A Holy Anointing by Janet S.
To follow is a guest post by Janet. She has written here for us before but today is a specail treat. She shares her personal story of worship and I KNOW it will touch you. Read all the way through and then watch the 15 second video at the end. I PROMISE you will be changed. Hugs, Lynn
-----
Yet this insatiable desire for more - continued to manifest and convict me. I just knew there had to be more. But I had no idea where or how to find it. I was left to seek help from God while being honest with myself. I had to accept the realization that God, the creator of not only the universe but me, created me already knowing I thrive after the hours of noon. Freedom in peace of that knowledge empowered me to take the next step. I released myself from the “morning time with God guilt”, and I began to carve out daily afternoon time with God. I purchased the Daily Chronological Bible. Reading, which seemed like an insurmountable goal, was thrilling and intriguing as I read the bible in a story form.
Most interesting was the transformation of my prayer time. My prayers moved from “me focused” to “Him focused”. Prayers reminding Him who wronged me and how I needed this or that, dialogue asking for His blessings on my plans became conversations asking for His anointing and courage to move forward with His will and plans.
During a recent phone call with Lynn we explored worship, prayer and the divine power released when we pray asking for anointing. I esteem anointing to be a sacred topic—a powerfully holy one, filled with awe and mystery. The supernatural possibilities of it challenge my human mind, and I still have much to experience and learn.
Let’s journey this together as the joined Body of Christ, open to what He chooses to reveal to us uniquely and individually, through prayer and by learning from one another.
Gracious Father, we are so humbled by Your love that You entrust each one of us with one of the greatest mysteries—direct access and power of Your Holy Spirit, which is present, alive and moving within each of us. It is an honor we choose to not take lightly. Remove stumbling blocks and falsehoods in our paths, experiences and traditions that limit our yielding. Awaken our spiritual senses blessing us with wisdom and discernment as together we journey to better understand and know You and Your power unleashed. By the blood of Jesus, all for Your glory and honor, Amen.
We see beginning in Genesis and up through the life of Jesus, oil was used in the Old Testament to anoint. “Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.” Genesis 28:18 NIV Read Exodus 30:22- 33 NIV. In these scriptures the Lord reveals a divine recipe of anointing oil to Moses, and He had Moses anoint places, items and people— Aaron and his sons. “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Mark 6:13 NIV
During the baptism and after death of Jesus the bible continues to speak of oil to anoint, but also begins to include a different and powerful anointing through, by and of the Holy Spirit. “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38 NIV “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 NIV “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” 1 John 2:20 NIV “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,” 2 Corinthians 1:21 NIV
I am convicted to believe His Word shows us physical oil is indeed an element for anointing, used for all time in accordance to His Word and will, but so is unseen oil of the Holy Spirit poured within us straight from His throne. In each of these scriptures we see a common theme of anointing being mandated before God’s will is purposed and carried out. Let me stress before God’s will is purposed and carried out. Anointing is the consecrating, making holy and set apart for His purposes and glory. For me personally this is convicting. This isn’t about me telling God my plans and asking for His blessing upon them. This is me asking for His anointing as I move forward in His will.
Regularly I pray for God’s Holy Spirit to be unleashed and pour down anointing our home, town, church, congregation, family and more. There is no rhyme or reason to these petitions other than I pray as I am led based on circumstances, need and conviction. I pray for the anointing of our Pastor whose spiritual gift is to preach to His children each week, for His glory. I pray for the anointing of our community requesting divine healing, for His glory, because in a short span of time we have experienced tremendous and heartbreaking loss after loss. I pray for the anointing of my husband’s friendships and work that God will move in them and in him, for His glory. I pray for anointing of my friends and myself. In these prayers I am asking God to be the forefront and focus, that His will is accomplished on earth.
When I pray these I believe with full confidence God is at work hearing and answering my prayers. He never fails to amaze me with answers—divine, supernatural, unexplainable answers. As Lynn and I ended our conversation she prayed over me asking the Holy Spirit to anoint my writing. I, the self-doubter and fearer of both success and failure, later prayed again asking for an extra measure of anointing upon my hands as I piece together the writing.
Hours later I endured another occurrence of what I call “gold glitter” upon my hands. This is not the first time, nor the only place it physically appears on me. Each time I am taken aback and startled. This time though, it was only on my hands. Specifically the prayer request of anointing both Lynn and I asked God for, for His glory, not mine. (see video below)
Supernatural activity and answers can be found throughout the bible—talking donkeys, burning bush, a rod and snake, and so much more. We are called to not seek, idolize or worship miraculous signs and wonders. But we are called to believe with full confidence expecting His answer. In God’s perfect and holy timing we see many examples in the bible where anointing occurred revealing His power, sovereignty and glory.
Everything can be set apart, made holy, for His glory, including our day-to-day tasks, and His will and purpose for us. We just need to pray asking for the anointing, and be an open, willing participant. We participate by allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and to conform us to the likeness of Christ. And we seal it by stepping out in belief and faith that the anointing has empowered us to do His will—be it writing, preaching, serving or any other gift, for His glory, not ours.
Have you prayed for anointing? How can we pray for you to be anointed? Has God answered your prayers in a supernatural way?
Janet.
--My friends, Lynn here. Now behold the glory of God as below is the video of Janet's hands after her prayer time. Thank you Janet for your faithfulness and your love for our Lord. You bring Him great honor today. Lynn
