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177. Cling to the Rock

 

The Lord has been showing me the same dream/vision for the last six months. The first time He spoke to me about it, I didn’t want to hear it. It was like a map and Him showing me you are here. Me looking at Him like He was crazy and throwing a “nope you gotta be kidding me” look right back at Him. “Hang on Ash” He’d say and we’d begin walking. I’d begin to see a river flowing through a valley as we walked. The landscape was green but rocky at the same time. The temperature was warm and crisp. A combination of the sun shining in your skin and the cool mountain air blowing across your face, swirling your hair and making it difficult to see. The grass felt amazing on my bare feet. It was an easy walk or so it started out as. 

As we followed against the river from the valley into the mountain the terrain began to change. Gradually the steps were getting bigger, harder to take. The ground was rocky, and I could feel the stones cutting into my feet as we walked. He never left my side but was quiet most of the way. Every now and then tossing out a “Hang on Ash” and we’d keep going. As we got closer to the top of the mountain we came to this cliff that reminded me of an upside down J to describe it the best I can. I remember last fall the spot we made it to. A you are here moment with the Lord. 

I felt like I had to be at the hanging upside down at the tip of the J part where I’m just about to reach that last grasp to get myself up over the top. The Lord laughed and it was like we hadn’t even started climbing straight up at all yet. 

Over the course of the last six months we would keep climbing, most of the time He wouldn’t say a word. We’d just walk and get a little farther each time. He’d show me my progress, deal with things in my heart and in my spirit and we would keep going.

Over the months I noticed that my feet were steadier on the rocky terrain, I was accustomed to the way we would go. The path was becoming familiar and my strength and stamina would increase.

During these months I also began literally walking with the Lord and fasting in the physical and I actually did end up losing about 25 lbs in the natural too. So this was like a combination of the Lord walking me through things in the spirit with me in these dreams and visions that were all the same, showing me my progress; but also leading me to make better decisions for the health of my physical body as well. 

The funny part is that I knew it was going to get harder, I could tell by where the Lord would show me that we were, that something was coming. Something more difficult that was going to challenge me, but I had no idea what it was going to be. Even with knowing something was coming and knowing that I needed to cling to the rock, cling to the Lord in the process, I still wasn’t prepared for what was going to happen.

The only hope is clinging to the rock. Clinging to the word, the truth and to what the Lord is calling you to. Im hanging almost upside down, I’m almost to the curve of the J on the cliff, it’s going to get harder, the Lord is going to keep taking me through this same vision, showing me progress, showing me shortcomings, healing my heart, and walking with me in the wilderness. It’s a season in the wilderness, it’s exactly what the Lord knows I need. Don’t confuse quiet with idle. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 10:4 - And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Ezekiel 34:25 - And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

1 John 2:5-6

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

John 1:7 - The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Exodus 14:14 - The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Psalms 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

2 Samuel 22:32 - For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

1 Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psalms 1:1 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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