Friday, August 6, 2021

Curse of Illegitimacy

VIDEO: Curse of Illegitimacy

If you are unaware of how curses can affect Christians, please read the first book in this series which will help you understand curses from the New Testament scriptures.

A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:2 AKJV)

The Hebrew word mamzēr (mam-zare’) is translated “bastard” in the King James versions of the Bible, but is sometimes translated to mean “illegitimacy.” It not only means those who are born outside of wedlock or in incest, but the root of the word means to contemn (regard with contempt), to despise, or be ashamed of. Even if a pregnancy happens outside of marriage and the parents speak words of rejection, shame, or are regarded with contempt because of it, the same curse comes to that family line.

When a child is born outside of wedlock, a curse is passed down to the tenth generation. Ten generations means that it can be passed on from any one of our 1,024 ancestors. Since so many people can be involved in activating this curse, it may apply to most people.

There are two parts to remove a curse:

You must confess for yourself.
You must confess for your ancestors.

Confess means to see it the way the other person does, in this case, God. It is easy to confess for our ancestors. We know it is God’s will for sex and the product of sex to happen inside of a marriage, otherwise it is called fornication. We simply state the fact that what our ancestors did was wrong.

It can be much more challenging to confess for ourselves. To remove the curse of illegitimacy, you must know how you have responded to it. Actions you took in agreement with the curse must be confessed as well. There are two categories of this curse revealed by the Hebrew word mam-zare’ and the root “to contemn.”

Those born outside of wedlock or through incest
Those whose conception was greeted with shame, rejection, or brought condemnation

Born Outside Wedlock

“...You shall not enter into the congregation...” (Deuteronomy 23:2 AKJV)

The description of the curse’s consequences provides insight into some of its effects. If a child was born outside of marriage or through incest, it will cause feelings of being an outsider. To see if this applies to you, ask yourself:

How would you feel if you see a family gathered at a table, laughing and enjoying each other's company?

Would you feel comfortable joining the table? Or would this bring negative emotions to the surface like, “I wouldn’t fit in,” “I will disrupt the fun,” “They wouldn’t accept me,” or even, “I would bring the mood down”?

Imagine that you are in a party with many groups who are laughing and having a good time. What do you feel? How do you respond?

If you are not comfortable approaching a group, then this curse may be affecting you. Your feelings may indicate the presence of the enemy empowered by the curse of illegitimacy. Feeling like an outsider includes:

I’m different
I don’t fit in
They won’t like me
I won’t know what to say

These feelings are not a sin, however, submitting to them may reinforce the place the enemy has in your life through the curse. It can cause us to draw away from others and often causes a tendency to draw away from God as well. We may not want to fellowship with other believers which can open us to attacks from the enemy.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

A wolf will go after a lone sheep, not one in the herd. Satan will have an easier time pushing you into sin where he can attack you if you do not spend time with other believers.

There is a spiritual aspect to this curse. If you continually give into the feelings, you may have trouble entering into the presence of the Lord. Depending on the hold this curse has on you, it may not be all the time. Do you occasionally feel like God doesn’t really want to see you? That you are not a good enough child to be in His presence? Breaking this curse will remove this spiritual blockage!

Rejected in the Womb

What happened when we were in our mother’s womb, may affect us and even bring a curse upon us and future generations. If our conception happened in the sin of fornication (sex outside of marriage), that sin gave the words spoken a double curse. The symptoms of this type of curse are a bit broader. They can have the same effect as the outsider curse already mentioned and in addition, they may cause the following personality traits:

People pleaser or Knight in Shining Armor syndrome
Spirit of rejection

The safest place for a developing baby is inside its mother's womb. Although we may not remember it, if negative words were spoken over us while still developing in the womb, we have been wounded in our soul and may even be cursed.

People Pleaser/Knight in Shining Armor

Women suffer more from the “people pleaser” aspect of this curse while men react as “knights in shining armor.” Though, like most stereotypes, on occasion, these behaviors may apply to any gender. On the surface these traits seem to be good. What could be wrong with being helpful? There are three main sins these traits push us into:

Self-righteousness often because of a religious or leading to religious spirit influence.
Being more concerned about man than God.
Pushing us into the same sin as our ancestors.

When we feel the need to do something to earn our place with others, especially family members, this can push us toward self-righteousness; it is our actions that earn us our place. If this behavior is active in our secular lives, we will often have the same struggle spiritually. It will cause us to try to earn our righteousness with God through our actions instead of leaning on and resting in what Jesus did on the cross.

There are two main ways these manifests and affects our lives:

Secular

We rescue others or do what we think will please them, then respond negatively because their gratitude isn’t sufficient to heal the wound in our soul.

Being rescued by a knight is great, but eventually every “damsel” should grow to maturity and learn to depend on Jesus, our Savior.

The Curse: When we stop needing our knight, he may lash out and “pick on us” for other little things we are not doing.

We can spend so much time trying to please others that we neglect our relationship with God.

The Curse: We may be unwilling to distance ourselves from friends, pulling us into sinful situations and even following them into sin trying to please them.

We can over-perform at work or in our family. We may feel unheard and unfavored.

The Curse: We don’t receive recognition or promotion for what we do.

We can try to legitimize ourselves or receive acceptance through sinful actions.

The Curse: We may be tempted by fornication and unable to stop having sex outside of marriage.

Spiritual

If we don’t do enough work or when we make mistakes we feel like God doesn’t love us or that He is mad at us.

These actions can be motivated by a religious spirit or give a religious spirit a place.

We have seen Christians grow in deeper fellowship with God when this curse is removed. When a person becomes free, we have seen employers and families change their attitudes bringing love and favor into the lives of God’s children. It has changed my life as well.

My daughter was aggressively antagonistic with me. On a good day, I could say the sky is blue and she would say it was more of a pastel blue. On a bad day, she would take offense and be wounded by words said in love, without malice and not intended to harm her in any way. When I learned about the effects of words on those in the womb, I took action.

I confessed I was wrong in crying and saying I couldn’t go through with birthing another child when I found out I was pregnant with her, renouncing the words and covering them with the blood of Jesus.
This is a form of rejection and will cause a wound for the spirit of rejection to use.
I used my authority as my daughter's legal guardian and confessed for illegitimacy on both sides of the bloodline.
I plead the blood over these sins stating, “Cursed is He who hangs on the cross, Jesus paid for these sins when He was crucified.”

The effect was immediate. My husband was shocked when we stopped fighting every moment we are together. She actually asked for my advice, listened to it and said, “Thank you, you’ve really helped,” afterward. Don’t get me wrong. It isn't a bed of roses, unless you consider that roses have thorns. She is still a teenager and has her “moments,” but they are few and far between.

Abortion

Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you… (Jeremiah 1:5 AKJV)

If God knew us before we were formed and sanctified us before we came into the world, this means He considers a baby as a person.

Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life… (Exodus 21:22-23 NLT)

If a miscarriage is caused, God considers a life has been taken. In God’s eyes, abortion is murder. This makes it the most extreme form of rejection of a child. If there is abortion in your family line, this sin will need to be added to the list so that the curse can be removed.

Removing the Curse

To come out of agreement with any curse you need to:

Confess the way you have felt

This legitimizes the soul

Confess any sin that came from the feelings
Forgive your parents if it was you they rejected or spoke over

Ask God to forgive them too

Use the Word of God to see it the way He does

Our birth was not an accident or mistake:

We were formed in our mother's womb for God’s purpose (Jeremiah 1:5)

God sees us as beautiful

I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works… (Psalm 139:14 AKJV)

God loves us as a Father

Just as a father loves his children, So the LORD loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. (Psalm 103:13 AMP)

Cover any sins of your ancestors or your actions with the blood of Jesus
Reject any spirit you obeyed by acting upon the feelings
Ask the Lord to heal any soul wound and sever all soul ties to the womb and your parents

The final step was covered in the section, “Strongholds & Soul Wounds.” To receive the best results, let your prayer time be led by the Holy Spirit by stating any sins He brings to your memory. Here is an example of a type of prayer to remove the curse of illegitimacy where all sins apply. You should only pray what applies to you:

Heavenly Father,

I realize that my ancestors have sinned against you. They had sex outside of wedlock which resulted in a child. I know that fornication is a sin and it was wrong. Jesus, I know you hung on the cross so that sins of our ancestors, which become curses, could be paid for. I ask that you blot out the sin of fornication/abortion from my ancestors.
I forgive my mother and father for words of rejection they spoke over me while I was still in the womb (regarding any attempt to end my life). I renounce those words and ask that the blood of Jesus blot them out from all records in Heaven and Earth for I know that You created me and designed me for Your purpose.

In the past I have felt (rejected, different, a need to rescue/perform, etc...) and have responded to a spirit behind feelings, sometimes in sinful ways. Responding to these spirits has given the enemy a place in my life (confess any of the sins associated with this curse you are guilty of or any actions that the Holy Spirit brings to you). Jesus, I thank You for shedding your blood for these sins, and ask that you blot them out from all records in Heaven and Earth as well as the record of any actions that were in agreement with the enemy.

Jesus, I ask that You break all curses associated with the sins that have been blotted out. Remove the place the enemy was given in my life by these actions.

Father, I now realize that I was formed in my mother's womb for Your purpose, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that You love Me as Your child (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalms 103:13 & 139:1).

Jesus, you are the healer of the brokenhearted. I ask that You remove any barbs, spears, or anything amiss in my soul. Heal any broken pieces of my soul, any soul wound and bring all pieces of my soul forward to this time.

I wish to be holy unto You as You are Holy, so with the sword of the spirit, I sever all ties to the womb and my parents. I ask that you strengthen the ties to You and You alone. In Your name, amen.
This is a general prayer to remove the curse of illegitimacy. In some cases, there may be additional soul trauma that needs more prayer. Our prayer team will be happy to help you. Please schedule a Let’s Chat on our website and let us know what is going on.

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FREE Books

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The series uses the Word of God to reveal all that He has given us through Jesus. The Bible is our instruction manual and the Holy Spirit is our guide to understanding it.

Why Doesn't God Speak to Me?

Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 1

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Words rose from my soul, pleading for Him to reveal why He has remained silent when a single word from Him would mean so much to so many. For the next few hours, God used things I learned about years ago and things I had just discovered to show why He talks to some and why He doesn’t, and in demonstrative ways.

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Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 3

Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.

Can curses be passed to our children?
What are signs of a curse?
How do you get rid of one?

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Roadmap to Heaven

Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 4

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Saturday, May 1, 2021

What Does it Mean to be His Bride?

Before we discuss the churches of Revelation, the Lord has asked me to show you what it means to be the Bride of Christ, since the Church is the Bride. When Jesus refers to us as His Bride, it is more than a title, it is how He feels about you. If you were engaged to be married to the person of your choosing, how would you feel about them? Here is how the Lord revealed His feelings to me:

I was listening to a waltz-like tune (not sold in stores) that says, “You’re my one desire, you’re my one thirst, more than anything, I seek You first…” As I raised my hands and closed my eyes I saw myself dancing with the Lord, whose features were indistinct, but I knew instantly who it was, nonetheless. My right hand dropped slightly while my left came down in front of my stomach, mimicking the position in the vision. It seemed natural for my feet to follow the path the Lord led me on as we waltzed together.

Towards the end of the song, a thought that wasn’t mine entered my mind, “This is our song.”

Mulling over those words, I finally replied, “Lord, this song is about how much I need You. Why is it our song?”

CLICK HERE to read more... »

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Hearing The Holy Spirit

To hear more from the Holy Spirit, we should always acknowledge Him. If we “miss” what is saying and operate in the flesh or soul, it is necessary to restore our connection to Him. One of our team members had this dream to show what needs to be done:

Dream

In a school auditorium a quartet of boys were performing. They were off key and didn’t really know the words, but the huge crowd loved them anyway.
In the next scene a team member and two other girls were pushing red dollies (box movers) around on the stage and were performing as if in a musical in a theatre. A small audience of family members watched as they paraded around.
Occasionally the dollies would slip and hit the performers in the face, causing their mouths to bleed and the loss of their canine teeth.
Once the performance was over, they went backstage where Lynn Hardy applauded their efforts by letting them know that sometimes accidents happen. A female teacher had their intact, unharmed, and neatly wrapped teeth in a bag. The teacher smiled encouragingly as she handed each person their missing teeth.

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Thursday, April 1, 2021

The Fulfillment of Appointed Times: The Feasts of Israel

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 AKJV)

The Hebrew word sôḏ (sode) is translated secrets but means “secret counsel.” God reveals His plans to those whom He calls as prophets. The Word of God, from the Old Covenant to the New, Genesis to Revelation, paints a complete picture of His entire plan for mankind. Hundreds of prophecies were fulfilled by the first coming of Jesus, yet God’s people, Israel, failed to recognize the events as they unfolded.

The fulfillment of the prophecies occurred during what the Bible translates as “feasts” but literally means “appointed times.” The Lord instructed Moses:

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Friday, March 12, 2021

Hidden Prayer for Secret Place Visits

Standing strong while you wait on God to do as He has promised can be hard. The Bible speaks of it this way:

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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth… (Ephesians 6:13-14 ESV)

We stand against all that the enemy brings against us while we wait for God to open the door to the Secret Place. I will not explore the entire armor of God here, but before meeting with the Lord face-to-face, the “belt of truth” is what will fuel your tank while driving toward your destiny. The Word of God, the Bible, is the truth. It is the first thing mentioned when describing the armor of God. There are some hidden truths about the Secret Place that we can apply here!

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NOT Visiting the Secret Place

Over a year ago, the Lord told me to visit Him every day in the Secret Place to be strengthened and receive instruction. I took this very seriously and did my utmost to spend time in worship and meditation. Occasionally I’d miss a day and quickly repent.

Last month we recarpeted our entire house. For three weeks we moved everything from the rooms and pulled up the old carpet. On top of this, I decided to repaint one of the largest rooms as well. Needless to say, I was quite busy, working long into the night. Because of this, my meditation time was shortened.

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Discernment: Motive Matters

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.... to another discerning of spirits… (1 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV)

The Holy Spirit brings gifts to help us in this life. It is critical that the full body of Christ, the worldwide Church, uses the gift of discernment for all things. The Greek word diakrisis (dee-ak'-ree-sis) is translated as discerning, but it also means distinguishing or judging. Some may be given a very strong gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit, but as a mature Christian we should all have a basic level of discerning good from evil.

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Thursday, February 18, 2021

Who Can Lead or Teach

From prior study, we know that if we attack a spiritual leader anointed by God, it may bring an attack upon us. There is a big debate about women and ministry. Does God call women as leaders? Can a woman instruct, correct, and teach men? Let’s look to Jesus as an example.

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Closing Spiritual Gates

VIDEO: Closing Spiritual Gates

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 AKJV)

Apostle Paul identified three parts of every person when writing to the Thessalonians. We are a spirit being in a physical body with a soul (mind, will, and emotions). God is composed of three parts, and so are we as His children. The spirit part of our being is perhaps the most challenging to understand but it is also the part of our being that connects with our Father the most. We can and should connect with our Father, who is a Spirit, in Heaven.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Avoiding Potholes and Staying Out of the Weeds

VIDEO: Avoiding Potholes and Staying out of the Weeds

There are two early journal entries I’d like to share with you to help you stay out of the weeds and avoid potholes while you travel the Roadmap to Heaven.

October 2014

The trials of the last month fade away as I recall how the Lord has confirmed that this is His will for me. I am going to Heaven! Maybe not tonight, maybe not even tomorrow, but He has confirmed it: I'm going. The miraculous story of meeting my 8 ft tall guardian angel, Richard, face to face can be found in the free book Angels Believe in You.

The time in between breaths becomes long as my body completely relaxes. Inside, I rejoice, praising the Lord for His goodness. I am going to Heaven! My spirit soars with joy. Tingling power flows across my body in a strong wave each time I breathe out. Again and again power floods through me like waves of a torrential downpour.

CLICK HERE to read more... »

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

How Jesus Cares for You

Today in the Secret Place the trend of rhyming in song continued. I won’t repeat the exact words, for that is very time consuming. Here is the gist of what occurred:

As we danced, the Lord pointed out that I was slightly out of rhythm with Him. Mentally, I went through all the challenges and tasks awaiting me and released each one to Him. Our steps finally came into sync.

There was one particular project heavy upon my heart. I began asking the Lord questions about it. Our steps got out of sync once more. A wistful smile played about His lips as He asked, “Do you not yet realize that I know what your need is? That I will bring the answer without you asking?”

The questions reminded me of my earthly husband, Tony. He is happiest when he is hard at work and loves to take care of me. Not only is he a great provider for our family, he has let me follow my heart into ministry though it isn’t something he understands or desires.

I looked to the Lord for confirmation, “Is that why You brought Tony to be my husband? So that I would experience what it is like to be taken care of? To have my needs thought of on a daily basis?”

“It is the way a husband should care for his wife and am I not to be your Husband?” He answered.

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Sunday, February 7, 2021

Meditation and Journaling

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty… (Psalm 91:1 AMPC)

God would not have Moses begin this Psalm by stating it only applies to those who are dwelling in the Secret Place if it were not His will for all of His people to come and be with Him there. This is a Moses generation. God wants to bring all His children to “The Secret Place” where He can speak to them face-to-face. He did this with Moses, and it was His original intent to have all of Israel visit Him this way.

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Friday, January 15, 2021

3rd Signpost: Desire

The next two signposts came quietly as I tried to push into the Secret Place once more. I wasn’t at all sure they were the signposts. Surely it couldn’t be that easy. It is very fitting that I had to seek confirmation from the Lord for more than a week before I knew it was the next step to visiting with God.
Most people think of desire as a strong wish or a craving for something. This is only a small part of what the Holy Spirit communicated to me as the meaning of the third step in visiting Heaven. Desire is associated with passion and passion with love. Do you want to visit with God because you love Him and want to get to know Him better? Or is it just to have a new experience? Are you looking to connect with your Father who will be with you for all eternity? Or do you want some spiritual gifts to impress your friends and family?
It is the desire of your heart, your inner being that counts with God. He loves you and it is your love for Him that opens the door to the Secret Place.

Delight yourself also in the Lord: and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4 AKJV)

Many people pray and quote the last half of this verse about God giving us the desires of our hearts. The “and” connecting these two parts says that to have one, you must have the other. According to “Strong’s Concordance,” the Hebrew word `anag means “to be happy about, take exquisite delight in.” The word exquisite in this context means intensely felt. Put all these words together and we have “to be intensely happy with the Lord.” Then He will give you the desires of your heart. Notice it isn’t seeing Heaven that we need to be delighted in, but in the Lord.
The Hebrew word nathan translated in the passage as “shall give” can be defined as “to produce” or “to put.” In other words, when we take delight in the Lord it produces or places His desires in our heart. Is there a way to increase your delight in God? How can we increase or even establish our desires?

Driving Directions

One of the biggest obstacles to applying this signpost is the way in which we became a Christian. For many of us, we were told, “All you have to do is say this prayer and say Jesus is Lord, then you get to go to Heaven: it is a free gift from God.” If this is the way you became a Christian, that may be the issue in walking the “Roadmap to Heaven.”
We must look at what is said in the Bible in the proper context to fully understand it and apply it to our lives.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 AKJV)

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 AKJV)

Through Jesus, we receive eternal life. We cannot earn our place in Heaven, it only comes through Jesus. Up until this time, people had to sacrifice animals in order to go to Heaven. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for all time, so now no more sacrifices are necessary. However, this does not mean there is nothing we are expected to do after we say that prayer.

Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17 AKJV)

It is by faith that you are saved. When you have faith, it will be followed by working for God in some way. Many of us did not receive this as part of the “salvation” message. If we look at what happens in salvation, we know where our “work” should begin.”

...That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.… (Romans 10:9 AKJV)

Jesus must be our “Lord.” When this was written, the audience was very familiar with what that meant. Today, many don’t understand and fully comprehend what is necessary for one to be saved. The word “lord” means owner: a landlord is the landowner. It can also mean hereditary right or preeminence to whom it is that service and obedience are due. We must be willing to OBEY and SERVE in whatever way He tells us to. Other places in the Bible refer to those who have taken Jesus as Lord as “bondservants.” These are willing slaves to a master. This means we agree to do things His way, not our way, and to put Him first in all matters.
The first step after accepting Jesus as Lord is to figure out who your new Master is and what He expects out of those following Him. How can you follow His ways if you don’t know what they are? If you did not know that you would be expected to find out who Jesus is and what He wants you to do when you said the prayer to take Him as Lord, you may want to consider rededicating your life to Him now. You can pray something like this:

Heavenly Father,
I believe that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, that He came down to our Earth in the flesh and died on the cross to take away all of my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day to give all of us eternal life.
Lord Jesus, I accept You as my personal Lord and Savior. I now ask that You come into my life and live with me for all of eternity. I thank You that all my sins are forgiven because of the blood You shed for me.

For me, I just said, “Father, I realize that I have sinned and done horrible things, even saying You are not real. Please forgive me for this. If You can use me in any small way, just show me. I am willing to do whatever You need me to do.” After I said this prayer, I began reading the Gospels to figure out who Jesus was. I suggest you begin with the Book of John, then continue with Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Lord became a REAL person as I did this and my life has never been the same.
Until you submit to Jesus as Lord you will not have the “desire” necessary to enter into the Secret Place. In my heart, I really thought that I had messed up so badly that maybe God could only use me for something like cleaning up at a church or volunteering at a “food pantry” to distribute food to the poor (not to belittle these tasks, as nothing is too small to do for the Lord). I actually did volunteer in these ways as I began walking with the Lord again many years ago. You must be willing to let go of everything you want to do and be ready for what Jesus has for you. I can promise you this: once you embrace it, the job will be the most fulfilling work you have ever done!
Once Jesus is your Lord, it is through the first two signposts, communion and focus, that you then begin to develop the desire and delight which will open the door to the Secret Place. Understanding where desire comes from may help.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23 AMPC)

…for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 AMPC)

The spirit of a man is often referred to as our “heart.” Jesus tells us in the Book of Luke that our mouth will naturally speak what is dominant in our spirit. If we must keep and guard our spirit, then there must be a way for things to be placed in it.

So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 AKJV)

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 AKJV)

Faith is something that takes place in our spirit, not in our mind. Hearing can impact our spirit and we are urged to hear more of the Word of God. This means that one way our desire can increase is by hearing. This is backed up by Paul’s instructions to the Philippians when he tells them to focus on the good things as stated in the verse above. Jesus also gives similar instructions:

And He said to them, “Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear more shall be given.” (Mark 4:24 AKJV)

You must choose what you are going to listen to. What you are going to feed your spirit. Paul encouraged Timothy to “stir up” the gifts given to him:

Why I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6 AKJV)

When you “stir up” trouble, you are talking about and bringing attention to challenging things or unsettling the status quo or changing people’s perceptions. For years, marketing companies have known how to “stir up” people’s desire for products. Millions of dollars are spent on radio ads where items are spoken about. Billions have been spent on commercials where we’re shown what advertisers want us to buy. Ad agencies regularly pay movie directors big bucks for product placement. It serves both as a branding opportunity and as an occasion for their merchandise to be plainly on display in scenes that can be noticed by the viewing public.
This may seem complicated, but the reality is quite simple. Often, before you get to visit the Secret Place, your desire for Jesus may need to be stirred up. We can stir up desire for visits with Him by reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that speak of His time on Earth. We can also look elsewhere in the New Testament, but it may take some effort on our part:

Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 AKJV)

Paul, who wrote more than half of the books in the New Testament, counted all he knew as nothing. He urged believers to leave their old ways, the ways of the world behind. They needed to press forward toward the job, the calling the Lord had for them. This is a choice we must make: that whatever God created and designed us to be, whatever job He needs for us to do, we shall do it.

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. (Philippians 3:15 ESV)

If your desire for a deeper relationship with the Lord is lacking, talk to God about it with sincere honesty. Let Him make His will clear to you.

Here are a few things that may help:

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, to place His desires in your heart.
Go through the Secret Place course in the Courts of Heaven Academy to find out more about this topic.

There are many accounts given of Secret Place visits in the other classes at the Academy as well.

Instead of thinking about the trouble in your life, think instead about:
Who you will visit in Heaven: The Creator of all we have, all we know!
Exactly what God did through Jesus.
How much God loves you and the different ways He has shown that in your life.

This is a journey. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you get off track, just ask God to help you make up for lost time. After all, He is the God of second, third, and fourth chances!

Playing Checkers

My good friend, let’s call her Carol, was using my computer to complete a project so I headed upstairs to take a shower. Afterward, I decided to do a charcoal facial mask. The black paste on my face needed 20 minutes to dry so I couldn’t use my glasses to read the Bible or work on the computer. I decided to relax in my bed and worship God.
After listening to a couple of songs, I switched off the music. “Abba…” I called with a mental cry, “Daddy… can we play for a while? It’s been a rough week.” So far, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had only appeared at church during worship, but my heart longed to spend more time with my Heavenly Father. I wanted nothing more than to be held in the arms of my Father for a short while but didn’t have any conviction that He would show up.
Out of the darkness, before my closed eyes, a shape appeared. His eyes glowed with an inner fire that was strong and comforting. He scooped me up into His arms and I hugged His neck, burying my face in His white, shoulder-length hair. “I love you…” I whispered. “I missed you.”
“I love you, too, and am glad to see you,” He replied. Then He asked, “What would you like to play?” I was so glad that He showed up. I was sure He’d have the perfect thing planned and didn’t really care what we played and told Him so. Before I could answer Him, He said: “Let’s play checkers.”
Checkers? That seemed like an odd choice to me. When I met with my Daddy before, He knew exactly what I liked… and I really wasn’t overly fond of checkers. I had long outgrown the simplistic game of strategy. Besides, if this isn’t Heaven it was close enough. Playing checkers was the last thing I wanted to do here!
At the table that appeared, I took my place none too gracefully, flouncing down onto the chair. I was mortified as my inner feelings were displayed clearly in my behavior: disinterested, I slumped to one side leaning my chin on my hand, picking a checker piece at random and moving it forward.
As the author of a fantasy series, I am used to making up stories in my head —it is a talent that earned me the nicknames of Space-case and Airhead growing up. Meeting with the Trinity takes place in my mind, but it is very different from creating fantasies in your mind.
In previous visits, I learned that all I had to do was think of a question. The small childlike version of me would ask, though not always in the exact words I was thinking. To me, this experience proved that it wasn’t my imagination at play: when I created stories, the characters did what I wanted, what I directed them to do. I created every word and every response.
Now, however, I had the unsettling discovery that inner feelings cannot be hidden in this special place with the Trinity. Emotions and feelings can determine the actions of my spirit being. This brings a whole new meaning to “being transparent.” The Bible tells us that God sees into our hearts. In this space with God, the reality of that fact is played out.
When I moved the third red checker piece into place, Daddy jumped it with one of His pieces. A few more moves and more of my pieces disappeared while His pieces invaded my side of the board. “This isn’t fair!” I said with a huff. I dashed from my seat and climbed into His lap like I was scaling a hill. “You know everything, I have no chance of winning!”
I sunk back against His chest. Words came forth like water from a broken dam, “I’m tired of losing! It seems like all I do is lose!” Tears poured from my closed eyes. Hidden feelings that I thought I had dealt with long ago were revealed. “I try and try, but everything I think I am supposed to do just fails!” Sobbing, I buried my face in His chest as He stroked my hair. Thoughts of my first series, the movie based on said book, the game based on the same book… even my delayed trip to Heaven flowed through my mind as He held me.
Softly He asked, “Look at the game. What happens when you lose?”

A glance revealed that His pieces had taken over two-thirds of my side of the board. “You move into that spot…” I whispered. Instantly, the Bible verse my mom always likes to quote came to mind, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 KJV)

“So I wasn’t failing, I was giving more of my life to You?” Just then the conclusion my mind had drawn sprung from the lips of the tiny version of myself.
“Exactly,” He whispered. The heaviness of pain, condemnation, self-doubt, and frustration fell away. A burden I didn’t even know I was carrying was lifted from me.
After a few more minutes of hugging (there is always lots of hugging in our moments together), He asked, “Want to go on the swing?”
I leapt down from His lap with the exuberance of the child I appeared to be. He picked me up and placed me on a big swing. My lips turned down in disappointment when I realized that if He went behind me to push, I wouldn’t any longer be able to see Him.
As the swing began to move He asked, “What do you feel?”
I focused on my spiritual body, mini-me. Suddenly, I was no longer watching the scene from a third-person perspective; I was in a little person’s body. There was a light breeze as I went up and down on the swing. I didn’t have to say it out loud, He knew.
“What do you see?”
Sight in this place was much different than our natural sight: it was more like a muscle. At first, things were vague without much detail, including God. But with each visit, things became clearer. I brought my eyes up, staring straight out, and strained to focus on what was before me. The scene wasn’t vivid as I’ve heard Heaven to be, but it was clear that the sun was rising over a mountain with a city below.
“A new day is dawning for My children,” Daddy confirmed, as I saw myself swinging.
While I was still swinging, I felt His arms wrap around me. It was like He was on the swing with me, holding me close. I could see mini-me swinging and God surrounding me as if I was riding on His lap. “Nothing can harm you because I am with you,” He told me.
Psalm 91, part of my daily prayers, came to mind, “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge.”
I knew, beyond a doubt, that my spiritual self would be forever safe from all harm. “But what about the rest of me?” As I thought about my physical body I saw it lying on the bed. “What about my immune system that allows allergies attack? The vertigo that plagues me…?” Instantly a correction came. It was a strong knowing, a fact that appeared in my mind. My physical body isn’t really me; it is just a tent, a house in which my spirit lives. My mind struggles with a new question, “How can Your protection expand to include…?”
While I struggled to find the words, I realized that I could not see or feel God anymore. As I became more focused on my physical self, the spiritual world disappeared. “Daddy!” I cried, turning my mind from the physical body to the dark of the spiritual world. “Where are you? Come back!” It seemed like minutes passed while I called out for Him.
“I am here,” He appeared before me. “I will not leave you.”
I leapt into His arms. “But I couldn’t find you. I couldn’t see you!” I insisted, “I couldn’t even feel you!”
“Even when you can’t see or feel Me, I will always be with you,” His words were reassuring.
It is one thing to read the words of the Bible, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV), it is quite another to hear them from God, Himself. A feeling of strength and peace surged into my spirit.
Daddy put me down before Him, “It is time for you to go. There is work for you to do.” He tousled my hair and my heart soared. He trusts me to get things done.
The scene faded, but I knew that I would be back and have more questions answered; questions that I might not even know to ask, but that would mean more to me than I could fathom.
Loud footsteps sounded on the stairs. Carol called out to me. She needed my help. Feeling renewed, I was grinning as I climbed out of bed. There would have been no time to delve into that final question: How God’s presence with me can affect my physical body. Going downstairs, I hoped that would be one of the questions that got answered on my next trip.

Limited Spiritual Experiences

After I helped Carol with the project, I told her, “I was spending time with God while this mud dried on my face. He said it was time to go just before you came up the stairs.” I tried to explain why my shower had taken so long, hoping it would comfort her to know that God knew she needed me and responded to that need.
“Well, that just makes me angry,” Carol replied.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you angry,” I apologized, before asking, “Why is it upsetting to you?”
“I have been going to the Courts of Heaven. I’m even doing it out loud now, and I haven’t heard even a word, much less God telling me it’s time to go!”
I understood her frustration. It was hard for me personally to see a “Christian” publisher with shady business practices flourish while I struggled. Many times, Christians will get angry or upset when they are asking God for healing and someone else gets exactly what they are asking for.
Over the years, I realized that the success of others didn’t take away from what God was doing, or going to do with me. God is not short on miracles. Rejoice when you see the supernatural work of God… He is not short on power or blessings and has plenty to go around. Rejoicing in someone else’s fortune is a great way to see it manifested in your own life.
I tried to apply logic, “I have been considering the fact that you and Alice don’t get to see as much in the Courts of Heaven as I do. Christ told Thomas, ‘blessed is he who does not see and yet believes…’ ” I said. “Maybe I am allowed to see more because I am explaining the process to others in the book about the Courts.”
Attempting to address part of the issue, I encouraged her further, “And remember, I have been at this for 16 years. You began seeking deeper experiences with the Holy Spirit a year ago and have come a long way since then. It may just be a matter of time.”