I Prayed have prayed
Guide us Lord, on how we can pray--there is so much information around us. Give us discernment!
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What do we do with the large numbers of prophetic words, dreams, visions, and warnings that are all over the internet?  How do we possibly process all of these?  Add the potential so-called conspiracy theories you may have seen on social media—and it can be overwhelming to know what to do with all of this shared information. A lot of those “conspiracy theories: as they are commonly called, really have to do with ulterior motives, hidden agendas, and we know that some are certainly not just theories. (Please note: we are not equating prophetic words with conspiracy theories.)

As I was driving for a little alone time in the quarantine, I wondered about that very thing.  I had just received a few emails and texts from several friends about different words they have heard—some of their own.  Some really heavy. Some were specific and pointed. It seems to have accelerated with the COVID-19 situation. I asked God, “What do I do with all of this?”  Not to add a word on top of a word, but I felt like the Lord directed me to look at the message–be more concerned with the direction for prayer than the specific word itself.  That is not saying I am discounting all the words and dreams that have been shared, but as a person serving in a prayer ministry I am looking for “how do we pray about this?”

It did relieve me to know that I didn’t have to necessarily pass on and share every word we are receiving—and that the details of those words need not even be shared unless we felt impressed by God to do so.  The important task that we have at IFA is to use those messages as directions for prayer.

If we heard a word about a dream that there were rats in the White House and that some are working to counter the President’s policies, for instance, I don’t need to share that word—I would use that as direction to pray for wise counsel for the President, for spiritual protection and discernment, and to strike down any plan of the enemy that misdirects the President from doing good.

Looking at a variety of words that circulate among friends and ministry colleagues, we can begin also to see trends for prayer.  Considering what the body of Christ is hearing is kind of like God placing a big red arrow over a target for prayer.  We need to see the bigger picture to sometimes create specific points of prayer.

That is what we at IFA seek to do.  If we printed every word, every warning, every dream, and every message, our news feed and emails would be filled with just words of prophecy. We feel our calling is to look for what God is saying through those Holy Spirit messages, pray, and share the prayer directions we see emerging.

We do encourage you to share what you are hearing from the Lord–we love hearing it!  We love that in our comments area of articles and in the prayer postings, many of you share your own.  These words are great for the body of Christ. As you read them yourself, ask prayerfully: what is the prayer direction that this word gives me?

I know that this strategy from the Lord has relieved me of the pressure of specifically acting on every word, and helps me to see how I can let the Holy Spirit direct me to pray. It even gives me a way to pray about things like conspiracy theories that circulate on Facebook and Twitter by asking “God, is this a reminder to pray about an issue or a direction for me to be praying in?” It certainly causes me to converse more with the Lord and seek His wisdom as to how to pray.

God uses all kinds of ways to direct us to pray and we are thankful for Him giving us the body of Christ giftings that help us keep our eyes on God.

Now, share your thoughts below! We always love hearing from you, the IFA community.

(Kris Kubal is the Director of Engagement and Strategic Resources at Intercessors for America.)

 

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Bill Tobey
April 11, 2020

I believe God’s first call is to spend more time with him, worshipping & honoring him. I’m purposefully not getting caught up in all the “messages” that are swirling around. I have no way of knowing if they are of God, the world, man or the enemy. I do know that God will direct each of us as to how to listen to him & pray.

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Karen Secrest
April 10, 2020

God told me years ago he gave me my “little bundle” to be responsible to His direction. If something comes to mind and I seek direction HE says that’s not part of your sphere of authority. Leave it..

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Nancy
April 10, 2020

Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone in feeling massively concerned and massively overwhelmed!! I agree with your advice too on how to process it. I don’t think God wants us overwhelmed but to zero in on what our unique calling is in all this and not to assume the callings of others so that we can focus on our’s and do it well.

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Sharon
April 10, 2020

I woke up in the middle of the night about a week ago, anxious about the situation and asking God what he was saying. What I felt like I heard was this: the economy is Trump’s strong suit, his way of “making America great again.” He is tapping into the can-do American spirit. Neither of those is a bad thing, but there is a root of pride in them. God opposes the proud (1 Peter 5:5) and he is standing in our way, pulling the down the source of our self-confidence (the economy), saying, “I’m not going to allow you to make yourselves great again until you first humble yourselves before me.” That applies to the President but also to the American people. Is this judgment or the discipline of a loving Father? It could be either depending on our response. God is waiting to see our response.

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Karen
April 10, 2020

I had a dream last night. I was in a big white house and there was a fire outside at one corner of the house. It had not yet reached the house but was going to in a short matter of time. I tried to tell the people in the house and finally convinced one of them to come with me to a window on the far side of the house where we could see and thus confirm the fire. We ran back to tell the others. I called 911 on someone’s cell phone and got the hospital. I told them we had a fire and needed the fire department, did they have the number for the fire department. The person at the hospital told me the number, but I was in such a state I couldn’t write the number down correctly. So she said to me, “Just remember, it spells H-I-D-D-E-N” I tried to dial the number but was still having trouble so I handed it off to someone else who dialed the number and got the fire department to report the fire.

Does anyone have thoughts on the meaning?

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    Tom
    April 10, 2020

    How about it means you need to be in connection to a local church! So that you can have someone to pray with to God for wisdom of what your dream means!

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    Sharon
    April 10, 2020

    I don’t see any problem with Karen sharing her dream here and getting input from discerning intercessors. (And I don’t assume that means she isn’t in a local fellowship.)

    Karen, I have some ideas about your dream, but I’d like to hear what your thoughts on it are first, before I impose mine.

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      Karen
      April 10, 2020

      Thank you, Sharon. Yes, I am in a local church, which of course is only meeting online right now. I do have thoughts on my dream. You were right in that I was hoping to get a confirmation on what I thought the dream might mean.

      I thought the white house represented the White House. I’m not sure about the fire–God uses fire in the Bible to mean a cleansing in some places and a judgement in others. Perhaps it is one of those or maybe just a danger. I think the call that connected to the hospital relates to the pandemic. The number that spells hidden perhaps shows there is something hidden in the White House that is dangerous? ungodly? I think the reason I could not make the call and needed help shows that there is a need for corporate prayer concerning the situation. I would be very interested in your ideas about the dream. Thank you for your response.

        Sharon
        April 10, 2020

        Most of what you say fits with what I was thinking. I think the fire represents some kind of danger due to the anxiety you felt over it and your need to report it. I also had the sense that your difficulty in hearing the phone number, plus the word “hidden,” referred to a spirit of confusion and the challenges we have in discerning the truth about much of what is happening in this crisis. Or maybe it refers to spiritual opposition in intercession. I didn’t think about the corporate intercession angle but that also makes a lot of sense – maybe both are true!

        Also your efforts to call people to the window to see the fire may refer to a need for/importance of spiritual discernment among other people in the “white house” – either intercessors or actual political figures.

S.
April 10, 2020

I agree with the heart and tone of this article almost entirely. Your words help put focus on the application of prayer to these issues. However, I wince at the use of the term “conspiracy theory”. Everyone likely understands the type of ideas you are referring to, but a large negative stigma comes with that term these days. In my opinion, we are seeing God bring more revelation and exposure to evil operations for the purpose of prayer. Naming info as “conspiracy theories” could dissuade people from taking seriously the need to pray. A “conspiracy theory” is a theory of conspiracy or theory of an evil agenda. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be burdened unnecessarily with a negative connotation until or if it is proven to be false.

Regardless, what is heartily agreed with is a much needed spirit of discernment and revelation of the truth. Thank you for your ministry!

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Darlene Estlow
April 10, 2020

Thank you. May God give us wisdom.

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William Demlow
April 10, 2020

Very wise counsel. As watchmen, we observe all, filter through the Holy Spirit in us and turn to focused prayer. This may cause each to pray slightly differently but it becomes a “symphony of prayer” as each instrument in an orchestra has a unique part in the composition. May our prayers of such “agreement” be a symphony of praise to our Great God. He, and He alone is the conductor who knows the whole work. Praise His Glorious name!

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    Gloria A Robles
    April 10, 2020

    Thank you for this wisdom! As intercessors I think prayer should always be the first thing first. My first lesson as a very young intercessor from my spiritual mom was ,”Some things are to say, but most things are to pray.” I didn’t get it then, but I get it now. We are not to overshare every word, every dream, every impression, without first seeking the Lord. He gave it to us for a reason. It starts in prayer. The word, dream, vision, etc. should be bathed in prayer. It always best to say “Lord what do you want me to do about this?” Or “How should I pray over this?” The more you seek him, the more he will release. The more faithful you are, the more he will entrust to you.

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      Bill Demlow
      April 20, 2020

      Thanks for your encouragement. Many blessings and an open heaven!

Ellen
April 10, 2020

Thank you for this article. I have been faced with this exact challenge and sensed that it is a call to pray for specific issues!

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