Recognize Your Covert Blessing
One thing I could not shake was my appreciation for Darlene Zschech’s ministry. It was not fandom. Even hero is not an adequate word to describe Darlene’s influence upon my life. This woman is a general of the faith. She is one who has been key in sowing into generational revival, passing this “baton” of extravagant worship to emerging leaders. When the history books are written, I believe Darlene will be listed among other people of His presence, such as A.W. Tozer, Kathryn Kuhlman and John G. Lake. Even though these men and women are reocgnized for different aspects of ministry—writing, healing, signs and wonders—their burning quest for God’s presence motivated everything. Such is the case with Darlene.
I was absolutely drawn to her hunger for God’s presence. From that event onward, I continued to listen to her music. We have attended at least 10 events in the states where Darlene has led worship. I have been over to the Hillsong Conference in Australia twice. I have had the great honor of meeting Darlene on multiple occasions and even interviewing her.
Yet none of these things ultimately satisfied me. I celebrate them all, for sure. However, I was not simply looking to meet a hero in the faith—though she clearly is. Instead, I was looking at someone who walked out a pursuit that I desired to live myself. I discovered that during that worship event back in 2000, I received an impartation from Darlene. Her hunger for God called me up higher and left an indelible imprint on my spiritual life. It was totally covert. I did not go forward, asking her to pray over me—I received it by simply being present in that atmosphere.
“God Transformed My Life … and I Didn’t Even Know It!”
I want to encourage you that some of the most significant moments of impartation in your life can take place without you even knowing it! The key to unlocking these hidden blessings is taking time to reflect on your history with God. What stands out? What are common themes? What drives you? What are you passionate about? What are you experiencing breakthrough in? What causes you to dream?
When we look back over our lives, we notice certain threads. For me, it has been a quest to experience more of God’s manifest presence, to help bring others into a similar encounter and to help them walk out their Christian lives confident that God Almighty actually lives inside of them. The very purpose of my ministry was birthed in that impartation—and I had no clue what was going on!
This immediately makes me think of Jacob in Genesis 28. He has this incredible prophetic dream of a ladder stretching from heaven to earth, with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. Verse 13 even reveals that “the Lord stood above it and said … ” All of this supernatural activity is going on, not to mention that the Lord God Himself is speaking and reminding Jacob of the covenant promise He made to Abraham.
So, what’s first thing Jacob says upon waking? “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it” (v. 16). This tells me that we can encounter God in one dimension and yet our minds need some time to catch up with the transaction that took place in the spirit. Consider Jacob’s language: I did not know it. God was there. Something life-changing and destiny-defining was clearly happening to Jacob, and yet—during the moment it was taking place—Jacob’s mind could not comfortably wrap around the work of God in his life.
Jacob’s story is a powerful illustration of how God can covertly release something into your life that goes on to shape everything about you. Most likely, you will not possess full clarity of what’s happening during your moment of impartation. Nevertheless, something has been released into your life that will be profound and significant for the days ahead.
