Insert Grace Here

While in my quiet time recently, the Lord brought me on a journey. I had just spent some time with him that morning in the Secret Place talking about the previous days of frustration. He assured me that it would break off soon. He was doing a work and my understanding would open. After my morning time with Him, I planned to get dressed for my weekly prayer and Bible study group. But He had a different plan.

“Stay home with Me.”

My immediate response to His invitation was, “Yes!” Tuesday mornings are important to me. Home meetings with our small group of amazing women set an atmosphere of unity ushering in the Presence of God. Time spent there is precious. Yet there could be no hesitation at the King’s request. Time spent with Him is priceless. And so I crawled back in bed, snuggled under the covers, and entered into that Secret Place that no other has ever known.

He led me on a journey through winding tree-lined paths. Worn dirt paths appeared well-trodden, meandering through a sort of forest. “What is this,” I asked.

“Paths of righteousness.” Of course. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. {Psalm 23:3} Joy was in the atmosphere. He was taking me on an adventure. The excitement was building.

And then I fell asleep . . .

I dozed off as I often do while soaking in His Presence. Some call it sloaking—sleeping while soaking. {Bill Johnson of Bethel Church calls it snoaking because he snores. *grins*} I was sloaking. Although it’s not generally a lengthy sleep, I find that it’s very restful. I’m certain it’s purposeful. This time I dozed on and off just a bit. Before waking, I heard, “Time!” spoken loudly as if from a man standing over my bed. I can’t be certain that it was audible but the sound was so clear that it jolted me awake. “What was that Lord,” I asked.

Your angel.

Fully alert, with great anticipation, I returned to the quiet, Secret Place where we continued our journey. I sensed the path we were on would soon come to a stop and it did. We stood over a sort of precipice overlooking an expanse that I can only describe as a sort of giant drive-in movie screen spread out like a world map. “What is this Lord,” I asked.

Time. He said

He took his finger and zoned in on a particular area enlarging it as you would enlarge a landmark with your finger in the Google Maps app.

A large city appeared revealing constant motion. As if in fast pace, people and cars moved about with busyness of life. “There’s so much movement,” I said. Jesus nodded.

Then He took His hand and touched the map, now a globe, and spun it clockwise moving forward in time. Again, He took His finger and zoned in on a particular area, which I instinctively knew to be Central America. I had just received a prophecy concerning missions in Central and South America. Again, so much movement appeared within the enlarged region. Different landscape, different culture, same busy movement. Psalm 39:6 in the NLT came to mind and I spoke, “. . . all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” Again, Jesus nodded.

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

Psalm 39:6 NLT

I thought of how Jesus has power over time, to change it. He embodies time as He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. {Revelation 22:13}

“Lord, you have power to change time. You have power to halt time, move it forward or backward,” I said. He looked at me and said, “So do you.”

So do I? Of course! Ephesians 5:16 came to mind. “Redeeming the time,” I said. Jesus smiled.

We have power over time, to redeem it, to buy it back. “If we can buy back time, what is the currency,” I asked.

“Faith,” He answered. Again, He pointed to the enlarged area and said, “Much activity can be going on here.” He then zoned into an area in which I knew to be my present location. “But a moment’s time here can change time there for eternity.”

He spun the globe again counter-clockwise, faster and faster, back in time to what I knew to be Biblical times. As He zoned in, enlarging a particular area, I knew it to be the home of Mary and Martha during His time on earth. As the home came into focus, I could see within its walls through an open roof. Mary was at the feet of Jesus, leaning on Him. People were laughing, talking, moving about. Jesus was laughing. There was movement in the home but the atmosphere was light. I could sense Mary’s contentment as she sat staring adoringly at Jesus. I could see Martha. She was off by herself, frustrated. Such a contradiction of emotion within that home. I could relate. I’ve been Mary, at His feet, contented. I’ve also been Martha, frustrated and restless. That’s where I’d been the previous days. Frustration.

As the vision and journey came to an end, I saw clearly my place of returning and resting at His feet. It’s where frustration dissolves and clarity comes. It’s the place of fulfillment. He fulfills us. And ultimately, in His Presence far more work is fulfilled. After my time with Jesus, I was reminded of a dire circumstance that had unfolded the day before leaving a tremendous impact on my oldest daughter and grandson. My heart ached over the situation and for everyone affected by it. I entered into a time of prayer, specifically praying that the love and goodness of God would overwhelm. Soon after, I moved to my closet for a time of stepping into the courts of Heaven where I prayed fervently over our families.

Isaiah 54:17 KJV says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Our accuser stands in the courts of Heaven bringing accusation against us. We condemn the tongues rising against us in judgment. The Father is our righteous Judge and we are His righteousness. This is our heritage. Jesus is our advocate and His blood speaks for us. His blood speaks. {Hebrews 12:24} And so I stood declaring and decreeing the Word of the LORD over my family, my children and their families. Because Jesus Christ took our penalty and our judgment, we can render the enemy defeated, his own weapons turning on himself. We can decree and declare that restitution is made. And so I did as Holy Spirit led me.

Not long after, I received a phone call from my daughter. Every detail involved in this situation appeared to be covered. A turnaround had come and I saw the goodness, mercy, and love of God poured out. In what appeared to be a short time, time changed. A turnaround was made.

So often we go about restlessly working and striving, insisting that we must keep up the pace lest everything fall apart. All the while we are unraveling. Frustration settles in and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. Yet we have been granted power over time by surrendering it to the one who is time. His very Presence makes all the difference. He is what truly satisfies and He’s calling us back to intimacy. He’s calling us back to the Secret Place, the place where many have not yet known. Years of activity, busyness within the church, can leave us feeling as if we have moved in slow motion and gained little progress, unsatisfied and frustrated. But one moment’s time with Him at His feet, soaking up His Presence can reveal mysteries and strategies that can alter time for all of eternity. How incredibly marvelous?!

He is inviting us to come away with him. He is inviting us to break out of our routines and rituals and let go of our plans. His Ways and plans are so much better. Always. We are standing on the edge of the fulness of time, eternity nearing. And our same old tired plans will never do. It’s time to surrender time and let Him into that Secret Place within us where we can dine with Him.

So come!

This is your moment.

Arise, my dearest, Hurry, my darling. Come away with me! I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

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Song of Songs 2:10 The Passion Translation