Enjoy the Dance

“Dance with Me” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

{dream} I was dancing in the arms of my Beloved. There was such joy and peace as we swayed back and forth to the music and focused on our love for one another. At some point, the thought came to me that, in real life, I didn’t know how to slow dance.

Suddenly, that concern about not being able to dance caused my feet to stumble as we danced. My feet felt like they were getting all tangled. And yet, the Beloved kept leading us in the dance as if nothing were wrong! I didn’t stumble or fall over, and our dance seemed as beautiful as before. So I just focused on the music and our love for one another.

Now and then, my thoughts would slip, and I would worry about my steps and stumble. But as soon as I remembered where my focus should be, my feet righted themselves. Eventually, I realized my steps didn’t matter, and that worrying about them only detracted from enjoying the dance with my Beloved.

Continue reading “Enjoy the Dance”

In the Form of Christ

One Body (Unity in Christ)” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

{vision} I saw different American Olympic athletes posing as if for a photoshoot meant to display their new team uniforms. What stood out to me was that, although the athletes had different types of uniforms based on their sport, all of the uniforms used the same set of colors. (Royal blue was the predominant color.) The consistency of the color is what would make it clear to others that they were all on the same team. Continue reading “In the Form of Christ”

The Importance of the Shield of Faith

Jessica Smith Art notebook drawing

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all else, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Wicked One!”

Several years ago, during a time of being beaten down by the devil, I cried out to the LORD in prayer for help. I was drowning in despair. I simply couldn’t win the battles of life. I was stressed, tired, and in anguish. I wanted to die. Then God showed up as He always does.

I had a dream. In the dream, the Holy Spirit came to show me my error. He stood at my right side. His presence was soothing, strengthening, and forever desirable.

Then suddenly Satan also showed up. He took a very close stance just a few yards in front of me and began to shoot me continually with arrows. These sharp darts were piercing through my chest and plunging deep into my soul. The Holy Spirit spoke into my ear, “Do you see?” He drew my attention to the arrows inside of my soul. I understood now why I was in so much pain. 

I looked inside of my inner being and saw these “fiery darts.” They were dangerous and causing damage. These sharp arrows pierced through my chest and entered deep inside and immediately began to dissolve into deadly poison until the arrow disappeared. 

Any arrow that was not immediately removed dissolved into a poison that began to travel through my entire body, soul, and mind. The poison was making me sick, even unto death… and the arrows never stopped coming. I was being bombarded constantly with more and more arrows from the wicked one.

The Holy Spirit had been gently explaining and showing all this to me, but then He suddenly exclaimed, “Look at the ground in front of you! Look what is at your feet!” I looked down at my feet. There it was… just laying there… my shield of faith. 

The Holy Spirit exclaimed loudly, “Pick it up, and take hold of it!” I bent down and took it up and held it in front of my body. The devil did not stop shooting the arrows at me, but now they were hitting my shield of faith and falling to the ground instead of piercing through my chest. No more arrows. No more poison. So now I had to keep my shield up and work on getting the poison of the old arrows out through forgiveness, prayer, and repentance.

God was faithful. He heard my prayer for help, and He came to my rescue. The devil was attacking me viciously, and I did nothing to stop him because I didn’t know how to. God showed me what I was doing wrong and how to change it. The Lord says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Let’s take up our shield of faith and renew our minds.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD –  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….

by Jessica Smith

The Tsunami

by Jessica Smith Art

In a dream, I saw a tsunami coming from afar. It was a monstrous wall of water that would bring devastation. The sight of it was dreadful. As it approached, fear increased, and I anticipated the blow with anxiety and uncertainty. But when it came upon me I was suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit. And instead of the massive wave overtaking me, I lept up on it and ran up it walking on water.  Continue reading “The Tsunami”

Removing the Root of Shame

Unbroken Identity by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Webster’s defines “shame” as a “feeling of guilt, regret, or sadness that you have because you know you have done something wrong.” It is also “the ability to feel guilt, regret, or embarrassment, dishonor or disgrace.” Shame can become so familiar, almost like an old friend. You know that old friend who your mom told you wasn’t a good influence but you didn’t listen. You look at that old friend and memories of a different time and a different you start to surface. It’s the “before Christ” you, and it isn’t pretty. All of the sudden you are haunted by the shame of your past and it’s crippling. At some point, we have all wrestled with shame. Even the most mature believer can fall prey to shame. I know because it recently happened to me. Continue reading “Removing the Root of Shame”

You’re the Daughter of the King!

Art by Jessica Smith Art

I had this dream a few years ago before the phrase “Daughter Of The King” meant anything to me. I felt the phrase was a cliche and it annoyed me (needless to say I had identity issues)… until I had this dream in the middle of a 15 day water-only fast. I was under the most intense spiritual attack of my life by a spirit of fear/torment. I had forgotten who I truly was in Christ. Continue reading “You’re the Daughter of the King!”

Moving at the Speed of Grace

{vision} I saw a sign on a road showing that the speed limit was 55. There was a blurred line through the middle of the 55, and I knew there were words printed there.

I saw this vision just before I opened my eyes one recent morning. I sensed this was a “sign” for the spiritual speed limit for my day. Immediately, I knew the “55” represented a multiplication of grace. I also recognized the words that I couldn’t read symbolized a “word” that God had for me through this vision. This word would bring clarity to a repeated message He had been speaking in the Spirit: “Slow down.” Continue reading “Moving at the Speed of Grace”