I was recently reminded of a dream I had on February 7, 2020, right before the nation entered the pandemic lockdown.

I was outside on a grassy lawn next to a massive wall so tall there was no end in sight. People of all ages were gathered together talking about this wall. I asked what it was, and they said, “There’s an altar on the other side.” I instinctively knew that it was not a literal altar, but a place to meet with God. Without hesitation I said, “I’m going up.”

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I began to scale this massive wall carefully. About halfway up, my foot got caught in a mud pit. It was so perfectly camouflaged I couldn’t see it. As I pulled my foot out, I lost my footing and fell hard. I gathered myself, got back up and began to scale this wall again. I made it higher than halfway when the same thing happened again. There were elderly people who were asking me, “Are you going to try again?” I said, “I’m going again.” Finally, with almost no strength left, I scaled the wall, making it to the top. I could hear the elderly people cheering me on.

When I reached the top, I was surprised to see it was not a wall, but a large upper room that was built into the wall with pillows on the floor, a table, seats with names on them. I found my name and my seat. There was a small handful of people already up there. Some people were sitting and praying. Some were sitting with Bibles reading. There were so many seats empty. I looked down at the others, expecting to see them climbing up, but no one else tried to climb. Then I awoke from my dream.

Many things came to my attention that I have prayed over.

Lessons for believers

My foot kept getting caught in traps and I would fall. I wish I could say that since COVID-19 things have been easy. I wish I could say that I didn’t take the bait and passed every test. The prayer of my heart during COVID-19 and after has been Psalm 139:23,24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

During these months, I have asked God to not only examine me, but also expose anything hidden in me that would keep me from coming up higher. Then I repent when He highlights what needed to go. The pits in the wall in my dream were so well hidden I couldn’t even see them until my foot was stuck. It was a deliberate trap to keep me from going to that upper room.

This is relevant. Satan is our adversary. He is always going to try and trap us and keep us from walking in relationship with God. His goal is to wear us down and wear us out. The Bible calls him “the accuser of the brethren.” The accuser’s goal is to bind you in shame and condemnation. This is not of God.

Conviction is from the Holy Spirit and it leads us to repentance. Condemnation and shame are from Satan. If you have found yourself “trapped” or under assault by the enemy. Remember that repentance is not a bad word. Repentance is turning away from sin; Acts 3:19 tells us that times of refreshing come from repentance. The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Prv 24:16)

I saw people of all ages gathered together. Reflecting on this, I can’t help but think of unity. Much like in Acts 1:14, it says they met together constantly; in another translation it says they were of one accord. In the face of trials and persecution, they continued to meet together. Even in the face of martyrdom, they waited for what the Lord Jesus had promised them. This is what we need as the church. We must be united.

I have been saddened to see so many disagreements in the body of Christ. First it was over COVID-19, now it’s mostly over the election. The focus shouldn’t be on your political party, it should be on the Lord before anything else. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. In Acts 2, we see a united church meeting together. Hebrews 10:25 says, Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

I’m well aware that many are without churches and I thank God for online churches. Our city has a spike in COVID-19 rates once again and is in talks to possibly shut down again. But we do need people to encourage us, just as we need to be encouragement to others. Let’s meet together again, even if it’s in our homes. In my dream, when I fell off the wall, I was met with cheers every time I got back up. We need to be those believers who will not attack other Christians but encourage them to get back up and keep fighting the good fight.

The people in the upper room were praying and in the Word. In Acts 1:14 after it says they met together, it also says they were constantly in prayer. Prayer is necessary for a move of God. From the early Church time until now, no move of God has ever come without first being saturated in the prayers of God’s people. We need to be people of prayers continually, as well as people who study God’s Word. It is where we find the truth. Right now there is so much deception being spread through the media, we must remain grounded. The Word of God is our clear plumbline. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed this to the Father for us, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Key Ingredients for Awakening

Through this dream, I saw three key ingredients needed for awakening: Repentance, Unity, and Prayer. If you study revival history, you will see for yourself that no revival ever came without them. I never read of revival coming when everything was perfect, but rather in times when it seemed darkness was thriving. I share this because I can’t help but feel that we are on the brink of a move of God.

Church, rise up again. Just like in the dream, there is a place prepared for you in the upper room, but we must come up higher. We must walk in purity. We must be united. A divided church is a defeated church. We must be people of prayer and people of the Word. We must rise above the distractions, above the bad reports, and above the fear mongering. We must be awake and alert, watching out for that lying adversary who is looking to devour God’s people.

I’ll say it again, Church. Now is the time to come up higher. We are to be seated in heavenly places with Christ. Christ was, is, and will always be seated in victory. This is our inheritance. We are called to be seated with Him. We share in His victory. We have authority because of His victory. This is your position as a follower of Jesus Christ, to be seated in heavenly places. (Eph 2:6)

I’ll end with this Scripture passage, which you’ve probably heard a lot. It’s worth repeating.

Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. (Isaiah 60:1,2 AMP-C)

Photo by Tom Pottiger on Unsplash