Excerpt from My Journey by Steve Smith
MY VISION OF THE RIVER OF GOD
Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
In 1979 I was in a prayer meeting with some college students and as we were praying I felt the Lord say to me, ‘Take a faith walk to Heaven’. I said to the Lord how do you do that? He said, ‘Just do it’.
So whilst I was on my knees I began to talk out loud and I said, ‘I’m up in Heaven right now and I’m being greeted at the gates of Heaven by two angels’… and just like that I wasn’t conscious of being in the prayer meeting any more - I was in Heaven.
The two angels began to take me through huge gates into Heaven itself. They took me along the banks of a beautiful river. I noticed that the river had lush trees on either side of its banks and everything was so perfect and peaceful. I also noticed that the river was flowing right down to the earth and I could see the river landing into darkness, but wherever the river flowed it brought life and glory. As we were walking along the river we arrived at a building that looked like a palace. That’s the only way I can describe it.
I always thought that if I ever went to Heaven in a dream or vision there would be so many questions that I would ask and yet I found myself saturated in the peace and love of Jesus and didn’t even think to ask questions.
The angels went with me to the palace, then they disappeared and I saw Jesus sitting on His throne and the great river narrowed right down and went under His throne and proceeded out of His throne. I was standing by the river that was flowing rapidly away from the throne room and my eyes were fixed on Jesus.
At this point He didn’t speak to me but as I drew closer to Him He would look at me, and then look at the river and He did this several times. Then all of a sudden Jesus had so much fire and power in His eyes that He looked at me again and His look lifted me into the air and then into the river. I began to be taken by the fast flow of the river that seemed to be going a thousand miles an hour and the throne and Jesus were getting smaller and smaller.
Then Jesus spoke to me and said, ‘This is my river that flows from my throne room to the earth. It’s my river of joy and life and touches the spiritually dead and those with sickness and disease and brings them to life. Take and flow in my river. If you will then you will touch countless lives all over the world with My saving and healing power’.
Then I was aware again of the fact I was on my knees in the prayer meeting. The presence of God in that room was so tangible and thick. My fellow students didn’t see the vision I had but as I spoke out what I was seeing, the presence of God fell on them more and more.
Seeking God is so amazing; I could hardly wait to get back from lunch or dinner so I could wait in His presence and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I remember that sometimes His presence was so strong as I waited on Him and other times I wouldn’t feel anything much at all. But after prayer I’d be walking down the college corridor, or walking up the street and the power of God would flood all over me. I would often ask the Lord, ‘Why do I feel this now?’ He would say to me, ‘I’m rewarding you for seeking My face earlier on’.
He began to show me His ways, I began to see how He would lead me and how He would empower me, How I could touch and live in His presence. What a wonderful God we have.
