The Healing Journey and Calling of His Psalmists

A difficult life’s journey causes one to intensely search out wisdom, and true wisdom can only be found in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, Psalm 111:10). Supernatural, divine wisdom is needed not only for the path currently traveled, but for direction regarding the path ahead, and lessons learned from what lies behind. I vividly remember the day Father God revealed to me my call as a psalmist. I cried for three continuous days over being able to finally figure out so many unanswered, difficult questions and experiences. Little did I know, that would only be the beginning of many more difficult years. With any Kingdom call and with all testimonies comes the tests that transform heart motives, thinking, and character. Most would not want my call or my journey (nor my husband’s. As Graham Cooke often says, “You wouldn’t want what I had to go through to get here. I have so many holes I look like a colander. :)”). But as we continue to journey through the refining fires, I have come to intimately know the Father’s unfailing love, and His good and best purposes in my life’s struggles, which are always for the benefit of others and what He has called us to do.

Holy Spirit has used the life of David to enlarge my understanding of this unique, yet heart-wrenching call on my life. I have asked for David’s mantle to drive away the tormenting spirits from the lives of hurting, broken people and those battling disease. I have also come to understand that the Lord has specifically targeted those who carry an ‘orphan spirit’ to encounter Him and His healing love through my own overcoming and His call on my life as a psalmist.

There are multitudes of people walking around this Earth who question whether the Lord truly cares about them or whether He has forgotten them altogether, due to the immense pain they have endured and continue to experience in this life. They have known only rejection, wounding, offense, loneliness, isolation, bitterness, lies, etc., at the hand of those who were suppose to care for/about them, as well as being on the receiving end of curses, judgment, misunderstanding, mean-spiritedness, ignoring, put downs, and so the endless list of a life destroyed at the hands of others and self goes. The journey also breeds a cycle of going around the mountain over and over again, full and complete with shaming and condemning accusations of how it’s all your own fault, of how you’re simply a bad person, of how you missed it again, etc., and the endless array of lies the enemy assaults our minds with when seeing one’s self and others without His eyes of understanding. At this juncture, we can either drown in oppression and self-pity, or we can choose to search out healing and wholeness in spite of our circumstances. We must be also wise in who, where, and how we choose to reach out to for help, as that journey can also lead to further devastation. Therefore, I will repeat my opening statement: true wisdom can only be found in the fear of the Lord.

King David clearly understood this dilemma. He was relegated to the pasture to tend sheep, fighting off bears and wolves, while spending limitless hours talking with and singing to His Heavenly Father, i.e. pursuing intimate relationship. When the prophet Samuel was sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16, David’s own father/family forgot about him and didn’t even call him to participate in the assembly. It was the Lord Himself who saw David and called him out from the pasture through the prophet Samuel. Later, in the same chapter, David was commissioned to be King Saul’s armor-bearer to play the lyre, which made the evil spirit sent to torment Saul flee. Note: there are most definitely spirits assigned to torment people both in their own minds and by using the words and actions of both unknowing/knowing participants. Later, in 1 Samuel 18, this very king turned on David and tried to kill him. In 1 Samuel 17, David’s own brothers became envious, angry, and mean-spirited as he continued to walk towards God’s call on his life. He was also greatly mocked by the enemy of his God and his nation. David gave no credence to being forgotten, ignored, cursed, envied, threatened, or mocked. Rather, he knew his God intimately and based his identity, his actions, and his wholehearted obedience solely and completely in his relationship with his Heavenly Father, resulting in the triumphant defeat of the enemy. After King Saul’s attempt on David’s life, which not coincidently, followed victory, he spent the next 12 years on the run, hiding in caves, being plundered, accused, leading a ragtag band of men scrapping for food, provision, despised, etc., before the timing of his call as king would manifest.

Then God did an incredibly amazing thing simply because David continued to honor his Father’s timing on his life, even amidst his own sins and shortfalls: God used this single, imperfect vessel to establish a 33 year reign of 24/7 worship that would usher in the glory of God throughout the nation of Israel and the reign of his son, Solomon. God also used David’s generational line to bring forth His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth, as a ransom for all mankind in finding restoration to the Father from all that Adam had lost back in the Genesis account. Amos 9:11-12, “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David, the fallen hut or booth, and close up its breaches; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the nations that are called by My name, says the Lord Who does this.” Because of Jesus Christ, because of Holy Spirit indwelling our innermost being, we are those vessels – His tabernacles that He is raising up to advance His Kingdom in preparation of the generations pressing toward His return, His rule, and His reign, both on this Earth and throughout eternity. We are those vessels who are to possess His identity and His Kingdom on Earth, as it is in Heaven, for such a time as this.

It began in a pasture. We continue in 2014 to cherish the 150 psalms from which David penned both his journey of isolation, rejection, being misunderstood, mocked, and despised, as well as his praise, thanks, and adoration of God’s faithfulness, goodness, and lovingkindness. Jesus Christ Himself endured the most horrific journey of rejection ever witnessed, yet lives to testify of His Father’s promise to not leave us as orphans: John 14:8, “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.” Therefore, who are we to think we should experience anything less if we are truly and wholeheartedly devoted to and sold out for our King and Lord?

I recently discovered something unique, beautiful, and yet disconcerting about my own call as a psalmist (besides having to overcome rejection, misunderstanding, envy, mean-spiritedness, mocking, etc. for much of my life, pressing rather toward a healed and whole identity in Christ and His plans for me that are defined not by anything or anyone but in Christ alone). The revelation concerning this discovery actually occurred in 2007, when our youngest son, Josiah, was given a vision from the Lord. The vision revealed two large gunny sack type bags, both tied shut, dropping through the ceiling of our home onto our kitchen table while in the midst of our morning family worship and devotions. When I asked Josiah to ask Holy Spirit what was in the bags, he responded that the Lord showed him sand in one bag, and ‘orphans’ in the other. Through diligently searching the intended meaning of the sand, along with a number of others things Holy Spirit was speaking to me at the time, I knew the sandbag meant the rebuilding of our family’s foundations on a number of fronts. With regard to the ‘orphans’ bag, I asked Josiah to again ask Holy Spirit to clarify. Josiah responded that when I would play the piano, he saw the bag of ‘orphans’ open up, setting them free. It was not long after, that I began to ask for David’s mantle to ‘drive away the tormenting spirits’ from people seeking freedom from oppression and disease.

This journey has been rough, treacherous at times, rarely smooth, mostly misunderstood by many, and yet I have known to stay the course and to ‘withstand the pressure of being fine-tuned’ in order to ‘roll’ with my instrument as a vessel He could use to fulfill His purposes in and through me. The authority that accompanies the Lord’s calling on our lives only manifests when we cooperate with Holy Spirit in receiving the healing and overcoming testimony we need for ourselves. It is only then can we be used powerfully by Him according to His purposes on behalf of others, for His glory alone. The transforming process simply takes time…lots of time. We are all a work in progress and it is never too late to begin the journey.

My most recent discovery concerns His call on my life as psalmist, in conjunction with my request to bestow David’s mantle of driving away the tormenting spirits, impacting the manifestation of setting the ‘orphans/captives’ free piece (Isaiah 61). I am sharing this intimate and personal revelation for the benefit of other psalmists (only the Lord Himself can reveal and decree that specific call), as well as for the benefit of those seeking His healing and wholeness. When I accompany Holy Spirit on my keyboard, the Lord uses the music He releases from my fingers and through my spirit to cause a stirring in people’s spirits, as well as to confront that which must flee. Those who are secure in their Christ-given identity experience more of His peace, His love, His intimate presence, His goodness, His healing presence, etc…it’s all good! Those who wrestle with an ‘orphan spirit’, however – a spirit of rejection, abandonment, loneliness, alienation, isolation, as well as envy, insecurity, etc. – are stirred to confront it, and either allow the healing blood of Jesus Christ through the light of Holy Spirit to enter into those wounded places, experiencing and encountering His healing touch and presence, or they, like King Saul in response to David, throw a javelin. They direct their unwillingness to let go of those places toward that which they are thinking is the source of their unrest/dislike/discomfort/discontent, which in actuality, is Holy Spirit at work simply dealing with issues needing to be dealt with (since we are all human, we all have them).

Why would I even think or come to discern this bizarre thought? Because over the years, I have been on the receiving end of this time and time again, and have had to overcome these very things, mostly through the words and actions of other Believers, and it took me nearly 40 years of walking with my Lord to finally understand that when I am grounded firmly in my identity in Christ to be used as His vessel in the healing process, the person has to choose to cooperate with what the Lord is doing in that moment and receive their healing, or get upset with the source of the confrontation…it’s not about me nor was it ever about me :). In a ‘me-centered’ culture, that’s a tough lesson we ALL have to learn. The Lord in His lovingkindness revealed it to me so I can boldly continue to confront the Goliaths, which are kingdom of darkness spirits, not people, at His leading, in His righteousness alone. The Lord also in His lovingkindness allows every individual He is pursuing through encounter, the choice to receive their healing or to go around the mountain again, as the root issues will continue to keep coming back from source after source, time after time, and in place after place until we say ‘yes’ to His healing work or leave this Earth, whichever manifests first. Bottom line. Why do you think it took me nearly 40 years? This corresponds precisely to the number of years the Israelites spent in the wilderness. Oh, that this generation would not be such slow learners, Father!

The Lord is looking for a people who will serve Him wholeheartedly, holding nothing back, and undefined by anyone or anything other than the identity that Jesus Christ Himself purchased on our behalf…in Christ alone. Our foundation has to be established on the Rock of our salvation alone (not on our giftings, our skills, our friends, our jobs, our ministries, our families, our popularity, our church, etc.), as the Scriptures clearly state in Matthew 7:24-27, “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.” Contrary to the beliefs of many about Scripture being simply ‘good stories’ these days, the Word of God is very much alive, and it is absolute Truth we can take to the bank. There’s is no other absolute truth to hold on to in these days in which we sojourn this Earth.

The Body of Christ, His Believers, His Sons, His disciples in this hour in which we live, must get our identity completely established and centered in and on Christ and His righteousness alone. We must also begin to understand the power of our words to bless or curse, especially as Believers. If our words are not edifying, encouraging, or comforting others, at all times and in all circumstances, we simply shouldn’t be speaking. Contrary to the saying, ‘words are cheap,’ in reality, our words cost us and cost those we speak to and about EVERYTHING, either through blessings or curses, with nothing else in between. Unity in the Body of Christ to carry out His Kingdom come and His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven will come no other way.

Where am I headed with all of this? Anyone seeking healing, wanting to confront anything in their lives that is not grounded in the identity Jesus Christ gave His life for – anyone needing evil, tormenting spirits, driven away in order to fully experience, “He who the Son sets free is truly free indeed,” John 8:36, schedule an appointment with one of the Lord’s psalmists. Give me a call or email me. I am one of my Heavenly Father’s psalmists who is rooted and grounded in Christ – the only true Source of our Father’s Love, Hope, and Healing. He sees your every need and He continues to see every dream He has had for you since before you were even born. He lives in me, He sings through me, He plays through me, He encourages/edifies/comforts through me. He has filled me, skilled me, and knows the cry of my heart for years has been, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” Holy Spirit has given and reminded me of Isaiah 45:1-3 on several occasions, “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held to subdue nations before him, and I will unarm and ungird the loins of kings to open doors before him, so that gates will not be shut. I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight]; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name.” The treasures hidden in darkness – the riches of secret places – to the Father, these always represent people. You are His treasure. He died and lives in order that you will comprehend and boldly decree the very rooted and grounded in love and identity words He has decreed in His Word.

“For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” Ephesians 3:14-19 (AMP)

“In the year that King Uzziah died [in a vision] I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the [most holy part of the] temple. Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two [each] covered his [own] face, and with two [each] covered his feet, and with two [each] flew. And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar; And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:1-8 (AMP)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3 (AMP)