Isaiah 43:18-19 - Spring Forth, Rivers In A Desert

Step 1: Pray. Select.  

The morning brought a little more chaos than usual. Many fires are happening in Los Angeles, and having just recently moved from L.A. myself, I began praying and reaching out to friends to find out how they are weathering this catastrophic time when the flames could take their homes.

I received one report from a woman in my church group that her family, unfortunately, lost their home moments ago. I am going to continue to pray for all those who are still threatened and in harm's way that they are protected and that all those who have lost, may God restore them tenfold. My heart breaks for everyone affected.

Earlier this morning, prior to hearing the mass devastation on the news about the fires, God brought to my remembrance a scripture from Isaiah 43:18-19 and the word testimony kept coming to mind. Staying obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit and meditating on this beautiful scripture, little did I know that I would be brought back to share a miracle testimony I experienced that I hope will bring hope today.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Isaiah 43:18-19 - 18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert."

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out:

• Do Not Remember

• Former Things

• I Will Do A New Thing

• Spring Forth,

• I Will Make

• Rivers In The Desert

Step 3: Re-Write

Adding my name to the front and with a focus on the words that stood out, here is the sentence(s) I came up with for today:

• Jennifer, do not remember former things, I will do a new thing. Spring forth, I will make rivers in the desert.

Step 4: Visualize

I was wondering when the right time would be to share this story of testimony. Today is that day, friends, as the Holy Spirit instructed me to share, bringing this to the forefront. It was the time when this prayer practice was birthed into my life during the utter destruction of my previous marriage. I watched as, bit by bit, my home life began crumbling in front of my eyes, and with tears streaming down my face, I knew I would inevitably have to leave. There was too much damage done to restore what I thought I once had, only to find out it never even existed.

I sat on my couch in my living room one day, and amid the chaos and destruction around me, God took me on a journey.

When I closed my eyes, I was standing in front of a gigantic gate made of rusted metal and steel. It stood at least twenty feet high and had large spikes on top so no one could get through or climb over it. I was alone, but I didn't want to stay outside since I seemed to be in danger.

Right in front of me was a door that blended in, and if you walked by the gate, you might not notice it was even there. I walked up to the door and pushed on it. It opened. I slowly and cautiously walked through to the other side, but I tried not to make too much noise so that others didn't find out I had discovered a way in. It was almost like it was placed there just for me to enter.

As I step entirely inside, I quickly close the gate behind me. There is a large latch inside the gate, so no one can get in once I lock it. I will be safe here.

Once I securely lock the door, I turn around and find an endless desert as far as the eye can see in front of me. There are mountains with no signs of life or foliage. The ground I am standing on is an infinite salt flat filled with black cracks, revealing no signs of water anywhere close by.

I don't understand. Why am I here in this dead place? Where do I even begin to walk to find food or water? Just then, I think about the place I came from. While I had the comforts of man-made things, I ran here for a reason. This place was more peaceful and less painful than the world I was living in within my very own home.

At least here, I wasn't being hunted by whatever I was running from on the other side. I just had to walk and see what was ahead. I had no choice and did not want to go back at all costs. Even if I died in this place.

I began to walk forward. I walked and walked, and it felt like I was going nowhere. I looked at the black and dry cracks beneath my feet. They were dark crevices of nothing.

I continued getting weaker, and I reached the point where I had no energy to walk any further. I glanced ahead and saw a large, lush ash tree in the distance. I could barely put one foot in front of the other, but it gave me hope that there might be water ahead. I began to doubt what I saw as I continued walking with my head down, dragging my feet forward since it might be an oasis.

I stop and look up again, but this time, it is only a few steps away. In front of the tree, I can see a pond surrounded by a round pasture full of soft green grass. I dig deep down to push through my pain to get to this place in the middle of this desert. I don't know where I am, but I feel God is there.

As I take a few more steps, looking down at my tired feet and shaky legs, I see I have finally stepped onto the bed of wet, moist grass. My body is so thankful to be here that I immediately collapse on the grassy shore of the pond. I lay there for a moment, looking up at the crystal blue sky, and gave thanks for making it here.

I roll onto my side to see the tree across from me. The body of water protects the tree and stands peacefully, yet guards me from it. It is a sacred tree, and I am not allowed to touch it. I can admire it from a distance, but I know to stay where I am. I am blessed to even have seen this place exist.

The breeze is so heavenly and warm but still refreshing. I lay my head down and fell into the most peaceful sleep I have ever experienced. As I rest for what the Holy Spirit said was seven days, I hear a small voice whisper, "Wake up."

I don't want to wake up, and I don't want to leave, but I understand that just because I was allowed to rest here, I am not meant to stay here. I open my eyes and see Jesus standing above me, lending his hand to help me up. He smiles gently as if to nudge me. So, I take his hand and stand. I don't feel hungry, and I feel completely rested. In fact, I feel restored and better than when I came into this place.

Jesus walked forward in the direction of the gate I came in. He turned back and offered me his hand to walk with him as he led.

I don't want to go. I am scared. The grass feels so good; I do not want to walk through the void of nothing again and go back to the pain of what lives beyond the gate. He stays in his position and waits.

Finally, I give in and am ready. He doesn't say a word, but the Holy Spirit tells me to keep my eyes on him. When I pass through the gate, I remember to stay looking at him, and I will be safe no matter what is going on around me. I step off the grass and begin to walk across the hard salt flats, following Jesus.

When we walk now, I notice that with every step, the black crevices are no longer black but are almost neon blue and filled with the most beautiful clear water. This place I was at had water beneath the surface the entire time; I just couldn't see it yet. But now I can! I never had anything to be worried about. There was an abundance of living water the whole time right beneath my feet. I just needed to keep my eyes on Jesus, and he would show me.

We continue to talk for what feels like many miles and finally arrive at the door to exit this place. I don't want to return and be exposed to danger on the other side. I want to stay with Jesus. But somehow, again, without saying a word, he tells me he is going with me. The only difference is this time, since he is showing himself to me, I will have a visual to know he is holding my hand and walking in front of me. As long as I don't look to the right or the left, I am in some sort of protective covering or bubble that cannot be infiltrated by anything or anyone.

I hear the crowds roaring like animals outside the gate. Their behavior is grotesque, and they no longer regard human life. He assured me I would only have to go back for a short time, but I would return to the place God had shown me. One day, I will find rest.

He opens the latch to the doorway and steps through first. I don't want to go. I am quivering, and my heart is racing out of my chest. I step through and keep my eyes on him. Out of my peripheral vision, I see so many heinous things going on with humanity, but as I keep walking, holding Jesus's hand, it bounces off us as if there is a force field protecting us.

This was where the vision ended.

Fast-forward to 2024, and our Pastor gave a message about his vision of water in the desert over twenty years ago, which called him to our area to plant a church. This triggered my memory of the place God showed me in my vision, which I hadn't thought about in approximately three years.

Just then, I looked over at my new husband sitting there in church, and was hit with the revelation God fulfilled his promise to me! God brought me back to the place I saw where the water lived under the desert ground. The place was Desert Hot Springs. My Aunt had wanted to take me to a spa in late 2022, and she randomly chose one in the middle of the desert recommended by a client of hers to get some much-needed rest and relaxation after everything I had been through for the past couple of years with my divorce amongst other things. The spa is comprised of hot natural mineral baths that pull the water from hundreds and sometimes thousands of feet underground. On that trip, my husband and I met and began our relationship.

God restored all the previous years the locusts took from me. He brought me to the desert filled with endless living water, a husband who loves the Lord as much as I do, two beautiful step-children, new friends from my church life group, and a place to rest my head after a season of drought. I would never have thought my thirst for restoration would be quenched in a desert. In fact, it was the last place I would have looked.

Even though we cannot see or make sense of the things God reveals to us at certain times, trust me when I say he has good plans in store for us. He plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, as he tells us in Jeremiah 29:11.

I do have one question for the Holy Spirit today. Let me take a moment to ask.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The main question(s) that came to mind were:

• Holy Spirit, why did you call me to share this story today?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Holy Spirit, why did you call me to share this story today?

"Amid the chaos, you closed your eyes years ago and ran to the LORD. You and many others needed the reminder that God delivers on his promises. By remembering his goodness, we can provide the comfort we need for the day. If we know Jesus has gone before you and made a way, then all you have to do is walk it out. It is that simple. Whatever is happening right now, know he has already seen it and has gone before you. Keep following him, and he will continue to hold your hand and lead you. Keep your eyes on him, and you will not fall out of his protective watch. Do not be swayed or dismayed; come to him when you are weary, and he will give you rest. Then, when it is time to get back up, he will show you the way less traveled. He can take you further faster, so don't be haughty walking your way in your own time. His timing is perfect. Stay obedient and stay close, his grace is sufficient for your life. Through his power and might, there is no situation where life cannot resurrect out of ashes. Keep your faith and your eye on Him, and you will be guided safely through any storm. Remember, all Jesus had to do was speak to the wind in the power of the Father, and it was done. Let whatever you are worried about or carrying today be done. It is finished. Worry no more."

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Today, I just want to pray and confirm whatever or whoever reads this knows God is delivering on his promises. No matter what you are encountering, he has a place for you to rest your head. If he did it for me, know he can do it for you. I know it is hard, as I still have unbelief at times, meditate on this scripture from Mark 9: 19-29:

19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "Ifyou can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone!

Step 8: Share. Testify

Today's blog was a testimony in itself. I hope you enjoyed hearing how God performed this miracle in my life. Sometimes, we have no clue why we see what we do or hear what we hear in our prayer life, but God knows all and will provide for every need you have.

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Don't forget to Spread hope and share HERE if you have a miracle or testimony. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Keep your faith in the midst of any storm.

Go forth and let what God has in store for you spring up.

Know God has plans for you, and even though it may seem like he is not seeing or hearing your situation, sometimes you have to walk through the desert so God can stand out like an oasis of promise of what will come.

Never underestimate your path as long as your eyes are fixed on Jesus. You can do all things through Christ.

I look forward to hearing about God's plans and how he is moving through your circumstances.

May God be with you all today and always!