In early 2008 when the U.S. presidential primaries were in full swing, I was given a visitation from the Lord. It was one I did not fully understand at the time. On the Republican side of the political aisle, John McCain had not yet secured his nomination from his party and Barack Obama was still in a heated debate with Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side of the ticket. Much was at stake and eventually Barack Obama was elected president of the United States at our national elections close to four years ago.
A Confirmation Comes
What I am about to share is to be discerned and prayed over as is the case in all revelatory experiences. It was only in recent months, after I re-listened to a recorded word given to me by a trusted prophet in January 2010, that I realized the magnitude of the word given directly to me by the Holy Spirit. This prophetic person stated that I had been given a visitation in early 2008, which was for the country and was governmental in nature. I had thought it was for then, but the Lord said it was a word for what was about to come.
When I received the word in January 2008, I wrongly interpreted the message. I thought, Oh that is about my visitation to start Prayer Storm The Hour that Changes the World. I thought, That is a great confirmation! Only in recent months when I re-listened to the word recorded on my phone, I realized my commissioning encounter to start Prayer Storm was in April 2007, not 2008. So my interpretation was wrong. I was left musing.
I searched through my materials and realized, I did have a visitation in early 2008. It was governmental in nature and for the United States of America. (Maybe my getting it wrong and then getting it right will encourage some of the rest of you in your three-stage journey of revelation interpretation application.)
The Background
I was alone sleeping in a downstairs room in my home in Franklin, Tenn. Michal Ann was still with us at the time, though very ill with her long-fought battle with cancer. We had ’round-the-clock home caregivers with her—whether in our bedroom, at the hospital or in the rehabilitation unit. We slept the last two years of her dear life apart, as she was constantly being taken care of.
I was desperate and seeking the Lord that night in a little hideaway room down in our basement. That night the Lord gave me a vivid dream followed by a waking vision and an experience where the external audible voice of the Lord came to me.
In the dream, I saw the nation on a teeter-totter tipping back and forth going to and fro with great instability. We were going up and down and up and down and it seemed there was no relief in sight. The United States was reeling from fatigue of wars, corruption and economic uncertainty.
Then the voice of the Lord came in the dream, Liberalism will reign for a season in the land and then it will become popular for moderacy to rule, which could ultimately lead to true conservatism.It was not the word I honestly wanted to hear from the Holy Spirit at the time but it came very succinctly to me anyway. Sometimes, we have to remove our own preconceived prejudices with our tainted filters to be able perceive a clear word from the Lord.
Suddenly, I was awakened from the dream and the basement room was tangibly filled with the presence of destiny. I then saw in the seer realm a baseball game in action. A young pitcher was throwing a ball to the plate with great force and seeming agility. It was a curve ball that appears to be a strike but instead it was not a ball for the batter to swing at. Another player was squatted behind the plate with a huge catcher’s mitt. He caught the off-target ball as it pounded into his glove.
Then the external voice of the Lord came to me saying, When the nation has been thrown a curve ball, I will have a man prepared who comes from the state of Michigan and he will have a big mitt capable of catching whatever is thrown his way.
Hearing a Hard Word
A strange word I did not understand except for the sequence liberalism to moderarcy to the possibility of true conservatism. I have wrestled with this word and it has wrestled with me. I remember even being in the state of Massachusetts at a church not long after this encounter, squatting to the ground and acting out the word about the Lord preparing a man from Michigan who would have a big mitt! Mercy! Some liked what they heard and some did not. I was a bit clueless.
I thought it was for then—2008—and I guess partly it was. Liberalism has ruled in the nation for the past four years. Some cheer this as a great success and other bemoan this as a disaster. Whatever your view, it has come to pass. Liberalism, unlike any recent time in modern American history, has ruled the land in the past four years.
But the Lord said there would be a man prepared who would come from the state of Michigan who would have a big mitt. Little did I know at that time that Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, was born in the state of Michigan. Little did I know, when I received this in 2008, that he would win his party’s primary for the 2012 national elections!
At the Crossroads of History
Let me give a word of perspective. We are not voting for a pastor, an elder or a deacon of a church. This is not the next senior pastoral selection committee. There are many views and I value interaction, discussion and educated dialogue. Let me also be clear and state: I did not say who would win the national election. We have a free choice and God honors that. But He always offers us a choice.
As I have stated earlier, I have wrestled with this word and it has wrestled with me. I have pondered deeply if I should even share the word at all publicly. I understand about praying revelation and at times not sharing your word with others. I have privately prayed more words than I have given in public. I have taught this realm for years and these truths are contained in my book The Prophetic Intercessor.
But being that we are in such a crisis of a crossroads in this nation, I for one cannot remain silent. I cannot let this word go unspoken. The Holy Spirit gave a confirmation to it to give me confidence. I have pondered and prayed through this issue. I have made a decision to dare to be bold enough to share my subjective revelatory experience with you.
The New Testament says to, “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). But please, whatever you do, do not be apathetic in this hour. Get informed—even at this last minute—pray and seek the face of God and put works to your faith—and vote!
This is our American liberty; men and women have fought and died for the right for the voice of the people to be heard. I urge you to shake yourself off. Arise and make a difference! This I do know: When the nation is thrown a curve ball, He has a plan!
James W. Goll is the president of Encounters Network, director of Prayer Storm, and coordinates Encounters Alliance, a coalition of leaders. He is director of God Encounters Training, an e-school of the heart, and is a member of the Harvest International Ministries apostolic team. James is the author of numerous books and has also produced multiple study guides and hundreds of audio and video messages.
Stephen Strang 
Charisma Media Staff 
Charisma Staff 
