A while back when I was praying I had a picture come to mind of some people being kept in a run down building, a bit like an old hospital building. They were labelled as Broken and Damaged. There were men like guards at the entrance to keep them from getting out and mixing with society because society felt that they would be too much of a burden on them. The people who considered themselves fine and normal, or at least a lot less “damaged” than the people they’d shut away wanted to keep them contained and out of sight.
I kept dismissing this picture in my mind but it has come back repeatedly so I thought I would write it down and see if God showed me anything, any sort of consolation or comfort for the people labelled as damaged and broken and hidden out of sight.
I pictured Jesus walking over a grassy hill towards this building and He had a basket of food on His arm with delicious, sweet, juicy fruits and bread. He walked past the “guards” and smiled at them warmly on His way into the building. He went into to each room, and bent down under each bed, pulling out a diamond ring for the female “patients” and a signet ring for the males with an engraving of a Lion’s head on each and an inscription on each ring too.
All the time there had been treasure in their room, out of sight yet right beneath the patients, waiting to be discovered. Jesus blew the dust off the rings and placed them on the fingers of the patients in turn. He stood by each bed in turn, looking into the patients’ eyes with such acceptance and warmth and love that the patients felt a wholeness they had not felt in a long time. Some of them had not felt this wholeness ever. They felt fractured and broken parts inside them coming together and each felt a new sense of identity, purpose and authority.
As Jesus placed the rings on each person they stood and followed Him into the corridor, waiting outside the next room while Jesus went into the next “patient”. Once they were all following Him He went outside. They all sat on the grass and as Jesus shared out the choice fruit with these men and women and broke the bread to share around a sense of excitement and anticipation grew in the patients. They began to feel an affinity with each other and a unity. They had one mind and one purpose. Joy shone out of their faces and light sparkled out of their eyes. They looked wonderful!
I pictured Jesus addressing them all. He said, “My dearly loved children, the hope I have given you is a sure hope, a certain hope. Look at the rings you wear; you carry My authority. You are My sons, My daughters, My beloved ones. Feel the wind of My Spirit blowing through your hair, do you hear Him singing? Do you feel Him caressing and soothing your mind, massaging your tension away? Allow yourselves to rest in His gentle breeze.
Come with Me to My river of delights; My crystal clear river whose streams make glad the city of God. Come and dance on golden streets. Take up harps and timbrels and tambourines. Sing My radiant ones! Sing in one voice! Come to the throne room of God! Come! Gather before the throne of My Father and look into His face. See the fire of holiness; see what purity looks like! Let the cloud in His temple rest on your heads, allow His ministering angels to anoint you with oil. As He speaks see the flame leap out of His mouth and ignite the oil on your heads so that tongues of fire dance upon you. Get ready for the outpouring! Lift your faces upwards and let the rain of heaven drench you. Let the sparkling raindrops run down your brow like liquid jewels! Let the rain gather beneath you; let your feet soak in the pools of sparkling water.
What have I failed to do for you My dear ones? What could I possibly neglect to do? You are My chosen ones and I value you above My own life! I can never fail you in any way. In all things and at all times I am thinking of you and supporting you and working for your good. Come to Me with expectation! Be eager to meet with Me every day. I have called you to this higher place. Come and take your seats in heavenly places. Do you see the intricate carvings on your seats? Am I not a carpenter’s son? I have engraved your seats with your victories!
You were languishing and ready to give up but you held fast to My promises. When you could not hold on any longer you cried out to Me. Night after night you walked through darkness but you kept looking for My light. When you caught a glimpse of Me you rushed towards Me. The darkness became very thick and tangible so that you could not see Me but you rejoiced when I whispered hope in your ear. You called out to others in the darkness to “look for the Light”, to “follow the Light”. What you don’t realise is how beautiful your voices sounded in the silence of the night. Your voices calling out were like a nightingale’s sweet, melodious song, heralding the dawn. I listened, I heard, I stood still to drink it in the beauty of your voices, comforting, cheering and encouraging others walking through darkness.
My beautiful ones, keep singing! When you sing My heart skips a beat! You are more valuable to Me than the hairs on My head! What more could I do to show you your worth than to lay down My life for you? I was glad to do it for now you abide in Me and I abide in You. We are one in Spirit! Feast on My words of life and dwell with Me here daily and you shall be full and satisfied and you shall have power.
Step out in faith My dear children. Discover faith afresh. My word is alive and full of power. When you read My words pause and look at Me. I will give you understanding. Believe for this my dear ones. I would not have you ignorant but full of knowledge of My will. Wisdom is ready to be given to you. Ask Me and I will place it like a crown upon your head. I am with you, watching over you. I am love and you shall never be alone.”
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NB I’m not meaning in this writing that our seats are actually made of wood and that Jesus has carved our victories as pictures or words or symbols into the wood. But when I had this picture come to mind I felt it was symbolic of this verse about Jesus preparing a place for us. While we can only see darkness and don’t know where He is, He is keeping track of our victories and recording when we overcome so we can take heart that He is preparing something good for us in heaven, unseen…
In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3
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This verse in Job came to my notice when I was writing and I felt that God was saying that even though others didn’t bring bread and come to those they considered broken and damaged, Jesus Himself would come to them and break bread with them and place on them a ring of gold….
Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. Job 42:11
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“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; Luke 15:22
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:3-4
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.” Proverbs 4:5-9
Whispers of Hope, Kisses of Grace 