"I felt something broke in the atmosphere over our worship...at one point I could hear a wash of angelic worship as we were lingering between the first and second song of the night.

I felt a sense of expectation for what the Lord would bring, as we surrendered and soaked in His presence."

I recall Yoy's prayer over Mizpah, earlier in the month, 'that we would all bring our jars of worship, full of praise, prayer and prophecy'.

I saw this prayer being answered and unfolding as I sensed a deepening level of worship, where the Holy Spirit was at work in the 'unseen' and 'unrested' places as was read from the prophetic word from Lana Vawser.

We experienced the overwhelming, redemptive love of the Father as he sang over those places; as he sang over us, His beloved!

Zephaniah 3:17 in action! The Mighty Warrior who saves REJOICING over us; singing His love over us.

He was ministering to us as we poured out before Him.  BEAUTIFUL!

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In preparation, we were encouraged to meditate upon Psalm 91 resulting in the Lord reminding us: "IF, YOU", "I WILL", as we read Psalm 91 together...

'If you' say the Lord is your refuge, 'If you' say the Lord is your fortress, 'If you' say He is your God in whom you trust, 'If you' dwell in His shelter, 'If you' rest in the shadow of the Almighty...'If you' love Him, 'If you' acknowledge His name, 'If you' call on Him...

THEN his (unfailing) promises WILL unfold as he declares to us "I WILL".

God promises to us:

'I will' rescue, 'I will' protect, 'I will' answer, 'I will' be with you in trouble, 'I will' deliver and honor, 'I will' satisfy, 'I will' show you my salvation.

He wanted us to let it really 'sink in' that we are hidden under the shadow of His wings; His protection; His refuge.

We realised that, through our human perspectives, what may look like an 'overwhelming darkness', as we find ourselves struggling, stumbling, battling in anxiety or fear, when we choose to come up higher, and see with Gods perspective, may not be darkness, but actually the Shadow of the Almighty, as Viv shared with us...if we resolve, if we choose, if we say HE IS MY REFUGE, we can know without doubt or fear that we are hidden under the shadow of His wings covering and protection.

DO WE BELIEVE HE IS OUR REFUGE?

IF YOU (say, believe, resolve)

I WILL (promise; do as I say - I never lie)

HE PROMISES - protection, hiddenness, shelter, covering, deliverance, provision

HE PROMISES - in Psalm 91.

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A few intercessors got together before we began to worship, asking the Holy Spirit what was on His heart for them to pray.

He showed them some people were coming to Mizpah very weary and carrying heavy burdens.  That one or two were so empty they had nothing left to give.

For others, it was a big spiritual battle just to get there, but they knew they had to go, to meet with God.

The Holy Spirit showed them a healthy looking black sheep with a coat of wool, and a white sheepskin draped over it; looking like a sheep but it was a facade, (a Christianese mask) to hide their hearts.  Almost like, if people knew me they would reject me.

In that they sensed the Holy Spirit said some of His children were struggling with sexual sin and shame.  Some with lies they believe about themselves and the Father's true character; which is Him running to the Prodigal son and daughter, full of love, to hug, kiss, put on a robe, ring, sandals, a party to heal and restore His son and daughter.  That He wasn't angry but so loving and kind, waiting patiently, looking for His children to take a step towards Him to be loved, healed and restored back to Him.

They sensed He wanted them to be transparent and honest by inviting Him right into their struggle to bring light and healing into the dark places.

They read John 15:1-7 inviting the Holy Spirit to teach His children how to "abide in Him".  A safe place where everything good flows.

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He showed us His correction/discipline, but His overwhelming kindness...

His kindness is what leads us to repentance - not condemnation, but conviction.

Romans 2:4

Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness forbearance and patience, not realising that Gods kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.

"The Lord showed me a beautiful picture during the week of how He is covering me with his kindness - like a cloak. The cloak was a complete covering of luminous white...hiding me completely...disguising my sin and shame and replacing it with the purity of the mantle he placed on me. The cloak whilst at first disguised what was the real me, made me see how KIND my Father was in that he didn't see my wrongs, but He saw me as He intended me to be - washed clean and standing head high, under His covering. So humbled by this grace, I could only pray a prayer of repentance for agreeing with the lies the enemy had been feeding me. In that moment, of accepting his forgiveness, rather than being knocked down by the condemnation the enemy would want to keep me in, I can see he brings me to right standing again.  Not by striving and trying to be something I'm not, not by anything of my doing - but completely His. Such kindness that brings me to tears.

To be cloaked or covered in His kindness allows our sin and shame to be hidden in the purity of His covering, and that very act of undeserved love, grace, mercy and protection, brings us to a place of humble acceptance and gratitude where we see the gift of His love to us, bringing conviction and repentance, and allows us to wear the clothes He puts on us in boldness and with the confidence of who He says we are!"

God you are so good! Covered in his kindness - what a beautiful image of being saved by His grace!

I am reminded of Psalm 32:7 " You are my hiding place, you will protect me and surround me with songs of deliverance"

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He further blessed us with a melody to Psalm 91 brought through Annette, reminding us of the confidence we have in His promises when we resolve to ABIDE in our refuge, that there is NO FEAR to be had as we abide.

She sang...

"I abide in you, my refuge and shelter.  I will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day. I abide in you"

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Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you REST"

As we abide, not striving, but choosing to come as He says and to TRUST him and just abide - He is our REST.

 (Melanie) "I felt the desire/ unction to pray for the people as I felt there was an invitation to come to be prayed for, but I sensed people were not responding, although they wanted to and needed to. So I just felt to pray for everyone and include everyone in the prayer.

Math 11:28,29 both verses talks about rest….

COME TO ME…. and I will give you rest v28

Take My yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME and You will find rest for your soul v29

Also Genesis 8:4 the ark came to REST on the 17 th day of the seventh month on the mountains of Ararat

( 17 a foreshadow of Christ and the atonement ( 10 th of 7th month) the seventh month- Gods month of deliverance.) 

In a time of the greatest storm in the history of the world, Noah (meaning REST ) and his family and his livestock and his livelihood , was inside the ark (pointing to Jesus and His provision in His death and resurrection).

IN the ark , they came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 

This is a promise that although we are still in the storm, the appointed length of the storm AND the day it started ( the 600 th year of Noah) AND the length ( 40 days 40 nights, water covered the earth for 150 days ) AND the day it was over and completed have ALL been determined and appointed by God. God calculated it, as the provision they took into the ark( God locked the door) , was enough for the length of the storm, not a day too short or too much. God is sovereign and we need to remind ourselves of this fact and look intently at His provision for us in the exchange and atonement of Jesus Christ. A complete and sufficient offering.

The All sufficient ONE locked us inside of Christ ( my life is hidden with Christ IN God) like God locked Noah and his family in the ark. We need to set our minds on the things above where Christ is and stop listening to the things of this world, which produces in us only fear, not faith and hope."

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Reflections from friends...

Kaj: "A highlight of the night was hearing that someone gave their life to Christ!"

Craig: "It was great having all the prayer warriors there...Let's continue to press into God and keep turning up, trusting that God will continue to lead us and speak to His people"

Simon: "The Spirit is always doing something new...

There have been a lot of images of water that have been associated with Still/Mizpah, from digging wells, to the rain cleaning the dam, to the stream starting and ending outside the property and continuing on. 

One characteristic of a body of water is that it is always moving and changing; even a calm lake can have unseen currents beneath the surface.  A river may follow a fixed path but is constantly being renewed.  God is always seeking to do something new in us, whether it is on the surface or within, and the same is true when we come together to worship.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

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Until we gather again....

Be blessed everyone!

As we recount, reflect and encourage one another with what the Lord has done, and continues to do in our lives, and as we continue to depend on Him as our hope and our anchor,  'May the Lord watch between you and me when we are away from each other!' (Genesis 31:49)

Passages to reflect upon:

Psalm 91

Zephaniah 3:17

Romans 2:4

Psalm 32:7

Matthew 11:28,29

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who PROMISED is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -and all the more as you see the Day approaching.