In scripture there’s a question that God seems to like asking: ‘what do you see?’  

Jeremiah 1:13 The Lord spoke his word to me again: “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water, tipping over from the north.” 

Amos 7:8 The Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, I will put a plumb line among my people Israel to show how crooked they are. I will not look the other way any longer. 

Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top. And there are seven lamps and also seven places for wicks. 

 
Last week I spent a couple of days praying for a friend who was in bad way. I travelled to Chester and as I walked to where my meeting was I passed the place where I believe the Lord had asked me that question over and over starting from about 11 years ago. There’s a particular place near the canal where I ‘feel’ that question asked ‘what do you see?’ right into the core of my being.

The thing is I kept getting it wrong! In prayer I would respond to the question with guesses and each time I felt The Lord say ‘nope’ to my answer! 

Last week I answered: ‘I see a Fort!’ And I felt God say  YES! ‘I’m building you all up like a strong fortress.’ 

It was a powerful encounter in the midst of suffering and heart ache. 

At that moment I felt that the team of people that I’m part of where being made strong together. Yet the circumstances didn’t match what I felt God saying, yet it gave great hope.