A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN
By Aliss Cresswell
A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN
By Aliss Cresswell
The memory etched in my mind
One year ago today, me and Rob were down on the South Coast of England, driving from the supermarket back to the house we’d rented for 4 weeks. In a tone echoing Churchill announcing war, the Prime Minister’s voice declared over the radio: “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Do not meet friends. Do not meet family members. Do not go to the shops except for essential groceries. If you do not follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Shops and restaurants must close, holiday accommodation and offices must close, places of worship and gyms must close. No weddings, events or any type of gatherings are allowed…” and so he continued.
We, like the rest of the nation, were pretty shocked. We knew that coronavirus cases were on the increase and some shops had already been closing, but to be told to go home and stay home wasn’t easy for us. Only 3 weeks earlier we’d rented out our home in Chester. The only belongings we had were what would fit in our car, and we’d rented a place on the South coast for 4 weeks in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The announcement from the government was on the Monday and we were due to leave our accommodation just 4 days later, with nowhere to go.
What is God saying?
The Holy Spirit had led us there, and we knew that God had a plan. We just had to find out what it was! With lockdown, it meant the weekly Spirit Lifestyle Classes we’d planned to launch that week could no longer go ahead. Incredibly, and with just 2 days before we’d be homeless, we spotted a cottage on the internet that was for rent in Wales and managed to move in on the Friday.
Lockdown one year on
Today is exactly one year since that ominous announcement by our Prime Minister. We’re still in the same cottage on the Welsh mountainside. We’re still in lockdown, although since last week it’s now legal to travel within 5 miles of our home for outdoor exercise!
It hasn’t been easy by any means. There’s the news headlines bragging the daily death toll. And of course, along with almost everyone else, there are feelings of imprisonment and frustration, separation from family members and friends. Not legally being able to pray for people out and about like I usually do or tell them about Jesus. No hugging, no touching. ‘Keep 6 feet away at all times and wear your mask’. Spirits of death and fear all around. But as well as Covid restrictions, this past year we’ve had to deal with some really difficult situations, in fact some of the most challenging times of our lives.
But through all this, I have to tell you that God is real and He has an incredible plan for me, for you, for all of us. In fact, right now He is putting His plans into action and if you are following His Spirit, then you will see what He is doing begin to take shape and you will sense that we’re right on the cusp of an incredible move of God, globally.
The memory etched in my mind
One year ago today, me and Rob were down on the South Coast of England, driving from the supermarket back to the house we’d rented for 4 weeks. In a tone echoing Churchill announcing war, the Prime Minister’s voice declared over the radio: “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Do not meet friends. Do not meet family members. Do not go to the shops except for essential groceries. If you do not follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Shops and restaurants must close, holiday accommodation and offices must close, places of worship and gyms must close. No weddings, events or any type of gatherings are allowed…” and so he continued.
We, like the rest of the nation, were pretty shocked. We knew that coronavirus cases were on the increase and some shops had already been closing, but to be told to go home and stay home wasn’t easy for us. Only 3 weeks earlier we’d rented out our home in Chester. The only belongings we had were what would fit in our car, and we’d rented a place on the South coast for 4 weeks in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The announcement from the government was on the Monday and we were due to leave our accommodation just 4 days later, with nowhere to go.
What is God saying?
The Holy Spirit had led us there, and we knew that God had a plan. We just had to find out what it was! With lockdown, it meant the weekly Spirit Lifestyle Classes we’d planned to launch that week could no longer go ahead. Incredibly, and with just 2 days before we’d be homeless, we spotted a cottage on the internet that was for rent in Wales and managed to move in on the Friday.
Lockdown one year on
Today is exactly one year since that ominous announcement by our Prime Minister. We’re still in the same cottage on the Welsh mountainside. We’re still in lockdown, although since last week it’s now legal to travel within 5 miles of our home for outdoor exercise!
It hasn’t been easy by any means. There’s the news headlines bragging the daily death toll. And of course, along with almost everyone else, there are feelings of imprisonment and frustration, separation from family members and friends. Not legally being able to pray for people out and about like I usually do or tell them about Jesus. No hugging, no touching. ‘Keep 6 feet away at all times and wear your mask’. Spirits of death and fear all around. But as well as Covid restrictions, this past year we’ve had to deal with some really difficult situations, in fact some of the most challenging times of our lives.
But through all this, I have to tell you that God is real and He has an incredible plan for me, for you, for all of us. In fact, right now He is putting His plans into action and if you are following His Spirit, then you will see what He is doing begin to take shape and you will sense that we’re right on the cusp of an incredible move of God, globally.
The memory etched in my mind
One year ago today, me and Rob were down on the South Coast of England, driving from the supermarket back to the house we’d rented for 4 weeks. In a tone echoing Churchill announcing war, the Prime Minister’s voice declared over the radio: “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Do not meet friends. Do not meet family members. Do not go to the shops except for essential groceries. If you do not follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Shops and restaurants must close, holiday accommodation and offices must close, places of worship and gyms must close. No weddings, events or any type of gatherings are allowed…” and so he continued.
We, like the rest of the nation, were pretty shocked. We knew that coronavirus cases were on the increase and some shops had already been closing, but to be told to go home and stay home wasn’t easy for us. Only 3 weeks earlier we’d rented out our home in Chester. The only belongings we had were what would fit in our car, and we’d rented a place on the South coast for 4 weeks in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The announcement from the government was on the Monday and we were due to leave our accommodation just 4 days later, with nowhere to go.
What is God saying?
The Holy Spirit had led us there, and we knew that God had a plan. We just had to find out what it was! With lockdown, it meant the weekly Spirit Lifestyle Classes we’d planned to launch that week could no longer go ahead. Incredibly, and with just 2 days before we’d be homeless, we spotted a cottage on the internet that was for rent in Wales and managed to move in on the Friday.
Lockdown one year on
Today is exactly one year since that ominous announcement by our Prime Minister. We’re still in the same cottage on the Welsh mountainside. We’re still in lockdown, although since last week it’s now legal to travel within 5 miles of our home for outdoor exercise!
It hasn’t been easy by any means. There’s the news headlines bragging the daily death toll. And of course, along with almost everyone else, there are feelings of imprisonment and frustration, separation from family members and friends. Not legally being able to pray for people out and about like I usually do or tell them about Jesus. No hugging, no touching. ‘Keep 6 feet away at all times and wear your mask’. Spirits of death and fear all around. But as well as Covid restrictions, this past year we’ve had to deal with some really difficult situations, in fact some of the most challenging times of our lives.
But through all this, I have to tell you that God is real and He has an incredible plan for me, for you, for all of us. In fact, right now He is putting His plans into action and if you are following His Spirit, then you will see what He is doing begin to take shape and you will sense that we’re right on the cusp of an incredible move of God, globally.