A Change of Perspective

In this month’s blog, our intern Lucy is sharing a testimony of how daily seeking God for vision and encouragement for her situation at work has been a transformative experience. We hope you enjoy reading it.

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” Matthew 22:29-31

It’s funny how one little glance at the waves, and suddenly we’re overwhelmed. The idea that Jesus could be stood right in front of us, and yet the moment we choose to take our eyes off him, we find ourselves sinking.

Recently, I’ve felt a little like Peter. Well, perhaps a lot like Peter. I remember, not too long ago, I’d had a very tough week; my new job had become challenging to the point of feeling completely out of my depth. I’d run out of ideas and strength of how to remain hopeful and joy-filled in environments that seemed anything but! Oh the compassion I had for Peter in that moment! Willingly stepping out over the bow of the boat, and being met with battering waves and the feeling of feet slipping.

It was so hard to not look at the circumstances, the trials, and the negatives. I recall being sat on my bed, questioning and wrestling with this, when I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence around me, and in my mind’s eyes I saw perhaps the clearest vision I’ve ever experienced:

I could see around me a war-torn battlefield, which I sensed stretched for miles, although the edges were covered in fog and I could only see a few meters in each direction. I was dressed as a soldier, but I was slumped down on the floor, keeled over. Jesus was knelt beside me, and He whispered to me saying, “Lucy, stand up.” And so in this vision I stood up. Then Jesus whispered to me again, and said softly, “Lucy, step to the left”, and so I obeyed and stepped to the left. Just as I did, an arrow tore out of the fog and went flying past my left-hand side right where I had been standing. Then Jesus spoke again, and said “Lucy, duck down”, so I ducked down, and out
of the fog ripped a huge sword as it came swiping over my head, missing me by a moment.

As I continued to watch the vision progress, I realised that Jesus was giving me moves of how to cross the battlefield whilst remaining unscathed. Jesus, unfazed by the fog, could see the entire picture and every attempted attack, and as long as I obeyed Him, I remained under His shadow and protection.

I remember afterwards, being sat on my bed, thinking, “Jesus, this is incredible! But what does this mean? What does this mean for me at work every day?” And as clear as I’d seen the vision, I felt Him say “Every morning, I want you to get up half an hour earlier and pray to me, asking for a battle-move for that day.”

So, every morning I do just that. My 6:15am alarm goes off, and up I get to pray for that day’s battle-move. And every day, without fail, the relevance of that move is unbelievable. Whether it’s to duck down, and allow everything to wash over me without engaging in any of the negativity; or to lunge forward and strike, reaching out of my comfort zone in order to silence an ungodly belief or bitter attitude.

I don’t think I’ve ever before had a prophetic vision that has transcended beyond a momentary experience in the same way. Perhaps that’s because this is the first time I’ve chosen to engage repeatedly with a vision. If I’m honest, I’m not sure.

But what I do know is that these past few months of walking in this victory have been so hopeful and intentional, and the sense of favour over me at my work place has continued to increase. I no longer rely on my own strength and positivity to get me through the day; rather I completely lean on God’s joy and vision, allowing Him to use me in whatever way He wishes. It’s His vision, not mine, and He will see it to fruition. All He has asked me to do is to obey.

This has been the fruit I’ve seen of daily engaging with God’s word for my work place. Take a minute to think about what situations you are currently in that you are finding difficult, whether that’s at work or at home or at school, etc.
– What is God’s word or vision for this season you’re in?
– How can you practically step into that word and pursue it daily?