This incident happened a few years back but the Lord wants me to share it, so here goes..
Whilst searching for a church up north in an unfamiliar area, I was involved in a collision with another car. I had left the main road but then missed the right turning for the building, so I then had to return to the main road in order to go round again, and that's when the accident happened..
Thankfully, I had friends within this fellowship so I was able to contact them to come to our aid..
My elderly mother was with me at the time, and thankfully, the impact happened on the rear door of my side of the vehicle, and not hers..
When we finally reached the church, the service was just ending and folks were being invited out for prayer. I thought I'd better go, and when I told the person ministering (the guest speaker) about the accident she said;
"..What? It's only just happened?!"
A few days later, I was praying about the incident, and the Lord began to show me how 'unprepared' the church had been for an unexpected event. In fact, I saw a picture in my spirit of a sign in the atmosphere saying; 'Do not disturb.' and I'm not even sure if the pastors got to know about it!
Meanwhile, back to the collision and my lovely shiny blue Micra that had been thrown to the other side of the road. It was a write-off..
I was so thankful that, had I been travelling slightly slower on my way across the road, the oncoming car would have crashed into where I was sitting instead of the rear door..
In all the confusion, my thoughts were all over the place, but I remember this white van pulling up close by, and next, a couple of tall young men came and just stood with my mother the whole time until the breakdown van arrived to sort us out..
I often wonder if they were angels..
Initially, I had taken full responsibility for the accident, believing it was all my fault. However, during a conversation with a friend from the church, I found out it wasn't!
She said; "..Oh, they shoot along that road like bats out of hell!"
As soon as she said that, instantly, I was back in my car at that T junction, and when I checked to the right, remember seeing an oncoming vehicle a long way off. But just in those few seconds of looking left and pulling out, it had ploughed into me..
The Lord said, "..Leave things as they are, and I will take care of everything.." (Which I so needed Him to do, because the situation was complicated!)
The accident happened in east Lancashire, I was living down south, but currently staying at my mother's home in the far west of Lancashire..
Everything was indeed taken care of...though it was a little intimidating driving an unfamiliar courtesy car 5 hrs all the way back to my home..
Also, I was eventually given a great deal on another 'nearly new' Micra which is a lovely, shiny, metallic red! Thank You, Lord!
Okay, so now I'm asking the question, why am I sharing all of this, Lord?
The word I'm getting now is; 'Are we prepared?'
Thankfully, for myself, I can say I had been..
Years ago, the Lord instructed me to take communion every morning. This along with praying Psalm 91 and the blood of Jesus over myself, my family, and anyone else He would lay on my heart..
I was impressed about the importance of doing this 'every day..'
Why? Because according to 1Peter 5 v 8;
'..Our adversary satan, is roaming around 24/7 seeking to seize upon and devour..'
So, no matter where I am, in a hotel or staying with friends, I will find the elements for communion..a bit of cracker and some water. It doesn't matter, it's what it represents in your heart..
We find ourselves living in dangerous, uncertain and volatile times, but God has not left as orphans.
(John 14 v 18)
He knew how it would be in these last days and therefore, has given us certain teachers to instruct, and strengthen us in how to stand on the promises of protection as clearly given in the Word of God..
Many of them, I believe were written for this very hour..
Some Christians believe that somehow, God's protection is automatic, but if that were the case, what would be the point of Paul's instructions in Ephesians 6? And those like them..
Some Christians say we shouldn't be all focused on the devil. True.
But consider that during World War, there was something called 'British Intelligence' which was a body of people keeping an eye on the latest activities of the enemy..
Meanwhile, the people were taught to be wise. Be alert. Keep your windows covered at night etc..
My point is, the focus was kept on winning the war however, in order to gain the upper hand, and not least, the victory, they had to have some working knowledge of how the enemy was operating, otherwise, we could have been taken over, and may not be enjoying the freedoms we have today!
'..For we are not ignorant of his devices..' 1Cor 2 v 11-13
Similarly, we now find ourselves living in times like no other, so we need to act accordingly. It's no longer 'business as usual"..we can no longer afford to be casual..
The authorities cannot protect us but let me encourage you that God can if we will open our mouths and give Him something to work with..
In fact, Psalm 103 v 20 lets us know that; 'God hearkens to the voice of His word', so what this means is, as we speak out the promises of protection over ourselves and our families, it releases the angels to come to our aid..
Prayer chains are a good idea in the church as long as it's mostly for emergency situations. Meanwhile, we must also be responsible for our own prayer life, and our own personal situations..
Plus, when folks become reliant on their fellowship for 'every least bit of a thing', the church is in danger of becoming 'inward looking' and now the focus is being taken away from the needs of the community and the unsaved..
A few years ago, I was involved in helping a women who lived at the top of a high-rise flat in London. It was an area known as being a hive of drugs activity..
This lovely Christian lady had such a precious child-like faith and over many years, held a vision for great revival in her community. Meanwhile, she was being stalked, bullied and intimidated, and her life was constantly threatened..
After a while, I also became the focus of their attention which lasted for more than 3 years..
I had the choice to back off but instead decided to take a firm stand on Psalm 91 plus, the protecting power of the precious Blood of Jesus.
I'm telling you it wasn't easy..but I'm still here! All glory be to God!Meanwhile, I hope this testimony has encouraged and inspired you in your prayer life..
But more importantly;
'..BE PREPARED!'
"..Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect).
1Thess 5 v 6
'..The Sons of Issachar were men who had an understanding of the times..'
1Chron 12 v 32
Psalm 91
