“Close the flue.”
As I was praying early this morning, our Lord wanted me to "close the flue." I was sitting by our living room fireplace and clearly heard the sounds of cars driving by the house. I thought, 'Why would the flue be open? We haven't had a fire in here for months.' So, since it was God telling me this, I figured I have to listen and obey (obedience is a key to the Kingdom). I did hear the sounds from outside, so I reasoned that the flue must be open, even if a slight amount. It should always be enough for us to hear from God, but the reasonable mind is not always in touch with our God, who sees everything from a different perspective than we mere humans.
I went and got my cell phone and turned on the flashlight, and lo and behold! The flue was completely wide open and cockeyed. How is this possible? Surely my wife had not done this. I know I didn't. Our kids don't have fires. Was it from the last women's event? Most likely. Ugh. That's disappointing. However, being disappointed is not going to close that flue! So, I lay down, reach up, and finagle that damper bar shut with a 'boom'. Ahhhh. Those outside sounds are gone! Heat no longer escaping and creating a higher gas bill than necessary. I take a deep breath and realize I have just accomplished something in the spiritual, as well. I tend to be spiritual. Ever since I was a young kid I have heard from God and this is a prophetic God moment, a Divine Appointment, and He drew my attention to the fireplace. Focus on the movement of God. Allow yourself to be sensitive to His presence.
You see, I didn't tell you the whole story. Before this happened, I was praying and I like to kowtow before our Lord when I feel a certain way. However, He wanted me to have a seat in one of our children's chairs by the fireplace. I thought that was a great idea because my knees sometimes get sore from praying on the floor. So, I got up and sat down in the comfortable chair and started to pray, but He wanted me to be quiet. There are things that will never happen in the natural or spiritual unless you are quiet before God.
What "close the flue" means for us right here and right now is this: we may have been diligent to watch what we say, eat, drink, watch, and listen to, BUT there are still some "flues" that used to allow the smoke of our prayers and the pleasing aroma of our sacrifices to reach Heaven, but they have been left open out of neglect with no fires of which to speak! What happened to our burning, passionate love for God? Could that be why we have been depressed? I've never been madly in love and been depressed at the same time. It's simply not possible.
This 'open flue' in our hearts has been an opening in our hearts used by our true enemy, Satan, to trick us that his "gifts" are necessary for life. He tries to convince us that the fire of God's presence -- His Holy Spirit -- has been extinguished in our lives forever and get us to fear and be ashamed and remain forever guilty for allowing this to happen. Don't ever let the devil win! Rekindle the fire. Return to your first, and greatest, love. Get the devil out of your heart!
Busted! Get Satan Claus out of your heart.
If you have never loved God, seek Him now while He may be found. We are not promised tomorrow. Close the flue ... until you burn another passionate fire in your heart for God.
Prayer
Holy Father God, how great thou art! Thank You for this prophetic Word! You give Words of affirmation, wisdom, and prophecy today and You have never, and will never stop, as long as the Earth goes around. I thank You for this day and for Your presence in my life. Hallelujah! I ask that You would show me what "the flue" is in my life. Is it what I think it is? Please reveal Your love for me in a fresh, new way and help me get the things the enemy has planted in my heart as a result of this "flue" being open. Help me to close the flue so the enemy of my soul can no longer enter my life through it. I repent of, renounce, and reject the tricks of the devil that have entered my life through neglecting You, my Lord and my Savior! I'm so sorry for pushing You away from my painful memories and soul wounds when You are the only One who can, and will, heal me. Please forgive my neglect of You and lead me in the Way everlasting. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Many thanks to the people at http://cd-km.info/ and https://www.wired.com/2010/12/the-science-of-santa-doubts-debunked/ for the use of their photos.
Please visit their sites if you have the opportunity.