Like little children...

We knew it was going to be a good week the night that they arrived. 

The prayer room is often very hit and miss in terms of how many people come each week. Sometimes there are groups, sometimes a few people and often just one or two from the team faithfully praying and worshipping in the presence, hidden away behind the tall, red curtain that separates the prayer room from the rest of the world. This Wednesday sees the one year anniversary of the prayer room being opened and so much has happened throughout the year from visions and headings to quiet, personal encounters and wonderful worship times. It would be easy to look back and try and quantify what has happened or wonder what is to come. We could get excited about how "productive" it has been at times, or disappointed by the obstacles and barriers to more people coming. But instead, on this anniversary week, God chose to remind us of some fundamental truth. 

A visiting family of seven arrived yesterday, a wonderful whirlwind of kids of different ages and two parents with hearts laid down for Jesus, hungry for more. Within the hour of arriving, three of us found ourselves in the prayer room and as the music softly played, as it has done continuously for the past year, we sat quietly, welcoming Holy Spirit and allowing Him to touch our hearts and undo us in a way only God can do. As God's presence filled the room, tears began to flow and it quickly felt like an honour to be involved in such an intimate time. I found myself face down, cheek pressed against the rough red carpet near our prayer tree and I heard the teenager across the room, through flowing tears, begin to describe in her native language, what she was seeing. It was translated to me that Jesus had appeared to her, that He was welcoming her with open arms and inviting her to Him. She was totally undone. It was incredible. 

This morning we had the exciting time of having adventures with three more kids of a friend who joined the gang to make eleven of us and we ran through parks, got ice creams and enjoyed each others company, regardless of the language barriers! But what was so fun was when I told these three children a little about the night before. Immediately they said (and I quote) "She saw Jesus? I want to see Jesus! Can I see Jesus?". I laughed and said of course so after lunch all eleven of us, aged 4 - 40 something piled into the prayer room, got comfy and began to wait on the Lord. I explained what it is like to see a vision, that we can close our eyes and ask God to show us pictures in our imagination and as we are quiet, He will show us things. We brought in pencils and paper and after some time of eyes pressed closed and waiting in the presence-filled room, the children began to draw what they saw. Sunsets, hearts and pictures of Jesus started forming until I could not hold back my curiosity any more. I called the three over and whispered to them…

"Did you see Jesus?"

"Yes" 

"What did you see?"

"I saw a locked door and then a leper opened it and went inside and there was Jesus and He healed the two lepers, their whole bodies were healed"

"And what did you see?"

"Jesus asked me to hug Him so I did"

"I bet that felt great"

"Mmhmmm"

"And you?"

"I didn't see the whole of Jesus, just His body and He said I could touch Him and come near, so I did"

They came in expecting to see Jesus. And they did. It is as simple as that. "Let the little children come to me…the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these". Unless we will be like a child we will not be able to enter the kingdom. 

So often I have seen people not "know how to pray" or feel awkward or uncertain, worried or over thinking. What today and this past year has taught me, if I have learned anything at all, is that if we wait in His presence, if we take the time and allow ourselves to be quiet, and simply expect to meet with Him,

We will.