Well it all started this afternoon. I decided to spend some quiet time with God journaling. I don't just sit there and write out my prayers to God. No, I do two-way journaling that I was taught recently at a conference by Mark Virkler. Here is how it works.
1) You go to a quiet place and still yourself before the Lord (no distractions)
2) You look for the vision and see yourself with Jesus (I roam around the earth and see where my vision stops....Jesus and I are always hanging out somewhere outside)
3) Ask Jesus a question and wait for the spontaneous flow of thoughts to come as he answers
4) Write down what He says
It is really an amazing experience.
Anyway, so today I went to journal for the first time in days. I tried and tried and couldn't see Jesus very well or where we were. Finally I sort of saw him and I sitting on a dock near a beautiful mountain and beautiful lake. My vision of us was not nearly as clear as normal. It was upsetting. But I got through the journaling experience and still left hearing God's voice.
Later I read a chapter in the book "4 Key's to Hearing God's Voice" by Mark Virkler. The chapter was about vision and seeing God. As I read through the chapter I confessed to God that I've not allowed him to work through dreams and visions in my life and have relied heavily on rational thought instead. I asked him to open the eyes and ears of my heart once again. After reading the chapter, I lay in bed and tried to see the vision again from this morning. This time it was was pretty clear.
I saw Jesus and I sitting on the dock. He jumped in the water and was swimming. He was so happy and wanted me to come in. So I jumped in. I don't know how the water felt. All I know is that I had the same swimming abilities I do now (not very strong)....but I swam after Jesus. Then suddenly we were walking on water a bit and then out of the water rose a huge staircase. Jesus ran up and was so happy and wanted me to follow. So I ran after him and saw that the staircase went into the sky and in the sky was a large opening to Heaven.
I entered Heaven and noticed beautiful grass. So green and lush. It felt wonderful on my feet. I also noticed a small river and a small tree. I drank from the river but I don't know how it tasted. The tree didn't seem out of the ordinary except that it was perfectly groomed. But it wasn't large and it didn't seem like the tree described in Revelation. Jesus kept going on ahead and wanted me to follow. But I didn't want to miss anything, so I looked around. All I could really focus on was the grass. So green, so soft. I had a difficult time focusing on the tree and river. I knew they were there and I saw them...but not very clearly. At one point we were running beside the river and Jesus hopped over it and I followed and then I 'woke up'. And to be honest I don't know if in real life I was sleeping or awake. I know the vision started with me being awake...but I don't know if it carried on when I fell asleep (if I fell asleep). But when I looked at the clock 15 minutes had passed rather quickly.
Two things that really struck me in the vision
1) Jesus was so joyful. He was smiling and very playful and just wanted to spend time with me and show me Heaven.
2) When I was in the vision and focused on Jesus (and Heaven), I wasn't focused on other people in my mind. I wasn't judging others. It was just me and Jesus. The more I focused on him, the less I thought about others and also any worries in life.
The song 'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus' was not lying. It says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,In the light of His glory and grace.
Very cool experience. Thanks Jesus! I hope you allow me to come back in vision form :)
