This past Monday, our ministry host decided that the ministry we were going to do that day was prophetic art. For those of you have never heard of this, it is basically praying to the Lord to reveal to you a word, picture, or even something abstract that you can then sketch, write, or draw out. The plan was to have a picture that we could give to someone we met that day. I am not the biggest fan of prophetic art but I put aside my own feelings and went in with an open mind. During our worship time, I asked God to reveal to me what He wanted my to draw. He began showing me a bright red, beautiful flower. After worship, I grabbed some paper and headed towards the watercolor paint. As I began to draw the flower, God was telling me other details that needed to be added to the picture. The flower was to be red with a bright yellow center, then, black was to be painted all around the flower in a chaotic manner, and finally, the black was to meet bright yellow in one of the corners. After I was done, I prayed that God would reveal to me the meaning behind the picture. The flower represented a beautiful girl who was surrounded by a lot of darkness, the black paint. The yellow paint in the corner represented Christ and how He is the Light of the world that can never be put out by darkness. The light was breaking through and pushing against the darkness trying to get to the flower. Once we were all done with our pictures we discussed them, prayed, and headed out into the city to be led by the Holy Spirit. Our leader Ruth said that she felt like God was wanting us to go to the area of town where Tibetan refugees lived, so we started walking that direction. Once their, the Holy Spirit immediately got to work. Bre stumbled upon the women whom her picture belonged to. She and Ruth talked with her as we stood to the side to give them space. When we met as a group again, we learned that the woman had actually accepted Christ as her savior. Praise Jesus, hallelujah! After taking a short pit stop to get tea and a bite to eat, we decided to head over to a Buddhist temple because Bre and Emily felt like God was calling them to enter the temple while the rest of us hung back. About 30 minutes go by and we see them headed our way with an old Tibetan woman who they met in the temple. Apparently, Emily had felt that God was telling her that her picture was meant for this woman and in return, she invited all of us to her house to meet her daughter. Once at the house, we met her husband and one of her daughters. We all sat down and began talking to the family. Eventually their other daughter who knew English showed up to help translate. We soon learned that the daughter has a mental illness and they described her as “deeply troubled with many problems.” The mother and sister began relaying to us what all was inflicting the woman. Apparently she was experiencing depression and bipolar disorder. Her mind was a very dark place. After learning all of this, I knew at once that my picture was meant for her. She was the flower I painted that was surrounded by chaotic darkness that threatened to overtake her. I sat down in front of her and began explain my picture to her. I felt like her family considered her a burden so I began speaking the truth into her that God sees her as a beautiful flower and that He loves her deeply. As I was talking, God showed Katie that her picture was also for this woman. Her picture was of a living tree that was in the organic shape of a cross with blood pouring out of it. She wrote the words “New Life” on the paper. She began explaining that God loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins, emphasizing that Jesus brings new life. When she was done, we asked if we could pray healing over her because our God is a God of healing. She was hesitant at first because she was a devout Buddhist but eventually gave in because I that moment religion did not matter to her, just healing. Our whole team got on the floor with her, laid hands upon her, and began praying. As we were praying, my empathy activated and I began to physically feel the darkness that was in her head. My shoulders became so heavy that I was literally folded in half from the weight and I began to cry. The people in these countries are extremely connected to the spiritual realm unlike people in America. Most Americans do not even believe in a spiritual realm. Well, let me tell you, it exist and there are demonic forces in this world that will attach to the idols these people worship and onto people. This woman had something in her that was not of God. Eventually the dark heaviness I felt begin to lift as I continuously prayed over the woman and as Allison prayed a powerful prayer. When we were done, we all agreed that it was time to leave. Five out of eight of us left our pictures in that house. The Holy Spirit had brought us there for a reason. We definitely planted a seed in that place and in the hearts of the family.
