Different Anointing's?

How God shows up differently at the altar.I am lonely”

“I’ve just got accepted into the life recovery program and I’m nervous.”

“Pray for protection.”

“I’ve strayed from the Lord.”

Words at the altar, that space where after worship and preaching I invite men or women to come forward to be prayed with by volunteers that come to help me minister to those moved to action by the chapel services.

Last night there was a particularly different weight and feel to the ministry time. I’m not sure I can define it from a certain scripture but sometimes there’s “different” anointings or at least it seems different. Maybe Isaiah 11:2 hints at something like this:

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (ESV)

Whatever the case there was a fatherly peace at work.

It reminded me of those moments as a parent when your kid comes to you upset, scarred or anxious and they need your adult presence be it words or holding them and they find calm in you. They kind of melt, or the knots untie…it’s peace actualized.

It seemed like the “way” the prayerful words were uttered carried a power within them that spoke stillness to the chaos of emotions and turbulent thoughts.

Sons hearing their heavenly Father’s voice has a deep effect on them. It’s what called Peter out of the boat and into the waves in the storm.

I witnessed this last night, God calming tempests.

A number of times after the prayer a couple men grasped me in their arms and held me like a drowning man would seize a life preserver.

Men need to hear a word from the Father through the fathers.

Pastor Eric, Jacob's Well, Spokane Wa.