The other night I was listening to a friend talk about each person’s unique prayer closet. Each person’s place of intimacy with the Lord, the secret place. The fruit of this time, she called “times of refreshing.”

This is not prayer to make your requests known to God, but prayer in the Spirit, aligning your heart and your spirit with the Father’s.

She talked about how, “if you are not praying, you are fainting.” No refreshing means you will wither, you will tire, you will fail. The prayer closet is how real growth comes. Not just growth of good habits, but growth of relationship.  Growth in oneness with the Lord.

For me the “times of refreshing” have brought many weighty moments and surprises.  In those times, a friendship with Jesus developed that has come through years of spending the first hours of my day alone with Him in His word, and hearing from Him. Sharing our hearts together until I know Him as friend first.

Friendship with Jesus brings refreshing. Friendship with Jesus is freedom from staleness. He will deliver to you unexpected growth, unexpected anointing, scary sounding assignments 👀, nights awake in prayer instead of sleep and His good opinion of you. In all these He is everything but boring! Refreshing brings trust and trust brings refreshing.

In the early days of ministry, I was so nervous when I had to go on stage!  I was sure I would forget everything I wanted to say, but I knew that with Him, all that mattered would fill my mouth and come out of me.  I asked Him to hold my hand. He did!

Secondly, I knew Him as my protector; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He began to send me out to do.  As I was obedient, (not good at it), He let me know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was on my side and I was never alone in my assignments.

This became the firm foundation to deliverance ministry. His Presence in me and with me. Never alone. No fear because His vastness is for me.

Then, I knew Him as Creator, my husband, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Who can come against me when I am with Him?  On His arm, all territory belongs to Him, and so, as His bride, it also belongs to me. These were times of being trusted with greater authority. He makes sure we have all we need for the tasks He entrusts to us.

Soon after this, came knowing Him as the Prince of Peace. The One who IS the Kingdom of Heaven and the One who establishes its environment, which is Peace.

How do you know when something is not according to His will? When something moves you or the environment out of peace.

Peace is so powerful. Peace CRUSHES the head of the enemy. Unshakeable peace “passes understanding.” Growing in Him establishes us in His tangible Peace.

The King’s Peace IS the law of the Kingdom. Disciples are called to enforce it.  Establish it where it is not. Restore it where it has been stolen.

Then, I knew Him as King. The Sovereign Lord who does not ask permission, but who IS God.

At that time I received the terrible privilege of friendship with Him through submitting to His will when it was very costly, because He is King and I am not. Trust.

These days I am knowing Him as the one who keeps His promises. Years of promises, that seemed so delayed, are being fulfilled in ways that fill my mouth with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:2)

He is my drug of choice. The one that always brings a new high that does not disappoint.

Refreshing comes from seeing and experiencing the Word as if I had never seen it before. Experiencing a new facet of His bigness satisfies and my hunger is quenched; then, like a drug, always stokes  longing for more.

The journey of knowing Him will never end. The many facets of His nature refresh me, reward me and make real the promised life and peace of His Kingdom.