Upstream / Downstream

I saw a river flowing through the township that was full of mud. People were going to the river, drinking it, washing themselves in it, washing their clothes, and watering their plants. They were trying to use the river to live but it was bogging everything down because it was so muddy. It was clogging everything up to the point of taking away the joy of living. People were struggling, wanting to live happy lives, but they were bogged down in this mud. Everything was affected by it, yet many people didn't even realize what was happening. They thought this was normal.

I looked upstream and saw that the devil was throwing stuff into the river. As he did, the stuff melted down and turned into the substance that made the river muddy. No one was there to stop him and he was throwing stuff in non-stop, and laughing about it.

I asked the Lord what this meant. In Rev 22:1 we see a river that comes from God. It's a crystal clear river that comes from His throne. It is life-giving, but what I saw was the enemy throwing stuff into this river causing problems downstream so that it was no longer life-giving.

When I first saw this, I wondered if this river represented a timeline. A timeline-river would mean that in the beginning there was a clear river flowing through Waterford but at some point in time the enemy threw stuff in causing it to get bogged down. This would be a generational thing that would have begun many years ago, yet still affecting us today. Then I wondered if this river represented space or distance. A distance-river would mean that those who are far away from the Lord--the source of the river--are affected by this muddy river. For those who are far from the source, the enemy has space to dump things in the river without being noticed. I think the river represents both a timeline and a distance.

Father, in the name of Jesus, reveal the things we need to see from this. If there is anything wherever or whenever that is being, or has been, dumped into the river of life You have brought to this region, expose it and stop it now. Show us where and when this is/has happened. We repent of anything in the past that our ancestors in this region have allowed into this river, or in the present going on now. We ask for Your mercy, so that what has happened doesn't affect us any longer. We ask that this garbage be removed out of this river. We ask that whatever has been dumped into this river, feeding Waterford and Oakland County, that is contrary to You and Your ways be removed. No longer contaminating, bogging down, or affecting this river so the people here and now can draw freely from the river of life and receive the cleansing, refreshing, renewal, and life that You send down this river. We ask that the contamination stop. We take authority over any demonic thing to the degree You've given us authority. We ask for mercy and grace from You to stop this. Send Your angels and host of heaven to clear this up this contamination and for Your river to flow freely and clearly once again throughout Waterford and Oakland County.

God is not bound by time. What has happened in the past can be dealt with now.

God, I pray concerning those who are distant from You. Those living now, especially those who give the appearance that they are close to You. That the deception of this is exposed. Hypocrites are those who honor Him with their lips, but whose heart is far from Him (Matthew 15:8). Anyone who is appearing to be close to You but whose heart is far from You is not flowing with Your river. They are not a source of life. Those who partake of these branches of the river will get bogged down. Jesus said whoever believes in Him, out of his/her belly will flow rivers of living water (John 7). We need faith, and to be faithful, for that river to continue to flow clearly out from us, so we can bring life to others.

I pray that the people who have distanced themselves from You, knowingly or unknowingly, be drawn back to You. Those who are being deceived--open their eyes, let them see the river they've been partaking of, let them see the condition of the river, what has been dumped into their lives that is not of You. Reveal the branches of the river that have been contaminated. Let them move upstream so they can see who is contaminating it, and what the river is like closer to You. 

God help us to set watches along the river to guard so the enemy does not contaminate this river. Show us how to move upstream so close to You that distant generations and those distant from You now can drink from and wash in the river of life. So those who are distance in both time and space can receive of Your life.  

As we move closer upstream and get closer to Him, and set a watch along the river, the distance between Waterford and the Lord will shorten. Shorten the distance between Waterford and the source of life--the source of the river. We pray that those who are far in both time and space, come closer to You. Move us closer to You! Move Waterford and Oakland County closer to You. Pick us up and move us closer to You so both those far away in distance and time will be close to You too--the source of life. Move us in the spirit closer to You.

Lord we pray that believers and unbelievers be drawn closer to You. Move upstream. Move upstream. Move upstream. Grow tired of the muddy bogged down river. Get past the junk and the contamination. When God made the earth the Garden of Eden was beautiful, but the enemy came and contaminated it with his breath. The garden became contaminated. God created Waterford and this area to be a beautiful place. We want to see Your vision for this region. We want to move upstream and draw from the source of life. We set a watch so future generations, and those far from You here and now, so they can receive Your pure, clear water of life.

The enemy is booted out. No more can you contaminate this river! God we stand in faith and faithfulness to You. Send Your host of heaven to clean the river up, and help us stand guard to stop junk from being thrown into Your river. One drop of the blood of Jesus in this river cleanses it, one drop in our heart, purifies the river that flows out from us, cancelling out everything the enemy tries to do. The pure, clear river of the Spirit of God flowing out of our bellies.

I see a flood of pure, clear, water flowing down M-59. It looks like a rapid river, like a dam let loose. It's a gush of pure and clean water flowing down M-59. We receive it Lord! We receive Your life-flow, Your river of life!

Whether you live in Waterford, or Oakland County, or not, pray this for your community. Ask the Lord to show you about this river in your community.