Yesterday, I was out walking along the greenbelt along the Boise River and saw something that I found fascinating that caught my attention. There were what seemed to be 1 million ants in a very small space of perhaps 18 inches by maybe 12 inches, and in the shape of a heart. The bottom point of the heart was toward the river. I thought to myself, That was interesting, and then walked away. I thought it might be some kind of sign from the Lord, but what?
Today, I remembered that about a year ago (and at about the same place along the river), I was led to throw a love tract into the river with the words, I am planting love in the Boise River. Im not advocating throwing paper into the river as litter, but I did this as a one-time event, and as led by the Lord to do this.
What was particularly interesting is that the point of the heart was pointing to the river. What was God showing me? What is God showing us?
When I first arrived in Boise just over 3 years ago, and heard of all the Mormons here, I began to seek Him, asking about them. He said that when we (Christians) love one another, the Mormons will be saved. Sounds like a simple plan to me. Yes, we need to love one another.
I think of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to evaluate my love walk. Am I truly walking in Gods love? Then, I think of another verse in 1 John that says, By this we will know that we have passed from death to life, when we love the brethren.
So, its all about love. When I first visited Boise, it was Christmas time, 2001. We were downtown to do a street outreach. At the Grove, there was that lovely, huge Christmas tree. I was led to plant a love tract in it, saying, I am planting love into the heart of Boise.
What words are we planting into our cities? Can God save a city? How? Whats my part? Were to speak the truth with love. This includes the words we speak about ourselves, as well as what we say about one another. Also, it includes what we say about our city.
When I saw the verse that speaks against touching Gods anointed, God revealed to me that this includes not touching the anointing on my own life. He let me know that I needed to speak right words about myself. Although were not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, we are to think soberly. Were not just sinners saved by grace. We WERE sinners. Then, we were saved by grace. We were saved from our sins. We are, therefore, no longer sinners.
Theres actually no such thing as a sinner saved by grace. Were either saved (from our sins) or were still a sinner. We need to get our words in order to get them in line with Gods Word. Since out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak, we need our hearts changed.
As we get Gods Word into us, and we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, it is then we are able to ask whatever we will, and it will be done. See John 15:7.
What are cities? Are not they places where people have gathered? Our cities are made up of people. Some have few, and some have many, but cities are about people. God will change our cities as His people there change.
So, if we want to see our cities changed, we need to change. I need to change. I need to say right things about my city in order to see it changed. It starts with prayer, and it continues with what I say about what Ive prayed.
When I was healed from bipolar over 23 years ago, I had to meditate on Gods Word day and night. I had to speak what His Word said about my condition instead of what the doctors said, or about what my symptoms said. Had I not done this, I probably would still be on the medication that the doctors said Id be on for the rest of my life.
The same is true for our cities. We need to speak Gods Word over them after weve prayed. We are told to give thanks to God for, and in, everything, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20. We can thank God that He has heard us when we have prayed for our city. Thank Him that He is moving on our behalf, and on behalf of the inhabitants of our city. Thank Him for the revival thats coming to our city (if weve asked for it).
God said that if we humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, that He will hear us and heal our land. If we have done these 4 things, then we can expect that He will do this, because God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. See Numbers 23:19. What does it mean, to seek Gods face? This is referring to His presence. We need to seek Him for His presence. We need His Spirit poured out on us and on our cities.
What we have asked for, with faith believing for it, we need to continue in. Trials will come our way. We will be tested and tried and refined in the fires of affliction. Then comes the purity that we desire for us and then for our cities.
So, I exhort you to think about what youre saying about your city. What are you saying about my city (Boise)? Are you giving God thanks for where He has placed you (in the city, and in the Body of believers)? Or, are you complaining? Remember the Israelites in their wilderness. They never entered into their promised land because of their complaining. Knowing this, what should we do? Repent of our complaining, and replace those thoughts and words with the giving of thanks, and speaking right words.
In all things, we are to give thanks unto God, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. For all things, we are to give God thanks. As we read, and study, Gods Word, we will find all the answers we seek.
Meditating on His Word day and night brings the victory. See Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3. Lets do it if not for ourselves, then for the sake of our cities.
With love,
Ann
Today, I remembered that about a year ago (and at about the same place along the river), I was led to throw a love tract into the river with the words, I am planting love in the Boise River. Im not advocating throwing paper into the river as litter, but I did this as a one-time event, and as led by the Lord to do this.
What was particularly interesting is that the point of the heart was pointing to the river. What was God showing me? What is God showing us?
When I first arrived in Boise just over 3 years ago, and heard of all the Mormons here, I began to seek Him, asking about them. He said that when we (Christians) love one another, the Mormons will be saved. Sounds like a simple plan to me. Yes, we need to love one another.
I think of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to evaluate my love walk. Am I truly walking in Gods love? Then, I think of another verse in 1 John that says, By this we will know that we have passed from death to life, when we love the brethren.
So, its all about love. When I first visited Boise, it was Christmas time, 2001. We were downtown to do a street outreach. At the Grove, there was that lovely, huge Christmas tree. I was led to plant a love tract in it, saying, I am planting love into the heart of Boise.
What words are we planting into our cities? Can God save a city? How? Whats my part? Were to speak the truth with love. This includes the words we speak about ourselves, as well as what we say about one another. Also, it includes what we say about our city.
When I saw the verse that speaks against touching Gods anointed, God revealed to me that this includes not touching the anointing on my own life. He let me know that I needed to speak right words about myself. Although were not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, we are to think soberly. Were not just sinners saved by grace. We WERE sinners. Then, we were saved by grace. We were saved from our sins. We are, therefore, no longer sinners.
Theres actually no such thing as a sinner saved by grace. Were either saved (from our sins) or were still a sinner. We need to get our words in order to get them in line with Gods Word. Since out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak, we need our hearts changed.
As we get Gods Word into us, and we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, it is then we are able to ask whatever we will, and it will be done. See John 15:7.
What are cities? Are not they places where people have gathered? Our cities are made up of people. Some have few, and some have many, but cities are about people. God will change our cities as His people there change.
So, if we want to see our cities changed, we need to change. I need to change. I need to say right things about my city in order to see it changed. It starts with prayer, and it continues with what I say about what Ive prayed.
When I was healed from bipolar over 23 years ago, I had to meditate on Gods Word day and night. I had to speak what His Word said about my condition instead of what the doctors said, or about what my symptoms said. Had I not done this, I probably would still be on the medication that the doctors said Id be on for the rest of my life.
The same is true for our cities. We need to speak Gods Word over them after weve prayed. We are told to give thanks to God for, and in, everything, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20. We can thank God that He has heard us when we have prayed for our city. Thank Him that He is moving on our behalf, and on behalf of the inhabitants of our city. Thank Him for the revival thats coming to our city (if weve asked for it).
God said that if we humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, that He will hear us and heal our land. If we have done these 4 things, then we can expect that He will do this, because God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. See Numbers 23:19. What does it mean, to seek Gods face? This is referring to His presence. We need to seek Him for His presence. We need His Spirit poured out on us and on our cities.
What we have asked for, with faith believing for it, we need to continue in. Trials will come our way. We will be tested and tried and refined in the fires of affliction. Then comes the purity that we desire for us and then for our cities.
So, I exhort you to think about what youre saying about your city. What are you saying about my city (Boise)? Are you giving God thanks for where He has placed you (in the city, and in the Body of believers)? Or, are you complaining? Remember the Israelites in their wilderness. They never entered into their promised land because of their complaining. Knowing this, what should we do? Repent of our complaining, and replace those thoughts and words with the giving of thanks, and speaking right words.
In all things, we are to give thanks unto God, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. For all things, we are to give God thanks. As we read, and study, Gods Word, we will find all the answers we seek.
Meditating on His Word day and night brings the victory. See Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3. Lets do it if not for ourselves, then for the sake of our cities.
With love,
Ann
