How Immersed In Him Do You Want To Be?
There’s no limit to how deep you can go with Him. I was meditating with the Lord and He gave me a vision of what life looks like when we fully surrender and live launched in the deep with Him. Let me paint this vision for you as He gave it to me.
Before we come to Christ, we are like the unbelievers standing on the shores of the sea. There’s a multitude. Just as you can’t number the grains of sand, so too we can’t number how many unbelievers there are in this world. But when you decide to say yes to Christ and choose Him as your Savior, you go from living in the dry, dusty sand to being immersed in the depths of Him. Instantly, you are wet from head to toe in the deep of the ocean and of His love for you.
But the Lord showed me something that happens to the believer who is suddenly wet. For one, it’s shocking. It’s a shock to the system to be suddenly loved and filled with Him after being dry for so long. It might feel like too much after being beaten on by the sun and the elements. Think about how much lotion stings on a sunburn.
While there’s that momentary experience of feeling refreshed, when that feeling wears off we are left with the uncomfortable realization that we’re in deep waters with Him, and not used to it. That’s what it’s like when we suddenly receive Christ. We have a sudden family, a sudden home, a sudden overwhelming sense of His love, and we’re not used to it. We’re used to the harsh sun, having to fend for ourselves and not being able to trust or depend on anyone else for sustenance.
And what happens when we realize we’re uncomfortable, is that we leave the deep waters and head back toward shore where we feel safe. If you were in a position of having to fend for yourself as a child or an adult, it feels comfortable to go back to that. It feels unsafe and overwhelming to let go and trust that God will provide! And it takes a renewing of the mind, of the heart, and of your emotions to believe that He is a safe Provider.
He showed me in this vision that we can’t ever get back out of the water, but we can choose to live close to the shoreline. We can live with just our feet in the water if we want, still feeling the sand of the world. But we can’t ever get out because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us. “The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 AMP)
There’s no getting out again (so in case you’ve heard that you can lose your salvation you can’t!) But you can live as worldly, or as close to the world as you choose to.
And here is what the Lord showed me, some Christians spend their whole life standing in foot deep water and never go deeper. His heart is so grieved for those who never get to know the fullness and depth of Him. His heart is saddened when we prefer the comfort of our old life to the potential of a new one.
Sometimes, some of us will become uncomfortable with our foot deep water and decide we want something a little deeper. Status quo just isn’t good enough; we want something greater. So we cry out to the Lord and He begins to coax us in deeper. This could be a slow process, one step, and then another, and then another.
There are others where, a situation or a conversation, an accident, an unforeseeable event causes a sudden change in their life and a decision must be made immediately. Will I go deeper with the Lord to get through it, or will I find a worldly vice to cope? The choice is laid out on the table, the invitation to be immersed in His depths is presented.
And then there are those who knew when they made the decision for Christ, this was it. The water is too cold and feels uncertain, and they head to the shore only to come back deeper because there is no other way of living. There is nothing greater than Christ. He’s it, forever and ever.
The Lord is saying, don’t let the uncomfortable feeling of the water prevent you from going deeper with Me. Don’t limit yourself to knee deep, waist deep water just because you can’t see below the surface, and it scares you.
His invitation is always there, to launch out into the deep with Him and to live life as far out as you will go. He wants to invite you there. He’s also saying to you today, “I know it’s uncomfortable for you. I know that, and it’s ok. Acknowledge what you feel with me, because I see you. I see how dry your family life was and how odd the water of love feels. I see the abuse of your father, and how it left awful marks on your heart. I see how the water stings when it touches those areas. I see the harsh words of your mother, and that it’s all you’ve ever known, and my loving words lapping around you are almost unbearable at times. I see you. I see all, and you can tell me everything you’re feeling as we go deeper together.”
Deeper into forgiveness. Deeper into the Spirit. Deeper into Him.
Don’t Let Satan Lie To You About The Lord's Safety
Also in this vision, the Lord showed me that many Christians believe they aren’t safe out in the depths with Him. There’s a lie Satan whispers into the ears of believers and unbelievers alike, and sounds like this: “how can you think you are safe out there in the deep ocean waters? How can you believe God will keep you from the storms? How can you believe you can trust Him?”
Or it might sound like this: “How can you believe He will heal you? How can you trust that He will be faithful? Perhaps you should look for an alternative….” Don’t let those lies take root!
If we swallow that lie the spirit of fear will take root in our lives, preventing us from experiencing all He has for us. The other lie Satan wants us to believe is that if we do go deep with Him, but then don’t see our promise within a certain time frame, that He won’t be faithful to deliver it. And that is a lie. Because my Bible says that God is faithful. My Bible says that God delivers on His promises. My Bible declares that He WILL, and He DOES.
“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) This verse in my original Greek text is written: “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen.”
What kind of promise? All of them! And where are your promises found? In Him! Not apart from Him, not in a man-made solution (although He does lead us to those through His Spirit! For we are His and He partners with us to provide solutions for His Kingdom purposes!) And if He does lead us to a man-made solution, we can believe that He is the One behind the scenes bringing about a divine solution. Amen!
If Abraham hadn’t held on to the promise, he never would have seen his 99-year-old self become a dad. If Joseph had become discouraged in prison and let bitterness take root in his heart, he never would have stepped into the palace. If David had dropped the sword and stopped his training process, He never would have had the crown placed on his head. And there are so many stories like this all throughout the Bible, to give us the courage to hope in Him despite what our day looks like today.
Letting Go Of Our Life
Part of going deep with the Lord is letting go of our timelines, our plans, our will for our life, and letting Him have complete and total control. When we do this, fully let go and let Him, we begin a life of flowing in the Spirit.
“He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” 39 But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).” (John 7:38-39 AMP)
When we fully let go and let Him have His way, then we live immersed in the water of our Holy God. From the throne of God flows out rivers of living water – literally His Spirit flows forth from the throne of God. We can know we are living in His perfect will for us, ordained from the throne, when we live immersed in Him following the Shepherd’s voice.
“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ),” (Revelation 22:1)
How Deep Are You?
I want you to take a minute and try something with me. Wherever you are right now, close your eyes and ask the Lord, “Show me where I am in the water.” Take a few minutes to do this. Don’t rush it, just breathe deeply and ask the Lord to give you a vision.
Very likely what will happen is a picture will come to your mind, and you will see how deep you are. Perhaps He will show you how close or far from the shoreline you are, the color of the water, the shallowness or depth of it. You might be waist deep, neck deep, or floating in the depths. And wherever you are right now, pray this with me:
Lord God Almighty, my Love, my King,
Take me deeper.
From where I’m located right now, take me deeper.
I want to know the depths of Your heart for me.
I want to know Your thoughts toward me.
I want to know how You feel about me.
Bring me to that place.
Father, where I have fear to go further,
Dismantle those and speak truth directly into my heart where I am afraid.
Uproot the spirit of fear and the parts of me that have struggled to go beyond where I am.
Remove those areas and roadblocks completely.
Whether it’s people that hinder me, vices I have, friendships that limit me,
Family that prevents me; remove either the fears, the people, or the situations that
prevent me from being all-in with You.
I want to know You.
I want to experience YOU.
I want all of You.
I open my hands, and surrender my heart, give me everything You will for me.
In Jesus Mighty and Holy Name.
Amen
How He Protects You From Storms
Most captains will tell you that ships are safer at sea than portside during a storm. This is what one naval officer had to say about a naval vessel at sea vs in port. “Tsunami or hurricane, a ship will certainly be susceptible to damage while pier-side or anchored in a harbor. Not only is her own maneuverability restricted to pick her way out or avoid beating up against a quay or pier, but she may be damaged by OTHER vessels breaking their moorings and mucking about. A tsunami could pitch her onto the beach or against other obstructions, not to mention the drastic run of water retreating out to sea before a tsunami wave strikes…. Smart mariners know how to safely navigate typhoons at sea… There are dangerous and less dangerous areas to try and ride one out. Additionally, smart seamanship can reduce the effects of the storm on the vessel’s ride. A vessel has little or no chance to move once caught in port. Therefore, most would put to sea to avoid being banged about in the tight confines of a harbor.” -Brion Boyles
Right now, He's showing me how the storms of life look depending on where we are in the water with Him. The shoreline gets beat up by hurricane style winds and waves.
Out in the deep, the Lord helps us navigate the storms of life. He might have us ride some out, going up and down along the waves until the storm subsides. The whole time He is with us, anchoring us, showing us how to get through. At other times, He gives us a dream or a vision and shows us how to completely sidestep that storm, keeping us safe from danger.
Mary and Joseph experienced this when Joseph received a dream telling him to move his family to Egypt to keep Jesus from being murdered by a bloodthirsty spirit that came upon King Herod. (Matthew 2) Joseph being sensitive to the Spirit of God, kept him and his family safe from a Satanic spirit.
In my own life, the Lord has given me many warnings before a storm is about to come. He gives guidance in how to sidestep it completely or shows me how to ride it out. Whenever He has me ride a storm out it isn’t because He isn’t in the storm, but always because He’s looking for something truly spectacular for me to learn, or become, or a promise to be received on the other side.
One such storm came late last year when I had several dreams warning me that a friend was about to come against me. In my dreams the Lord showed me what kind of spirit was behind it, and that it wasn't from Him. The Lord didn’t prevent the attack from coming, but He did warn me what was coming, when it was coming, and what my response was to be.
I was devastated after this friend verbally assaulted me. That night my heart was torn apart. But in the middle of the night around 4am, several angels surrounded my bed and nudged me awake. For the first time I experienced angelic activity in a new way. I heard them, I felt them, and I saw them.
I poured out the pain of the attack to my Father and He sent me a beautiful gift.
I wouldn’t trade the brutal betrayal for the wonderful way the angels of heaven comforted me that week. In my mind, it’s one of the most blessed weeks I had in 2023. What started as an assault, ended in my spiritual blessing and favor from heaven. Don’t assume that all storms are meant to harm you, but rather believe that they will bring you higher and further with Him.
The best place to be, the safest place in the midst of any storm, is launched into the deep. When the storms of life come, and they will, He guides us safely. Even if the storm is hard, He will send help to get us through.
Don’t be afraid of being all in for Jesus! Don’t be afraid to let go and let the Spirit flow through you! For out here, is your best adventure yet. Out here you have an Awesome God who protects you, warns you, guides you, loves you. Out here, you are safe.
The question the Father has for you today is, “are you willing to launch out into the deep with Me, and stay there?”
With joy, Jessica
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