Nicole Welch
Face Down and Floating in the River of Life
I went to the beach a few weeks ago and I realized how much I love the ocean. Even though the waters were rough the weekend I was there, I love the ocean because it always reminds me that God and His power are so much bigger than me. The feeling of being scared and exhilarated were both present as I plunged face into the large waves that were coming at me. When I was preparing to speak Sunday, the Lord started speaking to me about His river flowing from His throne. He told me the river that is coming is not like anything we will ever have experienced before (and I have been through two major outpourings and revivals). He also showed me that this river is NOT just a metaphor or a thing we sing, or talk about but it is an actual REAL living river! We can step into it with our God given imagination anytime we choose.
Ezekiel 47: 1-12 says, “The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. (2) He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
(3) As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. (4) He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. (5) He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. (6) He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. (7) When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. (8) He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. (9) Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. (0) Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. (11) But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. (12) Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
If you have never snorkeled before I encourage you to try it sometime. The minute you put your face down in the water, everything changes. It is an entirely different world under the ocean. You can just float and see a new dimension of life under the surface of the water. I hear the Lord saying in this hour to put your face down and float in His river.
There’s a place of floating in His presence where we are lifted up by the Most High God and when we are face down in the Lord, we see in a different dimension. Instead of seeing the shaking that is happening all around us we are floating in His Shalom in the river.
In Ezekiel 47 the man measured the depth of the river by using a measuring line. God is asking us in this hour, “How deep will you go into my river?” Will we just go ankle deep? There you can still walk and still have control. Will you go waist deep and feel the current under your legs pulling you out where you may not want to go? Or will you decide to face down and just go all in so you can see differently? It is time for us to get our heads wet and face down. Little children are taught to get their head and face wet when they are learning to swim and most of them hate it and put up a fuss about it at first. After a little time, when they learn how to swim it is not such a big deal to get in over their head. They usually jump right in!
When you get your face down in the waters and get your head wet you will see different like Jesus does and everything changes! Where are you in the River of Life? I encourage you to go in all the way and put your face down to see a whole new world. The River of Life is real and is going to flood our nation and we need to be ready for it. I want to encourage you to meditate on Revelations 22:1-5 (and verse 17) and Ezekiel 47.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (2 )down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (3) No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
(17) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
If you would like to hear more about what else the Lord is speaking in this hour click here to watch the full video - https://www.facebook.com/thecovenantcenter
Nic Welch
Nicole is a consultant, podcaster, author, public speaker, world traveler, therapist, wife, mom, and loyal friend (also very intense and fun). Her authority lies in living from your true God given identity, communication skills, and leadership. She has major superpowers in creating powerful people by connecting quickly, influencing deeply, and achieving more in every encounter.
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