Two things, Katie. One happened many years ago when Betty B. was asked to sing at a meeting where the speaker was a bona fide opera singer. She was so scared of not being good enough and talked to God about how perfect love is supposed to cast out fear and would He please make her love more perfect. This is what He answered: "Not your perfect love, My perfect love." And Betty was able to say, "Oh, that." Or something like that....
The other thing was when I was interceeding (I suppose) for a friend who was in danger of drinking herself into oblivion. I read "Reese Howe's, Intercessor" which talks about the kind of bearing one another's burdens that you wrote about. When I was very tempted (just once and very momentarily) to get very drunk (and where did that come from?) I recognized it as "bearing this burden," taking on her temptation as you took your friend's fear. I don't know how this works, but there is a way in which it does. Sorry this is so long, but that's what you brought back to my mind after all these years. Thanks, Katie. We love the Ground.
What you felt was probably not your imagination, but the actual "taking on" of your friend's fear. It's not like you thought about doing it first, then felt it. There was nothing "conscious" about it from your telling, and that implies something divine.
The passing of your friend is so significant, for that event will replay itself in our own lives at the time that the Lord has appointed for us. Thank you, Katie, for not being afraid to address these significant realities.
Two things, Katie. One happened many years ago when Betty B. was asked to sing at a meeting where the speaker was a bona fide opera singer. She was so scared of not being good enough and talked to God about how perfect love is supposed to cast out fear and would He please make her love more perfect. This is what He answered: "Not your perfect love, My perfect love." And Betty was able to say, "Oh, that." Or something like that....
The other thing was when I was interceeding (I suppose) for a friend who was in danger of drinking herself into oblivion. I read "Reese Howe's, Intercessor" which talks about the kind of bearing one another's burdens that you wrote about. When I was very tempted (just once and very momentarily) to get very drunk (and where did that come from?) I recognized it as "bearing this burden," taking on her temptation as you took your friend's fear. I don't know how this works, but there is a way in which it does. Sorry this is so long, but that's what you brought back to my mind after all these years. Thanks, Katie. We love the Ground.
What you felt was probably not your imagination, but the actual "taking on" of your friend's fear. It's not like you thought about doing it first, then felt it. There was nothing "conscious" about it from your telling, and that implies something divine.
The passing of your friend is so significant, for that event will replay itself in our own lives at the time that the Lord has appointed for us. Thank you, Katie, for not being afraid to address these significant realities.