Rachael Abigail Mushala Chisulo
Shalom brothers and sisters,
Some time last year, for a period of time,I made it a point to spend four to six hours of my day in prayer,splitting the hours.
And then I spent every night from about 9pm to 4 or 5 am in a night vigil alone with God.
I used to sleep at about 6 or 7 pm then get up at 9 and begin to pray and worship till morning.
I always asked God for help and it was a real miracle because I never felt tired but instead,throughout the day I’d be looking forward to this time when I could spend the night with God.
But this taught me so much about our relationship with God.
That God on His part is always willing to draw close to us but it’s our not giving Him time that alienates us away from Him.
During this period,I lost all desire to just pick up my phone and start browsing.
I felt so protective of the gift of intimacy with God that I was given and I didn’t want to accidentally lay my eyes on anything that could grieve the Holy Spirit.
Even when I went to Facebook or YouTube to post something,I was so careful to just go straight to my page to post and leave.
Or if I wanted something online like music or a specific video.
I fell so deeply in love with God I didn’t want to come across anything that grieves His Spirit even if it’s accidentally.
I was excited to spend time with God,it wasn’t a punishment.
My heart literally leaped for joy whenever I thought of doing another night vigil.
I couldn’t scroll the internet.I guarded my heart.
I wanted nothing that could risk bringing me back into the flesh.
During this time,prayer got so much easier.
God also started to teach me a heavenly language.
I already speak in tongues,but God started teaching me another language and I was able to talk to God in a new language and He spoke to me in this language as well.
I was experiencing so many things I didn’t normally experience before I started spending this much time in prayer!
It was so real I even started teaching my husband some things of how you can say certain things in a heavenly language.
I realized God was teaching me the heavenly language because I was now getting more connected to heaven and detaching more from earth.
I’d find myself singing new songs that I do not know,both in tongues and in English (because I mostly pray in English).
No matter what was physically happening,it was impossible to affect me but my heart was so full of joy,like a taste of paradise!
The peace that surpasses human understanding!
I had so many wonderful conversations with God,asking Him things and when the night vigil time came,God would start to teach me on it.
Because I told God I’d start my vigil at 9pm,He made sure He was always on time to meet with me.
There was a day when I overslept after a tiring day and I woke up it was
1.am!
When I looked at my watch I was horrified to be so late!
I couldn’t believe I was this late!
But I decided it’s better to be late than to not show up
I went to the living room and started to pray.
And I realized the heavens were already opened.
God was already waiting for me because He knew I was coming.
I started asking Jesus for forgiveness for not keeping to my promise but as soon as I started to pray the Lord told me,”it’s okay,don’t worry about it.”
He understood.
I had had a very tiring day.
Jesus knew I really wanted to do this,but my body was just too exhausted this day.
He’s an understanding Friend and He knows how much our human body can take!
Another day during the vigil,I had had a tiring day but wanted to still do the vigil,I asked God to help me pray because I was feeling tired and as soon as I started to pray I realized the heavens were already open and God was already waiting for me.
On other nights I had to pray a while before getting breakthrough to pray in the Spirit but on this night God already did everything for me,He knew I was tired and still wanted to be with Him.
And to my shock I found it easier to pray on this day and to stay awake.
God taught me that when we are weak,that’s when He shows His strength!
So because I was too tired,God carried me on His wings and as a result I didn’t even struggle to stay awake and to pray.
It was a miracle that shows His goodness and compassion.
The things I have learnt about our relationship with Jesus is that it takes being decisive,setting the time and sticking with it no matter what.
That’s the only way Satan will not steal our time.
And God honors the time we give Him,the times when we can’t keep it and it’s beyond our control,He understands.
The time we are so weak and tired,He’s strong enough to help us.
But we have to dedicate time to God and do everything to honor that.
The example of the hours I spent may be too much for most people but its just an example to show you that God honors when we give Him time.
Whatever we give to God counts and its precious and He does draw near.
Any effort we make,any improvement we make in our prayer time,it all counts no matter how small it may be!
With God,no effort we make goes unnoticed.
Even if you consistently give God one hour daily,you’ll notice a difference if you just stick with it and pray whole heartedly.
Even if its two hours,even if its fasting one meal and praying instaed.
Whatever we give to God counts and it makes a difference in our relationship with Him.
It makes a difference in you having the fear of God and your desires for sin reducing.
It always makes a difference!
When you stick with it daily investing time in your relationship with God you will notice your love for sin decreasing and your love for God increasing.
We just have to be consistent and start building on that.
But a relationship with Jesus is always deliberate.
He’s always waiting for us,it’s us to make a move and He will draw near to us.
When I gave Him my time.He just responded to that.
All these years during periods when I give God more time than usual He’s never failed to come closer.
And God is no respect or of persons.
He will draw near to you even if you just start giving Him one hour more than what you are currently giving Him.
Every time you increase the time,you ll notice a difference.
As long as the time is given to God whole heartedly,without us being forced.
It has to be given out of love and must be given willingly.
That’s what is acceptable to God.