PreacherEzekiel 1:26–27 (NRSV) “And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around.”

I love reading the accounts of the Old Testament prophets in the Bible. This month I’m reading Ezekiel. I think I love reading the prophets because I love their one-on-one conversations with God. I’m fascinated with the visions, dreams and words they received directly from the Lord. As a preacher, I desire to hear the Lord speaking as clearly as the prophets of old heard him.

I’m no stranger to divine dreams and heavenly visions. It was through a prophetic dream that the Lord finally got my attention when he was calling me back to himself when I was in my twenties as I share in my call story. Since then, I’ve prayed that the Lord would continue to speak to me through dreams and visions in addition to his word.

This past Sunday I preached my first sermon since my husband died and the Lord gave me a wonderful vision as I sat in the pulpit. As I sat in the pulpit and set my heart and mind on God, the Lord gave me a vision of a giant man (giant doesn’t capture the magnitude of the size of the man I saw standing behind me in the pulpit as my head barely reached the top of his shins). This giant man stood in the pulpit like a guard behind me. The Lord also showed me that all of the company of heaven was watching. The Lord dropped in my spirit that I had this heavenly audience because that moment was a defining moment in my walk with the Lord and in my ministry. I had gone through hell with the loss of my husband, and yet, I was still standing. I was still standing to declare the goodness of God. I hadn’t turned back. I hadn’t lost my faith, and I hadn’t lost my praise. The Lord also dropped in my spirit that since the “company of heaven” was watching, then that also included my husband. I sensed in my spirit that they were smiling and cheering me on. They were happy because I was standing for God. When I heard the Lord speak this to me in the pulpit, tears started to fall. It was amazing. For the first time in my ministry, my eyes no longer focused on the people in the congregation, but my eyes were fixed on God. They were fixed on heaven. It was more reinforcement that God allowed me to go through all of this so that I could better serve him.

I don’t have a copy of the sermon yet, but I will have the DVD on Wednesday and will upload it to the site. In the meantime, please stay encouraged because you’re not alone. There are angels watching over you. Jesus, himself, is walking with you and he will carry you through.

Has God ever given you a vision of the spiritual realm?

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6 Replies to “Visions from Heaven”

  1. I was just thinking today that I *think* I’d like to have conversations with God like Moses did. But in reality I’d probably be way too awed to speak a word.

    “I was still standing to declare the goodness of God. I hadn’t turned back. I hadn’t lost my faith, and I hadn’t lost my praise.”

    You inspire me more than you can imagine. Wow.

  2. Lauren, your words, your heart for our God leaves me breathless. I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. I get just a glimpse of your testimony here, but I want to learn more. So I will have to come back. I am so grateful for your heart and your faith and how you share it. Yes, the words of the prophets sing to me, too. I love to hear His voice. Bless you.

  3. I was drawn to read your post because of the joy on those three faces. To read of your loss, left me breathless. I cannot imagine. I am so grateful that you found strength to continue on & did not let the enemy silence your voice. I will be praying for all of you today. May our God continue to be all to you & all you need in the days ahead. Blessings!

  4. Thank you for your comments. They are very humbling. I never imagined that I’d be able to still stand on the other side of tragedy, but that is a demonstration of God’s amazing grace and goodness. I’m just so thankful to God for brining me through. We hear it all of the time, but I’m so happy to know him as a comforter and keeper! Thank you for reading!

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