Wednesday in Darkhan

This morning I woke up to check the election results. It was 7:00 AM here but only 4:00 PM Pacific in the States so there wasn't much to look at. Even so, it was apparent that Barack Obama was going to win the election.

Around 12:30 PM we met Tugsuu for lunch at Modern Nomads, a good restaurant that serves traditional Mongolian food. I had a very traditional meal of sheep ribs, bodz (like pot stickers), fried bodz, dumplings, hoshur, and washed it down with a real Coke (not traditional). It was great.

We said goodbye to Tugsuu and went to Melanie's parent's home to pick up Nate and Abi. They had spent the previous night with them and then we all went shopping for groceries and some surprise gifts for the kids. (Due to airline weight restrictions I decided to have them pick out their own gift instead of me bringing one.) Nate got a remote-controlled car and Abi got a new “Barbie” with a bunch of dresses.

(At some point in the day we learned it was official that Obama won the election. I heard John McCain's concession speech but wasn't able to hear Obama's. In about an hour I'll be teaching the last session on the Holy Spirit so I'm putting all the election issues aside and concentrating on walking and praying in the Spirit.)

Our final meeting was exactly what I was hoping and praying for. First I taught from 2 Timothy where it speaks of God's house having many types of utensils, some of wood, clay, silver and gold and that if a man will cleanse himself from things that pollute him he will become useful to the Master for any good and noble work. Then I shared that the most fundamental type cleansing we can do is to forgive others. Then we prayed that God would fill us all, either for the first time or again, with the Holy Spirit. I prayed for each person personally and I want to take a minute and share more than I normally do in this blog about what happens when I pray this way for people.

What I'm about to share is very personal. It deals with the intimacy of knowing God's heart for His people. When God's Spirit works through me in this way it's God's heart flowing through a yielded human being for the sole purpose of unconditionally blessing one of His children. I literally become consumed with His heart of love. I am virtually unaware of anyone, or anything else until He's done ministering to them. At that moment they are the most important person in the universe.

When I pray I either take their hands in mine or gently cradle their face in my hands. The moment I touch them, almost without exception, I know them, not so much with detailed knowledge but with a depth that I've known them even before they were born. I instinctively "know" their core purpose and reason for their existence but rarely am I allowed to share it with them. Normally God has me speak to something very personal (but not embarrassing) where they know I'm hearing directly from God's heart. Very often tears immediately come to their eyes and the peace of God descends upon them and fills them completely as they gently fall into the waiting arms of God's gentle servants.

Many times God allows me very specific words (words of knowledge, words of wisdom, prophecy) that comfort, encourage and edify them greatly. Frequently I am immediately aware of demonic spirits that are hindering their walk with God (discerning of spirits) and I cast them out quietly. If the person has not dealt with sin issues and unforgiveness their is no flow of the power into them; I stop praying and have them deal with what they need to deal with. When they do the power immediately flows into them and they are released from their bondage.

Many times sickness needs to be healed so I ask God for the amount of faith we both need to see the sickness or disease dealt with (faith, miracles, gifts of healings). Many times I spontaneously begin to pray in the Spirit and ask God (in my heart) to give me the meaning. Almost without exception He does and I pray accordingly.

But I'm not writing this as some type of instruction. I'm writing this to share how God's heart goes out to them and how He is able to meet their every need. As I said, as I take their hands the heart of God consumes me for them. The focus is them and them alone. Nothing else matters. They are absolutely the most important person in the universe.

As I'm praying I become aware of my hands. As I move from person to person my hands and arms take a posture like a surgeon who has just scrubbed up. I do not do this consciously, it just happens. I do not like to touch the next person until the exact moment God wants me to touch them because I know that when I do power will flow and many times it's exceptionally powerful. I want to be completely focused on the person so I don't miss a single syllable that God is sharing with me for them.

This time is so intimate it's hard to describe. Normally we associate intimacy in a sexual context but this, of course, have nothing to do with sexuality. This intimacy is Spirit to spirit intimacy between God and His child but the mystery is that it flows through me to them. I am allowed to be included in this exchange of intimacy. It's holy. And it allows me a humbling insight into the intimacy between Father, Son and Spirit.

I share this with you because I want every child of God to experience this grace and holy exchange between our Father and His children.

After every one has been prayed for I like to find a quiet place and sit for a few moments. I bask in His presence, thank Him for all the love He's just poured into His children, allow the wonder of it all to find a tangible place in my heart so I never take for granted what just happened and then ask Him to help me back into the real world, so to speak, where I must deal with the practical matters of life with as much compassion and wisdom as I just dealt with matters of Spirit.

For me personally, this intimacy with Him on earth prepares me for intimacy with Him in heaven. Even though I long for Him to return as soon as possible these times give me great assurance in His presence that no matter how long He takes, or what I must endure until He returns, He is with me, He will never leave me or forsake me, and that no matter what I need He will provide it. In a word, He loves me.

Ps Hetee and I returned home and Melanie was struggling with a migraine. Even so she got up and insisted in making us dinner. This, too, is love so precious and intimate you can't help but wonder it in all.

What a great privilege it is to walk with God. May His grace and peace be yours today, and every day.