Many years ago, I searched for what might be considered as “ultimate Truth.”

I read various volumes of books from the Far East, particularly India, and I decided to see and experience those things through various ways, particularly through meditation and other ways.

Much of this happened in my later high school year, but particularly in college in my small Kansas town.

I was also influenced by the hippie culture, and became ingrained in it. While perhaps many of us have at times ventured out into doing things that some would consider as questionable and wrong, my intent was still wanting to find a reason for my existence.

Truly I was seeking these things and through the process of experimenting in many ways, chose this at that time in my life.

I would venture off to a place by the river, and sit there in the grass and weeds. As I looked up through the leaves of the trees, I would get caught-up, not only in their beauty and appearance, but also in wondering what Truth laid beyond nature itself.

I imagine that many of us have found that nature itself provides a backdrop for us in our search for Truth, and helping us in our spiritual journeys.

In time, I decided to search this further through transcendental medication. I would get up early in the morning, just as the sun was coming up, and sit in a cross-legged position.

Then I would stare off into the distance and keep my gaze transfixed upon a certain area there. In time, the entire area would take on a different hue and appearance.

Everything would start to be colored a bright chartreuse and then would alternate to a pinkish color.

Somehow, through the act of sitting like this transfixed looking into the distance, would cause me to see all of this.

Part of this I believe, is how our visual outlook changes when we sit and stare at something for long periods of time.

Along with simply the act of “staring” like this, was the philosophy that everything in nature around us is “one,” and that somehow a universality is seen throughout everything we see, hear, taste, and feel.

This of course, is hinged to much of the belief system found within Hinduism. There were other times when I would sit and stare at a candle flame.

After gazing at it for some time, I felt calmer but was in a type of daze. The same type of appearance and vision, would occur.

In other words, everything around me would appear either “pink” or “chartreuse” in color and hue. I’m certain that family members wondered why it took me so long to come to the dinner table, when I was at home still.

I don’t believe that the act of meditation is a dangerous method as some may think . It is primarily the belief system that it oftentimes is attached to it. But over time I found that even though I was getting calmer and somewhat peaceful, I was in a very hollow state of mind.

It wasn’t long before all of this came to a head and a completely different direction was soon to follow.
In time after all of these experiences, then things took on an abrupt change for me.

I had spent a lonely evening and had walked a long ways from where I lived on campus. I met someone and then walked home.

I remember seeing a dog that seemed to be following me as I traveled. Somehow this small beast, had been my companion at the time.

Soon afterwards, as I returned to my dorm at the college, I raised my hand into the air and said the word, “Jesus.”

Strange as it may seem to many, I looked up and saw the clouds in the sky where there was break in them.

A figure or a face emerged, and I knew at the time that it was a Divine Encounter. The Voice spoke to me, and what emerged was beyond anything I had encountered before.

During the next several weeks, I remember almost walking around in a trance, as the world around me seemed to take on a different perception and awakening.

I saw people in a different way, and somehow came out of the shell or barrier, that had kept me there before.

I finally realized that something had happened to me spiritually, on a very deep level, and found a local group of Believers that met.

I found out, in the many times as I began praying or talking with God, that there was a certain direction to go, and that I had calling on my life.

I had several Visions at this time, that still continue to this day. While I did not have any Words of Prophecy at this time, the gift of Discerning of Spirits, Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues was developed first, and other things came thereafter.

If I had somehow decided to continue in my experience only, I don’t know what belief system I would have attached to all of this.

I just knew that somehow, what I had read and experienced before all of this, had not produced any fruit. In fact, it had left me empty and still searching.

There was a man who had come to The Bible Study, who would stand up and begin teaching and saying things to our group.

In time, I would meet with him and talk. He led a very solitary existence. I realized very soon that he was a Prophet, and as he shared things with me, somehow I knew that my calling was the same.

We all have a past and a testimony about our own journeys in this life.

~ More to come at some point in time

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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