Mobile Prayer Station: DAY 34

What can I say about today? Well, my friend Dave came out today. He is on staff with the campus ministry InterVarsity and works predominately with the art schools in Chicago. After giving Dave a little "orientation" about the Mobile Prayer Station we chatted until God drew Hilda to us, who came up inquiring about dream interpretation. When, we asked her about her dreams she said she didn't really remember any of them, so we asked if we could pray for her. During the prayer time Dave got an image of a drawing of a butterfly that looked like it was drawn by a kid. We found out later that she actually works with kids. When he shared this image with Hilda she was amazed. It was obvious that butterflies hold some significance to her. But, then she started to ask Dave if he had any kids and if they drew pictures, maybe even of butterflies. What I believe Hilda was doing was trying to find an answer in the natural realm for the supernatural prophetic revelation. But, isn't that what we do? When something unexplainable happens, our immediate reaction is to try to find some sort of logical explanation for it, rather than accepting that maybe something supernatural did just happened. Hopeful I will see Hilda again. 

I did get to do one dream interpretation for a man who was with a couple teenagers who were on a one day mission trip in the city from a church in Elgin. It wasn't really a recent dream he had, but still - he shared that he was flying in his dream and then all of sudden started falling, but God took hold of his hand and pulled him up. While he was talking, I was silently asking God to bring revelation and interpretation to the dream. This is what came up, I told the man that him flying meant God was planning to give him some sort of breakthrough in his life and that he could trust that God will carry him through which was highlighted by God catching him when he was falling. It was a seemingly straightforward interpretation which I was grateful for (being my first one out here). I asked him if that seemed right in thinking back when he had the dream and he said it seemed right. Very cool! I also got to pray for him and the kids before they left while Dave had his hands full talking with William. What can I say about William except that Dave and I spent at least 30 minutes if not more talking with him about faith and life (Dave must have talked with him for a solid 30 minutes before I joined the conversation because I was talking with some other people). Let me say this, William has some issues with God. But, rather than start the story here, I think I'll retell the whole story on Day 35 because not only did we pray for William but God actually answered our prayers for William and did some pretty amazing things which he came back around to tell us. So stay tuned...


There were a couple more people who I got to pray with (while Dave was talking with William). First, there was Jeff who I know and while I was talking with Jeff, Harry came up. So, the three of us were talking when Jeff said he had to go, but before he left I prayed for rest for him and that God would give him dreams of his destiny. After he left and I turned back to Harry, who looked straight at me and said, "you need to pray for me." He shared how he felt that God was calling him to be bolder in his faith and to even preach the Gospel. Very cool! So, I prayed into this and some other things that the Holy Spirit brought to mind. Afterwards, he said that he felt like my words were coming right from the Holy Spirit because I hit everything that he's been holding in heart hoping to get prayer for. I just love it when God just shows up and loves on people. Harry's story also doesn't end here, but also continues on into Day 35. I love it when prayers are answered and people actually come back to share them with me. But, rather than make you wait on this one, I'll finish the story here. So, on Day 35 Harry came back around and said that since we prayed together, his faith has increased and he has been feeling more confident in God's presence in his life. Some of his fears are still lingering, but he doesn't feel immobilized by them. Praise God! My friend Nate who came out got the words baby steps and shared with Harry that he can trust that God will walk him through these first few small steps. Thank you Jesus!

Mobile Prayer Station: DAY 33

Although this is Day 33 of the Mobile Prayer Station, this day marks the first day that I have begun to offer dream interpretation to the community. I must say, even though I was only out for an hour during this time I noticed an exaggeration of a look I am all too familiar with, a look of perplexity. Now, mind you since starting this I believe I have seen just about every kind of look from people, but the look of perplexity is common. People are typically taken by surprise by the Mobile Prayer Station in general but now add dream interpretation and this has seemed to up the ante on people's wonderment. In the hour I was out (which was intentional I wanted to test the waters so to speak with this), I had no takers on prayer or dream interpretation, but I am hopeful and truly feel released by God to do this. 

Now, throughout the bible there are numerous examples of God communicating to people through dreams and in certain instances He has even sent a person to interpret these dreams. The most prominent dream interpreters in the bible are Joseph and Daniel. Dreams are an important avenue in which God speaks to people. Numbers 12:6 says, "And the Lord said to them, 'Now listen to what I say: 'If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams'" (NLT). Also, Job 33:14-15 says "For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds" (NLT). Also, in Acts 2:17 Peter quotes the prophet Joel, "'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams" (NLT). It is clear that God speaks to us through our dreams. 


More so, Divine revelation comes to us through dreams. All through the bible there is example after example of God communicating to people through dreams: the dreams of Abimelech (Genesis 20:3), of Jacob (Genesis 28:12; 31:10), of Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15), of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:19), of Daniel (Daniel 7:1), of Joseph (Matthew 1:20; 3:13), and Paul (Acts 23:11) unless this last instance is interpreted as a vision given to Paul, rather than a dream. Again, the bible makes it clear that God speaks to us through dreams. But, not all dreams are from God. From what I've heard from other Christians that I've heard teach on dream interpretation (and from my own experience), the devil and other evil spirits can cause dreams (more nightmares), and there's something called soul dreams where our souls express and project things to us from both the past and present (this is where I believe the New Age Movement has built their camp). But, regardless of the origin of our dreams (God, the devil or our own soul), we must remember that God is the Creator of all things and in Him is all wisdom, knowledge and understanding; and if we seek Him to bring insight and interpretation to our dreams, He will give it. 


God is still speaking to people today through dreams and there is a great need for the people of God to rise up and seek the grace, wisdom and understanding of God in discerning the meaning of dreams. But, the sad reality is that the New Age Movement has in many ways hijacked dream interpretation claiming it as their own when it is and always has been something that has deep biblical roots and foundations. I believe that if we ask God for revelation in interpreting dreams, He will give it. Isn't that what the prophet Daniel did? There is a grace for dream interpretation and what I've come to understand is that some believers are uniquely gifted by God for dream interpretation. Being gifted in words of wisdom, words of knowledge, discerning of spirits, prophesy (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), even mercy, creativity and encouragement (Romans 12:6-8) are a great help when it comes to dream interpretation. If God has blessed you with some or all of these gifts then you should be asking God for the grace for dream interpretation and stepping out in faith. 

Jesus Culture (feat. Melissa How): Oh Lord You're Beautiful

What has been burning on my heart lately is letting my service to Jesus come from the overflow of worship to Him because when it does my service comes from a place of love and adoration towards Jesus. I don't know about you, but when I'm serving from a place of love, the burden of service lessens. The reason this song has so captured my heart is because it helps me refocus my gaze back onto the beauty and majesty of my Beloved Jesus. It helps remind me that, "yes He is with me and that His gaze is upon me and that He is extending me His grace." My favorite line of this song is "For my reward is giving glory to You" because it reminds me that my life is not about me striving to make some name for myself here on earth, but about living a life that expresses my gratitude towards Jesus for giving me an eternally new life in Him and giving Him the glory He deserves because of this.

Mobile Prayer Station: DAY 32

So my friend Rachel came out to the Mobile Prayer Station today. We had a great time talking about faith and life with each other. Throughout the day, we said hi to people as they sped on by. Some were friendly while some were not so friendly. In total, two people stopped for prayer. I had the great honor to be able to pray with Cindy, who had first stopped by last week, about some relational things happening in her life while Rachel got to pray with Greg, who was a bit nervous about us praying for him, but he did stop nonetheless. What I've learned over these past weeks is to be gentle yet direct with people. 

I was very glad to see Cindy again. If there is one thing that I really do enjoy is when I get to see people more than once. It's always better after the first relational encounter because of the inevitable awkwardness that comes from the newness of relationship. It's funny how connected you can feel to someone after you've prayed together. For me, I am always overwhelmed by God's heart towards His creation. He truly is a loving Creator who cares deeply for those whom He has created. That's why I will always pray for greater revelation of God's Hand in a person's life because (I know I must say this a lot but) knowing God is more than just knowledge, it's also experience. 

I've just spent the last three days at the Jesus Culture Awakening conference where the focus was on revival. There was much that went on and I know that I have been forever changed because of how God drew close to me during my time at the conference. There is something unique that happens when people gather together to worship God. It's like God releases a corporate anointing on those gathered that doesn't happen when we are worshiping God privately in our homes and rooms. But, what I wanted to share with you was a statement that Kim Walker, one of the members of the band Jesus Culture, said "If you're not passionate about Jesus it's because you haven't experienced just how much He loves you." What an amazingly true statement. Knowing God is more than just knowledge, it's also experience. 

If you haven't experienced just how much Jesus loves you, than I highly suggest that you ask Him to personally encounter you with His love. I would even add that you ask someone you know to pray with you. Maybe even asking Jesus to encounter you both with a life changing encounter of His love. Believe me, you will not disappoint. Jesus is faithful and if there's one thing that I've learned over the years is that Jesus loves to draw near to those who ask Him.