Moving House

We are in the process of moving house.  It has been a rather stressful time and the stress increases as we get nearer to the time of moving.  We however are blessed because the house that we are moving into is provided for us.  The work we do, provides the house.  This has it pitfalls as well as its benefits!  You get what you are given and you hope that your furniture will fit in all the right places or even get through the front door!  You hope that the house you are going to has as many bedrooms as the one you are leaving.

The house that we are moving too is beautiful.  It is Georgian and from the outside looks amazing.  On the inside however that is another story.  It is quirky and full of character but it has not been looked after.  We see the potential but much work needs to be done before we move in.  A few non friendly bugs and things have found their way into the house, and a few other issues that will very soon be sorted. Praise the Lord.

I can't quite explain to you how I felt about this house the first time I walked into it; but I am quite a discerning person and I believe that it is a Spiritual Gift that God has blessed me with.  This is a gift that can be a blessing as well as a curse.  I find it an immense priviledge when I can ask someone how they are and then ask them again and for them to tell me truthfully.  I am also aware that at times I feel physically sick at how grieved my Spirit is over something not of the Kingdom.  This was the feeling that came over me the first time I walked into this new house.  I prayed and was reminded of a time that we  prayer walked and spiritually cleansed another house that we used to live in.

That time was when we invited 2 alcoholics to stay for the weekend.  They were a couple that been evicted and they were well known to us.  We really wanted to be able to help them but also to overwhelm them with Christ's love.  One stayed upstairs, one stayed down.  After a couple of days they were invited to leave as they had made themselves just too comfortable!  As I went to change the beds in one of the rooms I was almost physically sick by the stench that hit me as I entered the room.  I felt unsafe in that room, and it also felt very cold even though it was the middle of summer.  I was quite uncomfortable and prayed.  I opened the windows and let the air waft through, went downstairs and got the shampoo cleaner and gave the carpet a good scrub.  That evening I went back up into the room and the stench was still there as strong as ever and yet the windows had been opened the whole time.  I prayed, still feeling uncomfortable.  I closed the door and talked with my husband about the room.  We came to believe that a demon had made itself resident and unless we dealt with him he would try to take over the whole house.

Friends of ours gave to us an Anglican African Cleansing Prayer.  They said to us, it is not a magic wand, it is not just a ritual, it is what it says, a cleansing prayer.  If there is anything in that room that you are discerning is not quite right, this prayer, prayed in faith will deal with it.  That evening we cleansed the whole house using salt water. (Salt was/is a purifier)  With the salt water we sprinkled, prayed the prayers for each room and drew the cross on each door post.

After our prayer time was over, I re-entered that particular room.  The stench was gone.  We believe that whatever demon had tried to attach itself was banished in the name of Jesus.  I felt so much more peaceful and safe in that room.  We did not go shouting or screaming at the demon.  We just quietly prayed believing  the right way was used, with prayer, faith and salt water for cleansing.  That was our first encounter with a demon. We don't go looking for them, but Christ has given us the authority to deal with them when it is right to do so.

This new house we have prayed in.  When the jobs have been finished we will pray the cleansing prayer throughout.  Not because we believe that there are any demons, but because we want Jesus to be Head of that House.  We want it to be a house that Glorify's Him and is a house that is Holy.  A place that is  welcoming for His Spirit and filled with His Presence and His Peace.  We want it to be a place that we can still invite the stranger and perhaps entertain the odd angel here or there.  But that can only happen when my own heart and dwelling place for Jesus Christ is cleansed and ready for His Peace and Presence to fill me.

"Christ of Glory, Prince of Peace, Let thy life in mine increase;
Though I live may it be shown tis thy life and not my own.
 Dwell within that men may see, Christ, the living Christ, in me.

Answer now my soul's desire, Purge my heart with Holy fire,
Soothe the hurt with gentle balm, Breathe within my life thy charm,
Fill me now, so shall there be, Christ, the Holy Christ, in me.

Gracious Lord, thy grace apply, both to save and sanctify;
All my life wilt thou control, calmly ordering the whole,
That the world may ever see Christ, and only Christ, in me."

(Song Words belong to Colin Fairclough, Salvation Army Song Book)