Impressions for 2022

Following are three impressions I felt as I prayed about the new year last week. In part, they were gathered for my church family, but I believe they are also for a broader part of the Church.

1 – Everything on the Table
I had a vision of a man sitting on the edge of a couch looking at a coffee table. He was laying everything about his life on the table. Once every detail was on the table, I saw Jesus sitting next to him, and I could hear part of their conversation. “What has to go?” the man asked Jesus. “What is breaking fellowship between you and me?” Jesus replied.

Hebrews 12 says to lay aside every weight and sin that is keeping you from running the race — looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.

There was an emphasis on everything. Some things we lay down on the table will be obvious. But with the Spirit’s help, the less obvious things will surface too. Like, opinions, assumptions, entitlements, emotions, etc.

There are things on the table that cannot be removed. I.e. family, kids. If those types of items are like weights on your legs, invite Jesus into those details. He wants to lift the weight and transform them into support systems instead.

2 – 911
I was in the restroom washing my hands after a time of prayer. The alarm on my watch started beeping. When I looked at my watch, it read 9:11am. I was surprised because I don’t use my watch for an alarm, and I didn’t set it—I don’t even know how to do that.

After making sure there wasn’t an immediate emergency to tend to, and after asking the Lord about the odd encounter, I feel like the Lord is saying,

Hear the alarm. It’s urgent (beeping and 911) that you watch and look (it was my watch alarm) for the things that break fellowship with me and cleanse yourself (washing my hands/restroom). 911 on the things that break fellowship with Jesus, friends! 911!

I also read Psalms 91:1 — he who dwells in the Most High, abides in the shadow of the Almighty. There is a lot of protection and provision in that chapter.

3 – Befriend the Holy Spirit.
Make this a year of increased fellowship and followship (I made that word up) with him. It is not about being a crazy charismatic. This is about laying hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit sent to us by Jesus — the Spirit helps us, guides us, comforts us, reminds us of what Jesus said. We NEED him. Be his best friend.

More importantly, I encourage you to pray and listen to the Holy Spirit for your life if you haven’t already. In its simplest form, it looks like pausing for a moment. Listen for a word. It may be a single word or a phrase. Sometimes it comes as a picture or in a scripture verse as a word/phrase stands out. It may be an impression or even curiosity. Take the word and look up scriptures on it. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you as you search the words out. You can do this over several days or weeks. Write prayers for your life from what you find. If nothing else, you’re digging into the word and turning those things into prayers — discipleship. But, from experience, I believe you will encounter God in new ways, digging deeper than before, trusting more than ever, and seeing just how detailed God is with our lives.