A testimony and a prayer
March 1, 2020
T. Andrew Farley
A couple weeks ago I was driving home later in the day. The joy of the Lord is my strength, but during this drive I was a little melancholy, processing a lot of thoughts and casting down a few vain imaginations in the process. The Lord knows our every thought and our heart condition. At that moment, He knew I needed some encouragement.
Then I heard something pretty clearly. I have to quickly pause and try to explain this “hearing” it’s the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s still and quiet but very clear, other times or many times it’s been loud and clear. Usually, but not always it comes during or at the end of prayer. (Hearing is the power and communication if one has intimacy w/God, through His desires and words being placed in our heart or our mind by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.)
That said, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the audible voice of the Father about 4 times in my life as well. God knows, He is my witness. I’m a work in progress, but I’m not crazy. Many of God’s children get dreams and visions. I don’t get many of those, but I’m GRATEFUL to hear His voice from time to time!
When we do or think we do, we must always test it. (that’s a whole different topic I won’t do here, or this would be too long) In this case regarding testing, He Himself confirmed what He was saying to me directly without me asking in a powerful way. This is what came at me strong:
“You ARE IN the book of remembrance!”
As I heard and felt that so strongly at the time, I pondered it for a moment, and I realized He was encouraging me in this moment of heaviness. I felt a surge rise up in my heart, and I decreed or repeated out loud in the car: “I AM IN the book of remembrance! Hallelujah!”
Fast forward to 1.5 hours later I’m home, sitting on the couch for a moment. My laptop was near by and I saw kind of a flash on a page out of the corner of my eye. Suddenly, Malachi 3:16 was staring me in the face. (I took a photo of what was on my laptop screen, it’s the same photo I’ve shared with this post up above.)
I had maybe 9 tabs open on my laptop; I didn’t remember being on the particular page it was awhile back. But basically, it had a few scriptures (including the Malachi one apparently) rotating every 10 seconds on the page. When I saw the verse (of course God giving me a powerful and encouraging “2nd witness” in the living word itself!), I clicked over to that page and my eyes watered as I thanked God for His encouragement.
Then the verse stayed stuck, it didn’t rotate, and it was a small but powerful moment of edifying that God knew I needed, and He delivered it Himself by His Spirit and the word.
What is the book of remembrance?
If you read the verse, it’s pretty clear. They that “feared the Lord” spoke often with one another and He overhead and started a special book to record their fear/respect for Him for all eternity. The “fear of the Lord” is a HUGE topic, it cannot be adequately covered here, it’s not a fear because of the absence of grace; it’s a fear imparted as wisdom as part of the gift of grace and salvation.
I will say if one searches the scriptures in this verse “fear” is the root H3373 which does speak of “fearing, morally reverent” hearts or as some people I’ve heard say: “a reverential awe and respect for God”. That is the meaning here.
However, I encourage all to study Philippians 2:12 as well, and “fear” in that verse is literal when we’re instructed to “seek our salvation with fear and trembling”. Fear there in the Greek is G5401 or “phobos” and means fear, dread, terror. (it can also mean “reverence for one’s husband”, and I share that because isn’t Christ not only the head of the body, but the Bridegroom Himself?)
Finally, I encourage you to study Isaiah 11:2 which is very critical to the body of Christ in the day and hour we are in. We need 7 Spirit of God aid and communication and counsel in this hour. It’s provided by the “fear of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord” as it’s foundation. (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, council and might.)
Back to the testimony, I just give public witness and thanks to God for being faithful to never abandon or forsake us and to encourage us in our time of need! Sometimes it is very challenging in a season of waiting on the Lord. Whatever your situation, your test or your trial, remember that we are to “count it all joy”, but sometimes it’s very difficult.
God alone is our Provider, our Healer, our Deliverer, and our Banner and Peace, among other things. He is shaking foundations in households and body-wide, to sift out that which must go and to strengthen that which will remain, to those who are humble enough to partake in His sufferings, for that is the only way we will be conformed into His image, faith to faith, and glory to glory! The Lord God tests the righteous.
Here’s a prayer for anyone who is struggling in this battle we all are in of the flesh and the spirit, pray as is or use it as a model and adapt it with the humble cry of your own heart; may God continue to bless and keep you:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to your gates and presence with boldness and thankfulness, that you chose to flip me upside down and out of this fallen world, and that I am your redeemed child by the blood of the Sinless Lamb; who will soon return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
I am thankful for your mighty right hand and that no man will pull me out of it. I am thankful for your grace and the gift of my salvation and that you have called me to conform into your image!
Help me to humble myself in “the fear of the Lord” like never before; put my name (if it’s not already there) into your book of remembrance!
Increase me in Isaiah 11:2 Kingdom revelations, so that I may be made an available vessel to pour out your heart of compassion on my family, my friends, and my neighbors as I seek to obey your command to be known by our love for one another.
If I am lacking in fear of the Lord without perceiving it, if there is any hidden pride or sin, error or rebellion, do what only you can do oh God, as I submit myself unto your headship. I know your word promises if I submit to you God, the devil must flee from my life.
Help me to increase in greater discernment by your Spirit against anything trying to operate against or within me, so that I may be strengthened in my weakness, by the power and healing love of your Spirit.
Use me oh God as you will. Tell me what breaks your heart and use me as an encourager and a witness for your Glory alone!
Help me to meditate only on those things which are good; increase the fruit of the Spirit in my life and help me to cast down anything opposite of that, including presumptuous sin.
I decree and declare I am yours, and I thank you that I fear you Lord God; I love you and I thank you for loving me first!
In the mighty name of Jesus/Yeshua, AMEN!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools[a] despise wisdom and instruction.
From Jeremiah 17: CURSED is the man who trusts in MAN and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
“BLESSED is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
see Isaiah 11:2
see Philippians 2: 1 – 15
Philippians 4: 4-9:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Shared by T. Andrew Farley 03/01/2020
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