In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

Some years ago while learning how to hear the voice of God (via my church’s prayer academy) the instructor told us to close our eyes, picture God and journal what we saw, heard etc. I remember feeling so frustrated with the exercise because I saw nothing but blackness when I closed my eyes, let alone could I write about the uneventful experience. Uhh, I remember thinking how ridiculous a request, even stating this is not how God and I flow. I was not happy, could not appreciate the experience or exercise. Because I’m being forthcoming that request ruined prayer academy for me because I didn’t know how to do it contextually, I felt silly, ill equipped, flawed even to only realize in retrospect I’ve been doing so since age 11(just didn’t categorize it as such). Recently, one of my friends told me that she can tell when I don’t want to be bothered by what doesn’t matter to me at the time. She felt my getting off the phone abruptly was dismissive. So I’ve been “pondering” am I dismissive? Is it specific to hysteria, neurotic, woe is me, victim mentality, assertions, and behaviors? Am I unable, unwilling to live and love from that platform? Do I really have an aversion to that type of chaos? If so why does everyone assert that I am perfect during crisis, why are things so clear and how am I able to remain so calm when life and love presents opposite? Such a conundrum, right?

Riddle me this are believers disillusioned? Does our faith, dependence on the Word render us crazy, aloof, indifferent to the disparities of life and love? The plight of our shared humanity? Are you like me, frustrated with this current exercise (growth opportunity) during this pandemic, constantly teetering promise and the present? When you close your eyes or try to record what God is saying during this current experience is the slate black? Dark? Empty as in I don’t know, haven’t a clue as to how this will work out? Are the facts overwhelmingly dismal? frightening? Are you tempted to not talk, listen any longer? Do you want to end the call abruptly, silence the hopelessness? Still the noise, foolishness, stuff that makes no sense to you? Things you cannot change, control or correct even though you want to? Are you avoiding any and everything not helping you vision God? Yeah me too. Oh boy, what a season of faith this is!

But wait, recall…remember notice the pattern…how you and God flow. How has/does God reveal himself to you? Not in the prescribed, contextual understanding given by others but in the way you ascribe “this is God”. For example, when I was younger and life presented horrifically I would go to the marina and talk to God. That place, when I’m surrounded by water, picturesque landscapes, “beauty” as it appeals to me helps me vision God. Without closing my eyes or taking pen in hand I can detail the meadow or prepared place that I easily encounter God. It’s up under the Salix (Weeping Willow) tree, upon the descending swing that I can look across the expanse and feel the breeze no the movement of God. See that at my core is my hearts plea, I live and I love needing the free flow of God. And today I’m able to accept, acknowledge and ascertain that I’m resistant to any and everything that hinders me from visioning God that way. It is how I process, picture and stay actively present spiritually. “God where are you in this? How do we get to the peace and serenity of Who you are, what do you desire? What is your purpose for this? If life or love isn’t manifesting in pattern, it is my resolve God isn’t finished yet. His glory has yet to usher us to the calm, collectiveness, cool of God. We have yet to breathe in heaven’s reality, to experience the free flow that is our majestic, mighty and miraculous healer, provider, and sustainer. He dwells in darkness, shows up and out amidst the impossible. Our God who is perfect in all His ways, and does all things according to the council of His will grows limbs, causes organs to regenerate and systems to regulate in His time. He is God despite our opinion, preferences and thought process. He is the standard of our practice, prayer and position on any given matter. He is the seed that germinates and grows our understanding of Him, ourselves, and the contextual framework our faith is built upon. We simply need to yield our will, submit our need to be in control, figure out and manipulate the variables to His sovereignty.

Riddle me this…is it the growth of a believer, the development of hope, his/her faith, the relentless heart that has an infinity to experience God when life and love manifest opposite? Is it the Word’s reality that repels antithetical conversations, mannerisms, and mindsets? If so, then the way you vision God will help, heal and haul you to the place you’re able to experience the fullness of who God is in this pandemic, while waiting for the fulfillment of promise, eyes opened or closed, black screen/board starring at you while you struggle to reconcile the facts and maintain your faith in the present. May you vision God correctly, recall and remember how you and God flow. Notice the pattern, adhere to the confines of trust and live and love in His likeness needing, desiring, seeing nothing but the Word as your response and recourse.

We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:17-18&version=TPT

Riddle me this…I Believe God