In the past month before the Jewish new year up to Yom Kippur there were some intense battles going on in the spirit realm. Many felt personal turmoil, then just a general spiritual resistance to their lives. Since then there has been a crossing over into a new place of blessing, rest and peace.
There was a definite bending of the bow and release of God’s arrow that had taken out much resistance.
Many felt like they were the bow being bent! God shot His arrow through them.
The week after Yom Kippur I heard the Lord say that “We’ve passed through the fire and have come out pure as gold.“
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:1-3
The was a clear time of specific testing up to the time of Yom Kippur where God’s people had the opportunity to fall upon the rock of Jesus, allowing Him to do a work in their hearts.
God says, “You are Mine!”
He wants us to know that He is with us in the most difficult of times. He will never leave us of forsake us but is with us in all places wherever we go.
For He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you in all your ways.
Psalms 91:11
I like to say that God has the very best insurance plan. He love us so much. He sees our faithfulness when we are pursuing His heart with full intention to stay on His path. His promise is to give His angels charge over you to keep you in all of your ways. That is a great deal!
He did not say in all of His ways, but ours because He is not expecting perfection but faithfulness on our part. Even when our path does not look perfect He can make your plan B into a plan A.
There is still breakthrough, double blessing and overflow to occur, even through to the end of December. Keep seeking the Lord. He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! Pursue and overtake!
Let Love Push You Up Higher
In our relationships we have to learn to let the ones that are more difficult push us into a higher place. We must let love push us higher.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Every challenge is an opportunity to either step up or step down. You can take the high road or the low road. Make your challenges a stepping stone to come up higher with the Lord. When difficult times come they can either drive us into the Lord or away from the Lord, but it is our choice. All you have to do is lean into the Lord and access His grace to help you overcome. There is no greater reward you can have than to stand before Jesus and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:1-2
Have you ever been invited to tango with someone? If you tango you will get tangled. Don’t argue with people. Let it go. Don’t defend yourself but rather be content in God. Find your identity in what He thinks of you because He will stand up for you. Many times the best response is to simply say nothing. Hold your peace.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Jesus had every reason to defend Himself but He didn’t say a word.
The Shield of His Glory!?
God is your shield. His glory is a shield. When you discover life in the manifested Presence of God you discover the reality of His shield around your life. His glory is His Presence, His blessing and His favor surrounding you.
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalms 3:3
Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to come dwell inside of us. Jesus came and tabernacled among us.
And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
John 1:14
Jesus, as our ultimate example, came to show us how to live. He calls us to be those living tabernacles of His Presence in the earth. As the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of glory, Who dwells in us is Christ in us the hope of glory we become carriers of that most excellent Presence of God. Open the door to the Holy Spirit to fill and flow through you to reveal the reality of God to others.
In the Old Testament you had to go to the Tabernacle to experience the Presence of God. ?Now we are the living tabernacles that can carry the glory of God to the world.
Defuse the Enemy with Joyful Tactics!
The other day the Lord spoke to me to defuse the enemy with joyful tactics. Did you know that the joy of God has great power? One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is JOY!
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:12
One way you can know that you are communing with the Holy Spirit is when His love, joy and peace begins to flood your heart. It is a supernatural result of your love for God in the Person of the Holy Spirit.
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
Being thankful is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Did you know that you cannot complain and give thanks at the same time? It doesn?t work.
There is a domino effect when we choose to live in sync with the Holy Spirit rather than following the fleshly mind. Faith and trust blossoms in the Presence of God. When God is big in your life you won’t make molehills mountains and mountains molehills. You will magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him at all times. There are times when praise is a sacrifice, but those are the times when God appreciates it the most!
The Maserati of Tennis Racquets
I recently had a dream where I saw this new fancy tennis Racquet. It was like the Maserati of tennis racquets. This was a new super sleek black tennis racquet that had 3-4 different heads to choose from. One would make it extra long and another short where you would have to run more to hit the ball back. With this racquet it I could make some great shots but it took getting used to and understanding how it worked. I even commented in the dream that I would have to get used to it.
We are in a new season where God is giving upgrades and new equipment that will take some learning to get used to and will require us to run the race at a faster pace.
As we seek the Lord God is going to be giving an increase in ability, that will have different ways of doing things, as we accelerate forward in His purposes and plans. Be encouraged in your faith, believe God for greater, keep moving forward and rejoice in His Presence!