and despair] to find complete delight in Him...

THE LORD SPOKE, "I KNOW THE THOUGHTS YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH."

These are the words He spoke to my heart..... For I know the thoughts you are struggling with and I see the battle that you are in, but know this, I am here, I am bringing you into a place of confidence and trust in Me and My desires for you...I have not forgotten you as you have perceived, the enemy has planted these thoughts in your mind, and as you see others that seem to be passing you by and seem to have it all together... I say to you, "do not try to imitate them when you are in this place...I am at work on your foundations, and it is imperative that you allow Me to complete this work in you."

YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO DEPEND ON OTHERS TO "DIP" FOR YOU

"My plan is to establish something in you that will be a place of great strength and security in you... it will be a reserve that cannot be depleted in the situations I have designed you for. I am building a reservoir of hope deep within you so that you will draw from that well, and not depend on others to 'dip' for you..

AS COMMUNICATION SHUTS DOWN--"I AM DRAWING YOU UNDER THE SHADOW OF MY WINGS"

I am opening up the communications between us, as you see all other communications shutting down and unreliable, this is My doing, do not fear, for as you sense the fog getting thicker and the communications breaking down on the outside, it is because I am drawing you UNDER THE SHADOW OF MY WINGS, for I have great things in store for you, and I have many things I want to tell you.

I have a plan and I am working these things into your life right now I am weaving them into the fabric of your very being......this very minute.

They are becoming a part of you, and you will find that as you depend upon Me and draw near to Me, you will find out many things that I have hidden deep inside of Me in regards to you and your future...there is much you have yet to see unfold in your life... even in your heart.

IT'S NOT WHAT OTHERS TELL YOU--BUT WHAT I TELL YOU

I desire you to put your confidence in what I tell you and not what others tell you...is My anointing any less on the words I speak only to you? I would have you grow in this understanding--- My anointing has no greater measure just because it comes from someone else's mouth, when I speak to you. It is I who have spoken--consider the source and know that I am desiring you to value the gift of hearing Me, I have given you ears to hear My voice, and you value it more when it comes from someone else's mouth, only because you have not totally separated yourself from the approval of man.

I cherish you and long to pour out My love on you...stop trying to imitate those you think are better than yourself...I like the way I created you! I find great pleasure in who you are...and you will never understand this if you are always comparing yourself to others.

A TIME TO UPROOT THE LIES

Will you allow yourself to believe the thoughts I have towards you? This is a time of uprooting those lies! I am uprooting those tares in your soul that the enemy planted in you, and know this,--- I am not willing to let you slip through the cracks!

Will you dare to believe that I am so deeply in love with YOU, that I will stop at nothing to see you come into My purposes for you! Will you entrust your very life to ME, the lover of your soul? It is only when you allow the enemy to feed you those negative thoughts that I am silenced, and you cannot hear the life giving words I am speaking. each other!

SHAKE OFF THE DUST AND TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE

I have much to tell you! Arise, My Beloved! Shake off the dust and lies of the enemy and Come and take your RIGHTFUL place by My side! Under the Shadow of My Wings!

FROM FOG TO----NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY!

In closing, I will say that the journey that my family was on at the time we found ourselves in this fog, it seemed that as soon as I was in that place of trusting in Him, very shortly after this prayer we broke into the clearest skies I had ever seen... there was not a cloud in the sky, it was at night and the stars were the brightest and the most beautiful I had ever seen!

And then the radio suddenly came on and the reception was crystal clear, just like the crisp night air, and to my utter delight, one of my favorite programs came on ("Prairie Home Companion") and it brought such a sweetness, because I knew that this was the Lords doing!

He actually did delight in us, and knew what would delight us as well! The relief was so sweet, the goodness of the Lord was so tangible and so real at that moment--- I can never forget what great love He has for His children! And with this memory, it brought into focus what the heart of the Lord is when we find ourselves in times like these!

Such a contrast to what the enemy of our souls would want us to believe!!

In Him,
Patricia