truth – Heather J Henson

Perhaps these words I wrote might speak to you today as deeply as they speak to me each time I read them and let myself feel them.

Perhaps you might even look at the photo and imagine that you are walking with Jesus, holding His hand on this journey that is life. It is safe to be still and listen to His voice today.

It seems to me that He says:

“Come beloved, trust Me because I will be with you and I will provide for you in all sorts of creative ways!

Don’t be dismayed. Don’t be discouraged, because I AM with you and will prove to you that I am your Helper, your Advocate, your Comforter and your Guide. I need you to trust Me, especially that I AM good.

My plans never fail, so come, walk with Me and talk with Me and you will see doors open that will leave you looking upon My Presence in wonder and adoration!

Fear not, beloved, for I AM with you! My plans for you are ALL about Jesus and so they WILL be worked out as you surrender to the Spirit of Jesus.”

For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you. Isaiah 41:33 (New Living Bible)

The Lord my God loves to intervene in the circumstances of my life, and in yours, a reality which might seem impossible to us. But Jesus is the Way-Maker…

Jesus wants to be the One who holds your hand and mine. We never have to walk alone!

Would you read through the words of one of my favourite chapters in the Bible, Psalm 23, with me? Take your time, beloved. Let the words and word-pictures wash over you and into your soul because they are life-giving.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
    He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.”
Psalm 23 NLT
(Verse numbers intentionally omitted.)

The Lord, who is the always-good Shepherd, loves you and me! No matter what you have done (or not done), or who you think you are (or are not), the one true God loves you just as you are, and invites you to surrender to Jesus.

The Father’s perfect love expressed in and through Jesus is always redemptive.

(Photo credit: Fiona Wu)

It was during an intentional time of soaking in the empowering, life-giving presence of God—Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit—when I saw the vision.

I walked through the gates into what looked like a zoo, but it was not like a more modern zoo where animals are given first-class hospitality. No, this one reminded me of Melbourne’s zoo as it generally was back in the 1960’s and 70’s—concrete flooring with thick metal bars that made up the cages.

Walking closer to the cages, where I would’ve expected to see animals there were people! My heart, already feeling shocked, was breaking at the sight of men and women who were not only in the cages, they were on display.

Though these men and women were in cages, I saw that they were not imprisoned. They were not locked in from the outside.

In the vision, I knew that the lives of these people were solely dependent on any food and water they were given; in fact, they had no expectation of anything good. It was like they believed they could not—must not—ask for more.

The one redeeming feature of the zoo was the trees and bushes planted around the cages. I sensed that by an act of unbridled grace, loving mercy and beautiful compassion, the Lord had planted the foliage to give the gift of dignity and shelter to the people, until that day when they would walk free.

Now I saw that Jesus was with me. Our hearts were one as, together, we went from one cage to the next to set the people free.

Jesus’ joy was a wonder to behold as He stood looking into each cage. Holding out His hand, His love and invitation to a lifestyle of freedom was like a lifeline alive with crackling electricity drawing each person toward Him.

As men and women reached out to take Jesus’ hand, I saw the metal bars of the cages melt away. And the people were set free to emerge from their places of captivity!

I sensed the Holy Spirit saying that people who have lived captive to lies, but have now been set free, must be taught to live freely. Living a freedom-in-Christ lifestyle is something we learn to do and practise as we trust the Lord and are carried, like the eagles, soaring high on the winds of the Spirit of God.

Jesus seems to say to you and to me:

“I have come to set the captives free! Where My Spirit is, there IS freedom. Walk with Me and talk with Me and I will teach you to live in a lifestyle of freedom where trusting and obeying Me becomes the most natural thing you can do! In this lifestyle, there is a beautiful flow where the rhythm is in harmony with the Father’s heart.

Don’t look up the mountains of life; instead, take My hand and together we will walk one step at a time. You have a choice—you always have a choice! Choose to live a lifestyle of freedom empowered and sustained by My Spirit—the Spirit of Truth. Choose freedom in Christ, beloved! Love and Truth are perfectly brought together in Me, the Word of God.”

Photo credit: Frank Mckenna; published on Unsplash.

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