He will surely protect us as we do the work He has asked us to do.
By Anne Marie Molster
In a vision during my quiet time on the final day of 2017, I saw myself on a stone path in a city of high walls and narrow streets. I was alone with the Lord as He led me to this path set before me. I reached down to pick up the suitcases I had packed for my journey into what I knew to be new territory. I was overwhelmed with anticipation knowing that wherever the path led in the beginning, it would end in the land of milk and honey that God had promised me long ago.
“You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to give your fathers,” Deuteronomy 6:18 NASB
As I reached down, Jesus placed his hand over mine and took the largest of the suitcases from me. He looked into my eyes and told me I would not need to take anything with me that belonged in my past. The baggage I acquired over time would only hinder my steps into all He has planned for me. He gently placed it back on the ground. Continuing to look into my eyes, He assured me that He always has and always will take care of what I place in His hands. He would see to it that what I leave behind will have great purpose, supplying a need for someone seeking comfort and peace in their own life.
Jesus reminded me that the only time I need to reflect on my personal history is when it will allow another to move from their own past into the newness He has for them. The past can no longer taunt me, it no longer belongs to me. It belongs to Him, to be used as a stepping stone into the more and the better of this life that God has us.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB
I asked to sit at His feet and enjoy the comfort and assurance that only He can provide. As I did this, He brought to mind a memory in which I laid my head upon my earthly father’s shoulder. I had graduated from college and needed to begin my journey far away from the home. I had to pack light as there was no room to take with me all that I had acquired in twenty-two years. My father held me on his lap as a tear rolled down my cheek. When he asked me what was wrong, I told him that I was scared to leave and travel so far away from the place that had brought me comfort and security for so long. Dad gently whispered, “You can always come home.”
These words have such significance today as I step further out of my comfort zone, pursuing what is beyond what I see in the natural. Jesus highlighting this memory gave me such peace in those moments of my quiet time with Him. It was then that the He spoke these words to me. “I will be with you wherever you go. I am always with you. You can not go far from my sight.”
The Lord then reminded me of a powerful encounter I had with him earlier this year. I attended a speaking event at a nearby ministry where a woman laid hands on me while praying in the spirit. She had done the same for many others that evening. I stood off to the side so that others could step to the front of the crowd. The guest speaker, a prophet, encouraged me to allow this powerful woman of God to pray over me. I stepped forward among the people that had laid down, overwhelmed by the power of God’s presence. In previous experiences, I have not been one that “falls out” when hands are laid upon me in prayer. I am always overwhelmed, but typically I sway or become weak and remain standing or gently seat myself. I thought this experience would end similarly. Needless to say, it was much more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
As this woman began praying and moved forward, placing her hand on my abdomen, it was as if the room melted away. With my eyes open, I saw a clearing in a town street, and no one else was in sight. As she placed her other hand on my forehead, Jesus appeared and began walking toward me. His white robe flowing and reflecting the surrounding light brilliantly. A bright blue sash falling around his shoulders that captured the intense color of His eyes. These eyes drew me in where I could see nothing more than the Lord Himself. It felt as if I had stepped into a pool of His love. The warmth I experienced seemed to melt over me as He continued moving forward.
It is difficult to describe how I felt, it was as if I were in two places at once. I wondered how everything could have vanished. I couldn’t perceive how He could be moving toward me when He would surely walk into this woman that I knew still stood directly in front of me. As He continued forward, it was as if He moved through her body, stepping directly toward my own. Within seconds, the woman and I fell to the floor. I could feel His glory all around us. It was the most unexpected and powerful encounter I have ever experienced. What I felt in those moments has been embedded in my memory forever. I do not think I will ever forget the incredible love I felt during my time with Him.
After this reflection, Jesus showed me the similarity in the two memories involving Himself and my earthly father. My father had reassured me that he would always be there, while Jesus showed me that He is and will always be with me. Much like returning to the home where I felt safe, Jesus is my protection, my comfort, my place of refuge and rest. As I turn within, I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, and I see the Lord is there.
As we begin 2018, many of us know we will be facing uncharted territory. The Lord is leading us deeper into His will. We may feel alone and overwhelmed at times, even tempted to run back to the safety and security a previous season may have offered. The vision the Lord gave to me and the reminder of the incredible love I felt as He was with me in the encounter offers us the encouragement we need. He will be with us as we walk through the new year. He will never forsake us, nor will He leave us. He will surely protect us as we do the work He has asked us to do.
Anne Marie Molster is a prophetic writer who desires to share the heart of the Lord while encouraging others to step into the secret place that He has reserved just for them. She carries the gift of a seer who is given visions and dreams that speak into her life as well as the lives of others. By stepping into His presence, she is able to hear of His love for His children and His great plans for them, which she then shares through a written word. By sharing her encounters, she desires to bring others into a deeper relationship with the Lord, so that they understand that they too can hear His voice and experience a relationship that surpasses all others. She longs to help many step into the Kingdom to see all the amazing gifts He has prepared for each to enjoy.
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