Lean Not on Your Own Understanding
Hi Friends,
Today is Monday, in the first week of March. The sky is blue and the air is crisp. I am happy to be able to be in my own home and finally at peace from a very busy week and weekend. Today I have three visions to share with you.
The Visions
A Unicycle
In this vision, I am up very high in an indoor gym, sports center or arena. I am looking down upon many people who are milling about and sitting on the bleachers. They had come to watch some type of sporting event. Within the crowd on the floor, I see a man riding a unicycle. He comes from the crowd and makes his way to the center just in front of the bleachers. Then a close up view shows that he is no longer on the unicycle, but is standing on one foot. With his other leg in the air, he bends forward from the waist and lowers his head. He appears to be taking a bow.
I believe that the man is bowing to receive praise from the crowd. Even though the people came to see the main attraction, he was there to draw attention to himself, with the unicycle.
The meaning of the vision:
I believe that the man is seeking the praise of man, rather than the praise of God. He had come with his unicycle to be seen by others. The unicycle is unusual, and it takes practice to be able to ride it. Even though the people came to watch the main event, this man was offering his talents as a side show, or a distraction.
When we are looking for attention, praise or honor from others, this may indicate the presence of an underlying weakness, or insecurity. We may be bound up spiritually, having an excessively strong desire to be liked, to be appreciated and to be admired.
When we need the approval of others to validate our worth, something is wrong. I know for myself, that I have been one who sought the approval of others. I did have insecurities, for I believed that my worth was wrapped up in what I accomplished and what I was able to do. I thought my worth was my education, my design business, my skills and talents and the plaques on the wall. But the Lord made it clear to me, speaking about 25 years ago. He said to me:
“As long as you are fearful of man, I cannot use you, for you are already being used.”
Who was using me? The devil. He is the one who binds us and keeps us in turmoil, indecision and the fear of man. “What will people think?” “What will they say about me?” Fear is a strong motivator. The fear of man, can keep people in their pews, with their hands folded and their mouths shut. If the devil can keep us on the bench instead of the game, he wins!
The Lord came to set the captives free:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
Jesus spoke of the devil’s intent:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
The Lord does not want us to live in bondage to anything: drugs, food, fear, anxiety, depression, sickness, disease, poor health, poverty, sexual lusts etc. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome these unhealthy habits, desires, and ailments. He wants us to live in spiritual freedom, away from self condemnation and from demonic torment.
If you have experienced these things, it is time to break free. Change, always begins with a decision to change. To repent means to change your mind. So we start by giving our hearts to the Lord, confessing our sins, and seeking deliverance from a Spirit-filled church or ministry that specializes in deliverance. We find that when the Spirit moves through people having the gifts of the Holy Spirit, signs, wonders, healing, miracles and deliverance will occur. God is good; He is faithful and true. He wants his people to be healed and living the abundant life!
Let us seek the Lord, rather than self-gratification. Let us honor God with all our hearts for he cares for us!
“I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
So, let us bring our troubles to God. Let us seek his advice and his perfect will, for he is faithful and knows what we need before we even ask. The Lord wants us to confide in him, to take refuge in him and to seek His counsel. We bring him our troubles and he gives us peace. What a trade!
When we are motivated to serve God rather than ourselves, we can avoid all types of trouble and the snares of the wicked one. The word of God says:
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
If we truly fear God, we will do what he commands in his Word. When we love him, we will be obedient and follow his teachings. This is what brings blessing, health and prosperity.
“If you love me, you will obey my commands.” John 14:15
The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
The Bowl of Chicken
In this next vision, I saw a white bowl with chunks of raw chicken. The white bowl was clean, the raw chicken looked like it was in good shape, freshly cut up, ready to cook.
Before cooking or doing anything with the chicken, one would inspect it for its temperature, to make sure that it has not been sitting out for a long time. One would smell it to make sure that it has not become rancid or putrid. And a cook, finding it acceptable, would probably either cook it right away, or wrap it up and place it in the refrigerator.
But because I am a vegetarian, I would rather not cook it. I would give it to someone else to cook, not wanting to waste it, or I would simply toss it out, not knowing where it came from, and whether or not it was safe to eat. Raw chicken holds no value to me personally as a food source, though I can appreciate it as having value for someone else.
What the vision means:
I believe the Lord wants us to look at things carefully and evaluate them properly. When we make decisions, we can fail to consider everything that must be taken into account. If we are quick to make decisions without consulting the Lord, something unexpected may happen as a result. For example, if we do not consider the potential of the raw chicken having germs, we could become sick.
We are to be good stewards of all that we have in our possession. We are to manage our time as well. We should consult the Lord in our decisions. Is it time to buy a new car? A used car? A truck, a van, a car, a minivan, or SUV? What is a good career path for me? What college should I attend? Are there other options? Can I afford it? What are the potential benefits and the drawbacks in this decision or in this selection? Does this represent a need or a want? Does this decision in any way affect my walk with God?
We all consider the various aspects of any decision, but after a decision is made there may be criticism, remorse, or a need to justify our decision. We may consider that an error has been made. Can we learn from this, and perhaps consult with God next time?
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Years ago, when my daughter was about 9 or 10, she found a girl at church that she wanted to invite to our house to play. When I asked her mother if she would like to visit, her mother said that she and her husband had to pray first. At first it seemed strange, but then I realized how important that might actually be. The Word tells us that “a companion of fools suffers harm.” So as guardians over our children, it is important to not place them in jeopardy or cause them harm by introducing them to friends that might corrupt or an environment that is not safe. That couple truly opened my eyes to a new way to consider parenting–consult God first!
Even small decisions can lead to great results, for good or for bad. By knowing God’s word, we have a treasure trove of wisdom at our fingertips.
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
It is important to know the Word of God so that we can handle the Word properly, for it is also a spiritual weapon. Jesus used the written Word of God against the devil, to undermine and thwart his intentions to tempt.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:2-10
The Lord used his weapon, the Word of God to dispel every attempt to cause him to sin. The Word of God is powerful:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
The Cylinder and Knot
In this last vision, I saw a short white PVC pipe about 9” in length and about 2.5” in diameter. There were two holes drilled into the pipe near its center with a string threaded through both holes and tied with a knot about 2” away from the pipe. The knot and its attachment reminded me of a knot on the centerline of a kite.
As I considered the meaning of the vision, I was reminded of a paper kite that I put together as a kid. Two holes were made into the paper kite and threaded with a string from the front to the back, incorporating the thin vertical frame on the underside side, and coming up through the second hole. The string was tied to the first on the front side of the kite, which then became the tether line.
The manner of attachment of the string on the pipe reminded me of this same attachment on the paper kite. The line was a firm lead, or tether to control the kite. In the case of the pipe, the line could carry the weight of the pipe. And if the pipe was stationary, it would then become an anchor for the lead to attach.
Our relationship to the Lord is like an anchor and a tether. The Lord can be our anchor, when we want to be like a kite and soar into the sky. He can be our lifeline to keep us from drifting away from him, as a man in space with his spaceship. He can be our rescue ring with a tether to pull us to safety when we are in deep water, over our heads. We can say that the Lord is our refuge.
I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2:12
When we know God, we can have the blessings of safety, peace, joy, and contentment. We can have peace in the storm, and joy in times of trouble. In this fallen world of ours, sin abounds, and there is sorrow and tribulation. But let’s remember the Lord’s words:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
And remember, that when you come to believe in Jesus, as your Lord God, King and Savior, he will fill you with his Holy Spirit. He is the comforter, the healer and the one who leads you into all truth.
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” John 14:16-21
What a wonderful thing it is to know the Lord. There is nothing better. Nothing worth more. He is God, he is spirit and he became incarnate to show us the Father. He is eternal, and all sufficient. He is all in all. Jesus, the Son of God, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, are one and yet three–Lord over all!
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7
This is opportunity to pray with God, to surrender your will to his and to make Jesus Lord of your life. If you so choose, please pray with me:
Dear Jesus, I want to thank you for this opportunity to give you my all, my life and everything in it. I surrender all to you, for you can do all things, and I place my trust in you today. Thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins, for you alone are the perfect sacrifice, dying once for all. Please forgive me of my sins, and purify my heart, making me a new creation in you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and lead me in your ways. I want to follow you all the days of my life and I know that someday, when I leave this earth, I will join you in heaven for all eternity. Thank you Jesus. Please write my name in the Book of Life, for now I am yours and you are mine! Amen!
Thank you for reading. Please share this post with others. Be blessed, and wait upon the Lord for he cares for you! God bless you and your family, friends and loved ones!
