Blog
25th September 2024
Priscilla Reid
During a worship session at one of last summer’s festivals I had, what I can only describe as an open vision. Just to be clear that hasn’t been a regular feature of my prayer life but it certainly grabs your attention when it happens. I saw a tree emerging from the middle of Ireland. It was magnificent, fully formed and bursting with life. There were four rivers flowing from its roots going out to the four corners of the island and as I looked I could see the rivers dividing and subdividing until the island was covered by a network of waterway veins. The tree kept growing and as the heavier branches trailed the ground I saw other fruit bearing trees spring up. It probably should have been obvious to me what this tree was considering Genesis 2 but I asked the Lord, “What is this tree?” and He said, “It’s the tree of life.”
When the Holy Spirit speaks to us it’s always good to pray into it for further clarity and also to ask the question, “ how am I to respond to what you are showing me?” Sometimes God asks us to take certain actions but often I find it is to fuel and direct my prayer life. As I have reflected on what I saw, I believe the Lord wants to encourage us that He is on the move in Ireland. In all of the craziness of our world it’s easy to get discouraged or even overwhelmed, the prophetic helps us lift our eyes from what’s happening all around us and gives us a God perspective. I believe the Lord is reminding us that His Kingdom is a life giving kingdom and challenges a spirit of death wherever it has taken hold. God wants to open people’s eyes to the fullness of life we can experience through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This year can we take the authority God has given us as His children and pray that every aspect of life on this Island can be impacted by this tree of life and the rivers flowing from it. I believe we need to particularly pray for the younger generations who are being bombarded by lies sown into our culture and embraced by it that is out to completely destroy their identity, leading to addictions, self harming and an increasing suicide rate. Jesus defeated that spirit of death on the cross so we can expect to see a new generation emerging, knowing who they are in Christ and unapologetic about the satisfaction of lives lived under His rule and reign.
I love how the Holy Spirit interlinks worship, prophetic revelation and prayer. It is this interaction that changes our prayer lives from a duty that at times feels like a burden to an exciting adventure as we get to cooperate with God’s plans and purposes and the prayer promises of scripture suddenly make sense as we pray back to the Lord what is on His heart.
Can I encourage you whatever you will be praying about this year or whoever you are praying for, first take a moment to ask the Lord, “how do you want me to pray about this situation or this person?” The result is you stop praying about the problems and begin praying the solutions and calling out the God birthed potential. Our Father is “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” Romans 4:17. Jesus has come to give us life in all its magnificent fullness, let’s stop at nothing less.
Practice / Pray:
Reflect on this truth; Our Father is “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” Romans 4:17. Jesus has come to give us life in all its magnificent fullness.
Reading Romans 4:17 what stands out to you? What ‘dead’ things do you sense you are to pray His fullness of life over, in your family, community, workplace, this nation?
Take time to imagine with God what His life in these areas would look like – pray from this place!
As you pray ask God to direct you to any other areas that need to have that spirit of death broken over them, our health services, financial institutions, educational services, perhaps aspects of your personal family life.
Pray for many new life giving churches and ministries to be planted as the branches of the tree fertilise the spiritual soil of our island. That these churches and ministries will engage with every community to demonstrate the beauty of the Kingdom of God.