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Chapter 1: A prophetic vision: people drowning

During a time of worship, I sensed God’s presence very strongly and received the following vision: I was standing on a warship. There were many people in the sea, who were shouting for help and were in terrible despair. They were drowning. I threw out lifebelts, all of which were joined to a rope. Somehow, I managed to bring the people onto the ship before they drowned. I asked, “Why am I on this warship?” I then received the following answer: “Because you have decided to wait for the partner that I have for you. You are full of hope and confidence because you carry a vision in your heart and have found meaning for the season of waiting.”

And then God spoke to me, saying, “Many single people are drowning. Tell them I love them, that I have not forgotten them, and that I have a wonderful plan for them.”

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29,11-13).

We are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and our thoughts are the battlefield! Not every thought will bring good fruit. We need to identify the false thought patterns we are clinging to. Do they drag us down or build us up? What influences them—the spirit of the age, the worldly thoughts of society? What lies do we believe?

God does not love single people less than married people!

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23 KJV).

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man (Matthew 15:19-20).

We must choose our thoughts carefully and should not just allow them to think anything that enters our mind. There is still no medication to prevent that!

We must decide to think and do what is good! It is also up to us to decide to be led by the Holy Spirit. Here are several useful Bible verses to think about:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self (old man), which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self (new man), created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

What should we do about negative thoughts? We say to thoughts that are wrong, negative, and that drag us down, “STOP!” We give them over to Jesus Christ and replace them with the Biblical promises that the Holy Spirit shows us, so that we can speak them out loud.

You need to shoot back, with a powerful charge of the living word that speaks to your (specific) situation!

The more frequently we reflect on what is good, on God’s word, His thoughts, and His promises, the sooner we will experience victories in a specific area. When the devil tries to persuade you that “You will never manage this task,” or, “You’ll never get married,” then replace these thoughts with a verse such as Philippians 4:13.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (NKJB).

God is working in both of us and will lead us together at the right time so that we can be a great blessing.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).

Practical applications and challenges:

• Which thoughts drag you down?

Every time they come, replace these thoughts with a promise God has given you. In time, you will learn how to do this, and it will become easier to identify the false thoughts and to replace them with God’s truth.

Ask God about His wonderful plan for your life. What is preventing you from seeing it happen? An old proverb says that a journey begins with many small steps. You could also say this journey begins with many small steps of obedience ;-)