PRAYER GROUP

JANUARY 28, 2004

EXHORTATION (from memory, not recorded) We are all wounded, but the Lord calls us to come as we are.

CONFIRMATION (from memory, not recorded) We are all wounded, but the Lord reminds us there is beauty behind the woundedness.

VISION I have had a vision of the Lord's feet, with spiked holes in them. He was standing, and I could not look up. I could only see the holes in his feet. I believe these were the feet of the risen Lord, the feet of the one who suffered, who drank the entire cup, willingly, for us. In that suffering, he witnessed people as lions set against him to devour him, like bulls set against him to smite him, dogs willing to tear at him. His very body was pierced, and that piercing was such a shock that all of his followers who witnessed it were traumatized. Thomas could not believe that Jesus was seen by the others, but Jesus appeared to him and told him to put your hands in my side, touch my hands. He made provision for each of us. We must not let our woundedness keep us. The difference between Jesus on the cross, Jesus in the grave, and Jesus resurrected is waiting in faith, and we must wait in faith also. James 5: 7 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold the farmer waits for the precious food of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also must be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another that you may not be judged. Behold the judge is standing at the doors. As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastedness of Job and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. We have only to wait, so do not be disheartened.

CONFIRMATION IMAGE I had a specific image of those who are wounded. I prayed specifically that they be wrapped in peace. I had an image of those who are wounded being wrapped in a cocoon. That was very confirming of the image of Christ in a tomb and of the waiting. My image did not yet have the butterfly, but we know that out of the cocoon emerges beauty. Right now, the Lord is wrapping our wounds. I saw that at first we struggled in that cocoon, but the transformation could not take place until we allowed him to embrace us in that place.

CONFIRMATION SCRIPTURE Isa. 41: 17 The afflicted and needy seek water in vain. Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Isa. 61: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring Good News to the afflicted. He has sent me to bind those who are brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and a day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion , giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord that he may be glorified. Then, they will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will raise up the fallen devastation and they will repair the ruined cities. And you will recall the priest of the Lord. You will be spoken of as ministers of the Lord.

Matt. 21: Go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie him and bring them here to me. If anyone should say anything, reply, The Master has need of him and he will send them at once. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled. Say to Zion, Behold a king comes to you, meek and riding an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered. They brought the ass and the colt and laid the cloaks over them, and he set upon them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds proceeded to him and those who followed cried out, Hosanna, Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE I have a strong feeling that the Lord is coming to each of us and he is gifting each and every one of us.

PROPHECY I call you to rest in me. I have prepared a place where you can lie down, a place of safety, a place of refuge, a place of restoration. Come and rest. I have prepared a place of healing for you. I am pouring out the oil of healing. And as it flows over you, feel my presence, as you allow my presence within you. For I know your deepest needs, and I will answer the desire of your heart. Come to this place of rest so I may restore you. CONFIRMATION

Phil 2: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness and being found in human form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

PROPHECY Look into my eyes. One look is all it takes, and you will know without a shadow of a doubt that my heart is for you, not against you. I have come to carry you in my arms. I have come to hold you close to my heart. So, lean your head on me and feel my breath. That is how close I am. Feel my breath.

CONCLUSION PROPHECY As we prayed before the Prayer Meeting, the Lord kept reminding me of the Scripture from Ezek. of the valley of the dry bones. He seems to be saying to us this night: Wherever you are in this valley of dry bones, whether you feel that you are just a heap of bones that is not even together, I am speaking to you, come together. Whether you feel you are just standing together, but have no life within you, I am saying to you, I am breathing upon you that you might have new life. Whether you feel that you are together and breathed upon, but just not moving, I say to you, I pour my Spirit upon you afresh and anew. As you have come to rest in my presence, as you have been hungry and thirsty for me, I have been moving among you. I say to you, I am doing a work within you. I am breathing upon you, and you will know my breath within you. Look for me. Look for me. Not just now, but look for me in the days to come, and see the new life that I have breathed into you this night.

INSPIRED SONG “ Come to Me”

SHARING OF AN ANSWER TO PRAYER – HAVING FAITH, TRUSTING, AND SURRENDERING

CONFIRMATION EXHORTATION Tonight we heard the words, restoration and healing. I have been reminded of Lazarus lying in darkness. It was the voice of Jesus calling him forth that brought him out of his darkness - calling him forth out of the darkness into the light of the Lord. His stone was rolled away. Let us pray with and for one another so that we, too, may feel his touch and see his light.

CONFIRMATION VISION/EXHORTATION I have continued to see the image of the cocoon tonight. I have seen people who God is trying to wrap in the cocoon and they are almost wiggling out of it, saying, I don't have time to rest. He has called us over and over again tonight to rest and allow him to work in us. The Lord is inviting us during this time of prayer to allow him to do that. He is calling us to rest, embrace that cocoon, not fear it and not challenge it.

PRAYER IN SMALL GROUPS

LIFTING UP OF PRAYER PETITIONS

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