God's Heart for Lady Finland

Two years ago, I was clueless why God brought me to Finland. The first few months was a quite a struggle... I cried out to God to give me His love for this nation, for the people, and for the language. I knew that if I love this country on my own, it probably won't be enough. I wanted so much to see it the way God does. Sure enough, God does hear every single prayer and desire we utter. When He showed me how much He loves lady Finland, I was so overwhelmed that I came to the point where, I could say "I am willing to be buried in this land." Don't get me wrong dear friends, I do love my own country and I'd serve God there but it makes a big difference when you know deep down that you are in the center of God's will. I have learned that wherever I lay head on is home.

the lighthouses

It always amazes me how God connects people. A month ago, I met someone who later on has connected me to people whom I'd be praying with. When I met these wonderful people, we shared things about the vision (in the form of pictures) that God has shown them a few months ago. I got so excited as I hear this because it was the very same thing I've seen two years ago. It was the vision that changed my heart for Finland... the one that stirred my heart to be on my knees for this nation. There were also confirmations of this vision from others and it just encourages me to keep on praying for this land.

24 hour - prayer on 18 -19 Sept '09

The word I got on my way to Jacobstad for the 24/7 meeting was from Mark 13. And it wasn't pleasant at all. Very strong words, I'd say. Verses 32 - 37 specifically. Six times throughout the whole chapter where the words "KEEP WATCH or BE ON GUARD" were highlighted. It was not only a warning to the intercessors or the so-called watchmen (gatekeepers, doorkeepers, or lighthouses) but for EVERYONE.

Fast forward....

The vision I saw two years ago, of which I was told later on was ...

I saw lighthouses situated on key places in the West coast of Finland - starting from the tip of the right hand of Lady Finland, down to the South Coast. I saw the Lady holding a torch and it was getting dim, and as I scan the rest of the lighthouses, they were almost like a flicker of light. I felt the Lord' s heart grieving for His Bride.... an unfathomable grief. And so I was down on  my knees crying out to God during my first autumn (2007) in Finland. It was not only the first time I've felt the urgency to pray for this country. Then God showed me more about the older cities of Finland as I read about its history.

Only when the nation starts to learn to be on her knees that the torch on this Lady's hand would burn brighter. And it is an encouragement to see people being stirred up to pray, there are a lot of them, I believe, but we need to see more... people, churches of different backgrounds coming together to pray, where the motivation is LOVE. A people of prayer, a lifestyle of prayer - living out the prayer!