The third key is faith and expectation. We are to watch and see what He will say. Notice it says ‘what’ He will say, not ‘if’’ He will speak. Jesus is waiting for us in the Secret Place. He says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6) Expect His presence. Believe He is waiting for you!
The fourth key is that we are to ‘record the vision’. We are instructed to keep a journal. It is essential to write down what God is showing us. Many times as I wait in God’s presence a picture will spontaneously appear in my mind. Once I have written that vision I will enter into a dialogue with the Lord. My first question is, “Lord, what does this mean?” Without hesitation, He always expands the vision and explains its significance. My journal reads like a novel with pages of dialogue between the Lord and me and artistic drawings to illustrate the visions I have seen.
​ After arriving in Sydney, Australia, my driver asked me a pointed question as we drove toward the hotel. “What is your story?"
I replied, “What do you mean?”, somewhat shocked by his straightforwardness.
His response has remained in my heart ever since. He was genuinely interested in my spiritual journey.
A journal is the written or recorded account of our journey in life. It is our story. Many famous people have recorded their journeys. John Wesley wrote volumes regarding his life and experiences. The early Christian mystics such as St Augustine, Fenelon, and Madam Guyon, as well as contemporary God seekers, have recorded their intimate encounters with God. These priceless volumes are guideposts and handbooks helping us to discover the reality of intimacy with God and the transforming power of His presence.
Much of the scripture must be considered as a personal journal. While it is true that the Torah is history, we cannot dismiss the fact that it was written like Moses’ personal journal. Consider the entire book of Revelation. What John saw on the island of Patmos was his personal experience on a spiritual journey into heaven and the presence of God. He had difficulty at times describing his God encounter. Words were inadequate to express all that he experienced. What he heard and saw he wrote about in his journal. It became the last book of the Bible.
We live in an age of information where keeping records and recording events is a part of our every day lives. What could be more important than keeping a Spiritual Journal? Whether it is written with paper and pen or digitally recorded, this personal record is a travelogue of your prayers, dreams, prophetic visions and God encounters. It is the dialogue of your conversations with God. The questions you ask and the answers He gives are all a part of your life’s’ journey.