With all the recent developments of war and the appearance of the breakdown of multiple societies, it can feel as if we are doomed.  But we are NOT.  First, remember this…

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  Psalms 33:10-11

His plans are secure.  He will do all that He plans to do.  Bank on that…if that were the new form of cryptocurrency, I would trade everything to invest in it…He is GOD; there is no other.  I am all in with Him. 

This morning as I was praying about many things, both for myself and family, our country, Ukraine, and the rest of the world…I heard one thing.  Fail safe.  Literally out of nowhere I heard Him speak these two words.  Here is their definition.

Fail safe:  -System or plan that comes into operation in the event of something going wrong or that is there to prevent such an occurrence.  -Causing a piece of machinery or other mechanism to revert to a safe condition in the event of a breakdown or malfunction.  -Unlikely or unable to fail.

Now I’m thinking of the final great awakening and the harvest…they are fail safe.  We have nothing to fear.  If we truly believe in God and trust Him for the best, then we can relax into these “contractions” that have come upon the earth.  Like a pregnant woman, the earth is now contracting.  Our only wise decision is to relax into it, breathe deep, and rest.  Rest on the Promise.  Rest on the Truth.  Rest in His Presence.  Rest.

Here we once again circle back to the theme of rest…and I honestly had zero idea that I’d be writing about that again today.  I just love how this writing process works. 

When disaster or trouble hits, we have an opportunity to display trust and peace.  This is what will draw many in the last days.  This is what will set us apart from the unbeliever.  And friend, if you can’t walk in it, then that will be a stumbling block for the one who would have believed.  Yes, I said it.  You and I are responsible for our actions…we are meant to be a light to the world.  How can we do that if we are blind to peace.  How can we be a light if we are hiding in shadow?  In Him there is no darkness, even when we hide in His shadow, we are hiding in light.  His wrap around protection covers us at all times when we walk with Him.  We must be brave now.  We must be steady.  We must have our ears tuned toward heaven, ignoring all other sounds.  The Bridegroom will come.  When He’s ready He will come.  There is no stopping what has already been written.  The only real question is this, how will you be found?  Will you be running around terrified, or will you be wrapped in the Presence of Peace?  Choose this day whom you will serve…the fear of the Lord or the spirit of fear.

Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.  Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:14-15

As we face day to day challenges and continue to work toward establishing our family again financially…I have to constantly remind myself of the promises in scripture.  Tonight, I’m remembering, I shall not want. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23

This scripture is soaked into my heart.  I hear my spirit speak it over me all the time.  The Lord is a good Shepherd.  He knows all my needs.  He cares for each one of us. 

Going through an involuntary career change at this point in our lives, is hard.  It just is.  In our dreams and plans, we saw ourselves at a very different place by now.  I can’t understand everything that has happened…I likely never will.  I don’t suppose that I need to.  If I did, I know that God would show it to me. 

All I can do is allow all of this change to do its full work.  I see God is using all of it to transform our family and ultimately, I’m grateful.  Yes, I said it…I am grateful.  Why?  Because if the Lord, in His great love, desires to change me, then I want to cooperate.  If He sees things in our family that He wants to improve or change…then by all means, I will allow it. 

If work hadn’t changed, would I have heard the call to homeschool?  If God hadn’t called me out of our church, would I have wanted to move to AR?  You see, He’s been setting me up this whole time.  He has worked so many different things in such a way as to corral us into the place He wants us to be.  It’s actually amazing when you think about it.  He cares for me so much that in His mercy He allows my discomfort so I will move.  What an awesome God He is. 

In every season of my life, I have never truly been in want.  I’ve always had food to eat, clothes to wear, a home to live in and a warm bed.  God has never failed me.  Even when I was living in full rebellion toward Him, He made a way for me.  It’s truly amazing when I think about it. I’ve also observed in the lives of others, that He makes a way when we see no way.  He loves His children.  We can count on Him.

Do you trust Him to provide all your needs?

I don’t know what you are currently needing…finances, healing, or whatever it is…He will provide. 

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:9

As a society…as a people…as believers…we are so distracted.

All the screens in our lives, continually pull us out of reality and into a world of fake…fake friendships, fake news, fake outrage, fake perfection…and a myriad of other types of fake.

With so many things vying for our attention, we are emotionally exhausted much of the time.  I find myself wrestling with it every day.  I wish I could say that I’m not caught up, but I am.  I pray about it all the time and seek to break the ties I have with it, but then I need something and find myself tethered to my phone again.  Every time I try to leave my phone in my bathroom for the day, I end up having to get it because I need it for this or that.  Our home can’t receive WIFI because of location, so my phone is my internet.  It’s also my timer, alarm, calendar, camera, email…it sometimes feels like a heavy burden to have on my shoulders.  I want to “break up” with my phone, but how can I?

So, I battle the distraction, because if it’s near me then I pick it up without even realizing it. 

I’m being really honest here.  I know some of you may judge what I’m saying I struggle with but be honest…we all have something we struggle with.  Maybe you’re a pro at not having your phone with you all the time…maybe you are better at disconnecting than I.  Honestly, I hope you are. 

That doesn’t change the reality that what I am struggling with is also the struggle of most other people too.

There must be a way to be less distracted.  Now is the time to break up with it all.  We must seek His face while He may be found.  As our lives are inundated with live streaming wars and threats of wars, inflation, enemies within, etc. we must remember the Truth.  We must focus our attention on praying His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

If we are to weather this storm, we must find FOCUS.

I know I wrote of focus a few weeks ago, but I really felt led to address it again…this time with screens in mind.  I keep having a vision…

I see us holding a mirror up to ourselves.  It’s not large and the view is small, so we are focused on a small portion of what’s around us…this represents the screens in our lives.  If you flip that mirror around, you find it’s the kind that magnifies 3x…now all that you saw is closer and more focused, but still on worldly things…but then the mirror is taken and held toward heaven, and I see God shining into the mirror and His glory then flooding the earth…because we chose to magnify Him instead of ourselves.

This is a striking vision.  What we magnify matters.

My question to you is this, “What are you magnifying today?  Yourself?  Earthly problems?  God?”  It matters.  We must magnify the Lord in all things.  I encourage you to make this choice today.

Lord, I chose to turn my focus upon You in all things.  Help me to remain steadfast in turning the mirror of my heart toward You so Your glory will be magnified on the earth.  Forgive my lack of focus and restore it to me now, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.  This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.  The poor will see and be glad- you who seek God, may your hearts live!  The Lord hears the needy and does not despise His captive people.  Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.  Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell there.  Psalm 69:30-36

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  1 Timothy 1:17

As we discussed yesterday, our lifelong habits can serve as a sort of prison for us.  They can make it harder for us to change.  Since we asked God to break us free from habits, let’s ask Him to help us start something new today!

I’ve learned that one thing that makes change hard is that we expect too much change at once and don’t value the small steps enough.  Today, I encourage you to do something small…similar to our Jericho Walk, one step forward…except this time I only want you to take a small step to start something completely new.  A small new change in routine, or small course correction in an old routine.  Something small. 

Imagine it like lifting weights…you don’t go to the gym wanting to be able to dead lift 200 pounds and just try that the first day.  No, instead you start small and work your way up as you get stronger and stronger. 

When I first started to allow God to change me as a mother…I had just married Chris and suddenly found myself with a 2 year old son.  I had never had that kind of responsibility before.  I didn’t have the luxury of carrying him in my womb and loving him as a baby.  Instead, in one fail swoop I went from freshly out of college life to being a full-time wife and mother.  Talk about culture shock.  The hardest part for me, at first, was waking up early.  As I said previously, I had been a single college girl who slept in and stayed up late.  This was a HUGE adjustment for me.  Yet, every morning, bright and early there Noah would be, standing at my bedroom door ready for me to feed him breakfast.  I admit that at first my attitude was rough.  I tried hard, but old habits are hard to break, and crankiness was breathing down my neck every morning.  Until one day during quiet time as I prayed and asked God to help me to do better in the morning.  It took no time for Him to say, “Get up tomorrow morning and make muffins with Noah.”  This sounds like a really small task now, but at that time it was big.  I complied, and the very next day, I was woken by him and dug deep inside and pulled out a smile and said, “Good morning!  Let’s go make muffins together!”  He was so pleased, and that single moment led me to be the exuberant morning person that I now am! 

Now that I made small alterations, I willingly wake up before everyone else in this house.  I embrace the morning now.  I actually go to bed looking forward to waking up the next day so I can spend time with God in the quiet and drink my cup of coffee.  It’s the best part of the day, if you ask me. 

Something new.

Going to the chiropractor and having one simple adjustment, realigns the spine and brings great relief.  It’s no different for our daily lives and attitudes.

Start small and build slowly and steadily from there.

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law, day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3

It’s time to break out of habits that keep you held back.  Habits that trip you up.  Things that you have done forever and don’t realize are holding you captive. 

Habits…We all have them.

I remember hearing a story of a family who always cut off the end of their ham before they baked it.  When the husband questioned his wife over why she did this, she stated that it was because her mom taught her to do it that way.  Out of curiosity, she then called her mom and asked why she cut the end off the ham before baking it.  The mom said that’s how her mom did it, so she always did it that way too.  The girl, becoming more curious, then called her grandmother and asked why she always cut the end of the ham off before baking it.  The grandmother lightly replied, “Because it didn’t fit in the pan unless I did.”

This analogy may sound silly, but it carries a heavy significance. 

What if some of the most basic habits you have, are not truly necessary or even effective?  It can be shocking to look at life and discover the truth of what we believe.  Some of us believe things simply because it’s all we’ve ever know, not because it’s really true. 

What if the roots of your faith are from the pot your parents were planted in and therefore are cutting you off from growing into the tree God has created you to be? 

It’s time for some of us to be transplanted.

Break out of your former root system and ask God to place you in a larger place where your territory can expand.  Breaking out is uncomfortable.  Breaking out may cause others to call you crazy, but who cares?! 

I keep having visions of chains breaking.  I’ve been seeing it all morning and it’s what I’m seeing now as I write about breaking free.  The Chain Breaker is here now, and He is ready to set you free. 

Imagine it like this.  You’ve been like a train that goes on one track.  You’ve been riding along that one route forever, but today God has pulled the bar that opens you up to a new route.  It may feel weird because It’s new, but it’s where He is moving now, so it’s suddenly become the only way forward.

How exciting is this season?!

We’ve only needed a slight course correction to get moving forward.  Let’s go!!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am he.  Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.  I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no savior.  I have revealed and saved and proclaimed- I, and not some foreign god among you.  You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.  Yes, and from ancient days I am He.  No one can deliver out of My hand.  When I act, who can reverse it?”  Isaiah 43:10-13

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  The wild animals honor Me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to My people, My chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.”  Isaiah 43:18-21

Over the last six years, I have grown very well aware of…delay.  I can literally feel the resistance the spirit of delay has released over us.  I’ve prayed about it, fasted over it, pleaded with God to remove it…delay.  Before we move forward let’s remember that there is a war going on that we can’t see with fleshly eyes…it’s in the spirit world.  We read some about it here…

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.  Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.  Daniel 10:12-13

This scripture reveals to us that wars between angels and demonic principalities can indeed cause delay.  How does that revelation sit on your spirit?  We’ve all read that story in scripture, but I wonder how many of us realize that if it was happening then, it’s still going on today.  Delay. 

Our very lives are acts of war.  That’s evidenced by the enemy’s obsession with abortion.  Our prayers are acts of war.  That’s why speaking in tongues, so we pray what’s on Holy Spirit’s heart, is so important.  Our worship is warfare.  Every time we glorify God in the place where satan tried to usurp that power, we solidify his defeat. 

If you’re experiencing delay in your life, then it’s time to do those three things…Live life, pray in the spirit, and worship.

When I say live life, I mean don’t allow the enemy to cause you to shrink back in defeat and hope deferred as you wait for breakthrough!  No.  Go out and storm the gates and be the breakthrough.  Let God move in, around and through you to advance the kingdom of Heaven. 

This is a season to violently storm the gates.  Yes, I realize yesterday I spoke of rest and peace.  That’s one way we find the strength to fight.  From the position of rest, I can fight, and the gates of hell will not prevail. 

Everything in life is connected.  If we can operate from rest and a spirit of peace, then there is no war we cannot win.  No wall we cannot scale.  No battle we cannot weather. 

The time is now.  Now is the time.  Rise up!  Rise up and take the land!! 

Fight the delay in life.  Fight it by being unrelenting.  Never giving up.  Always standing.  And having done all you can do, stand again. 

We are warriors, borne for such a time as this.  It’s time to arise!!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:10-18

The Lord is continually teaching me how to live life from a posture of rest.  I see that stillness is to be a hallmark of my lifestyle.  As the world continues to push busyness…God is calling me to rest.  I know this must be very important for me, because the enemy keeps trying to rob my rest.  I used to sleep a full night, almost every night.  I woke up refreshed every day and was so grateful for the fullness of sleep.  But over the last couple of years, I have struggled with sleep.  I know this has been an intentional act of war. 

From rest we find peace.  From rest we have a sound mind.  From rest we are energized and invigorated.  From rest we allow our physical body to be restored.  Rest is so important. 

Lack of rest has many signs…fear and anxiety thrive, sickness too…and a myriad of other things.

This may seem basic, but I’ve noticed people don’t think about this often enough.  Or they make excuses for lack of rest because they are desperate to fit in with other busy bees.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again now…being busy doesn’t make a person more important. 

Life is all about what you are choosing to glorify.

Are you glorifying God?  Or are you glorifying earthly things?  Popularity…money…position…image…church?  Yes, church…do you glorify your church over God?  

If you are in a church body that holds itself as more important than connecting with your own family, having quiet time with God, and if you are “required” to attend every single event and outing, then maybe you should ask God if you’ve accidentally begun to glorify your church more than Him. 

Our priority is God first, then family…then everything else falls into a healthy order. 

Today is a day of discovering priority and trying to realize our true motivation.  In the middle of last year, the Lord really convicted me that I had unwittingly begun to just fall in line with busyness in two particular places of my life.  He called me out, and it was so good.  He revealed it to me and I could see it so clearly, but didn’t quite know how to step out of it, so I surrendered to Him and over time, He gave me specific off-ramps.  I haven’t regretted it, even once.  The fruit of stepping into rest has been unbelievable.  Our family has bonded so deeply because we have more time together.  More time without pressure.  We’ve been able to have conflict and then work for resolution, because we have time.  We’ve been able to face the ugliness we have inside and allow God to transform us, because we have more time.  I revel in an open schedule.  It gives time for what’s important to God, and denies me of trying to find value in anything but Him.  This is the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done. 

I’ve also realized that God called me to be this way from the start, and now that I’ve had time to do so, I can tell you the exact moment when I began to turn my ear from Holy Spirit to embrace approval from others.  I have repented, and now I cautiously move forward, wrapped in forgiveness.  I don’t want to live for the approval of man.  It’s an exhausting thing to do.  Living from God’s approval is much better. 

God, reveal to me any places that I have traded rest for the applause and approval of man.  Forgive me, Lord.  You already approve of me, I know that full well.  Help me only seek to live life from Your approval.  I trade in, what the world demands from me…for Your Presence.  Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  I love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!  Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.  Galatians 1:6-10

After defeating Goliath, David was taken to Saul…still holding Goliath’s head in his hands.  That is bold, and I love it so much.  When David was allowed to speak with Saul, Jonathan (Saul’s son) was there too and loved David as much as himself…let’s read it.

As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.  “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.  David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”  After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.  From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.  And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.  Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.  This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well.  When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.  As they danced, they sang:  “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him.  “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands.  What more can he get but the kingdom?”  And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.                                          1 Samuel 17:57 through 18:1-9

Isn’t it amazing that right after David’s own brother tried to shame him and send him away, accusing him of pride, David was taken to the palace by Saul, and not allowed to go home.  He got there by God’s power, not his own.  The favor of God rested so firmly on David that Saul’s own son fell in love with him, loving him as he loved himself.  Which is the exact way we are instructed to love our neighbor, is it not?

What a beautiful climax to the story…but this story is barely beginning at this point.

It was almost immediately that Saul became jealous of David. 

Friends, some of our open doors will have those who are jealous of our anointing on the other side.  It’s not a real indicator of our own pride, but their corrupt hearts.  There may be someone that opens a door for us, only to attempt to sabotage us on the other side.  Let’s read on in this chapter…

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul.  He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did.  Saul had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.”  But David eluded him twice.  Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.  1 Samuel 18:10-12

Do you see that Saul was PROPHESYING when the evil spirit FROM GOD came upon him.  This is unbelievable.  He was prophesying…and the evil spirit came from God.  This should shake all of us.  There is so much more going on than we can imagine.

I have been through a very similar type of situation before.  One day a door was open, I could feel God moving in that direction and knew where Holy Spirit was about to place me, then in a moment of sheer jealousy a person purposefully sabotaged me.  Actually, two people…it was like a Jezebel and Ahab situation.  One was dripping with a jealous spirit…I knew it wasn’t me, as I had watched that same person exhibit the jealousy toward anyone they felt was in their way…and they partnered with another in authority who just wanted space filled and couldn’t be bothered.  

Friends, other people’s jealousy and sin isn’t your fault, and sometimes God is using it to move you to the exact place He wants you to be.  We see it over and over again in scripture…remember Joseph?  Moses?  Jealousy has been around from the beginning, it’s what drove the devil to try to take the worship and praise meant from God…Let that sit on your spirit for a minute.  We know where it originates, but God is gracious and works ALL things together for our good, wouldn’t you agree?

Breathe deep, relax and trust God to place you where He wants you to be.

We recount the story of David and Goliath all the time.  As children we learn about it and as adults, we continue to tell the tale.  Friends, that story really did happen…but I want to release something over you today.  I want to stir a new thought in your mind…

We are in another day of Goliath…hear me out.  Let’s read this chunk of scripture and then discuss…

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?  Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?  They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”  When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here?  And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert?  I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”  “Now what have I done?” said, David.  “Can’t I even speak?”  He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.  What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.  David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”  1 Samuel 17:26-32

Goliath came and ranted with intimidation tactics, trying to cause the Israelites to be afraid…and he was succeeding…until David arrived. 

It only took one person to stand against this enemy.  The one who knew who God was.  David was able to defeat Goliath for two reasons…he refused to be like everyone else, wearing Saul’s armor because he knew it would be more of a hindrance than a help.  And he knew who God was…he moved forward in God’s power, not his own.  David knew that God was enough. 

Today, we see the enemy using the same tactics to intimidate God’s people.  The liberal spirit stands as a Goliath and screams out words defying God and His people, and I wonder, when will we stand against it?

I, for one, am over this nonsense.  The things the enemy is screaming are nonsense.  Defying the existence of God, the truth of right and wrong, basics of biology, science is even perverted by love of money…the defiance is real.  The ability to stand against it like David did, is still available. 

One of the worst things the “church” can do in this moment is to be wishy-washy and weak-minded.  Every time the liberal spirit of the earth picks a target, I pray and hope that whoever it’s attacking will choose not to surrender to it.  There’s nothing to apologize for…nothing to be ashamed of.  If you’re following Jesus, then no weapon formed against you that can prosper…unless you choose to not stand. 

Church arise!!! Wake up and prepare for the day of battle.  Put on the armor of God and stand firm!! Stand together with believers!! Be bold and unafraid. 

Before we conclude today, I want to point out another part of this story…

When David began to ask about Goliath and was interested in what was happening…his own brother verbally attacked him.  Let that soak into your spirit.  His brother was afraid of Goliath, like everyone else, and the fact that David had courage made him so angry.  This is what it’s like when the church body turns on its own.  It happens every day.  The church body rising against you doesn’t necessarily mean you are in error…it could just mean that they are in fear.  Let that sit on your heart.  Remember that next time you feel attacked or rejected by the family of believers, the very ones who should be for you.  They may not always be on your side, but as long as you’re on God’s side, nothing else matters.  The battle belongs to the Lord.

Signet Ring:  A seal used officially to give personal authority to a document in lieu of signature.

We are in a season of the signet ring.  The time when we are to be like softened wax that is ready to receive the seal of God and then be sent out to release the authority of God on the earth.  He is giving some of us the authority to speak…we’ve been tongue tied, but He is loosing our tongues.  It’s time to speak out and speak up.  The spirit of witchcraft and intimidation has caused far too many of us to remain quiet for far too long.  We were meant to boldly proclaim the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are supposed to be occupying territories and winning wars in the spirit.  We are meant to be the head and not the tail, before and not behind…but we have been behind for too long.  The version of the “church” I’ve grown up in is largely powerless, fearful and ashamed of the authority we are meant to operate under.  We have become people pleasing and not God fearing.  We have caved to the tantrums of the enemy, instead of the peace of God…which surpasses understanding.  Because of all this the enemy has very clearly been speaking out of turn…not even hiding his agenda anymore.  He’s boldly speaking up in chaos and confusion…that’s what his voice releases…chaos, fear, insanity, etc.  But God’s voice is indisputable.  His voice brings clarity, peace and is the only voice with true authority. 

One main difference between the voice of the enemy and voice of God is that the enemy’s voice has no natural authority…it only seeks agreement and then it takes territory from that agreement…but God’s voice carries authority in it.  God’s words do not return void.  God created the world and everything in it through His word.  God’s word has creative ability, in and of itself, and the Spirit bears witness to it…so it carries agreement.

There is nothing more powerful than God.  No word of the enemy will ever carry even a portion of the power of God’s word.  Remember that next time the enemy speaks death over your life.    

With this thought in mind, I want you to consider every idle word spoken over your life.  Now in an act of open defiance to the enemy, take that word and throw it on the ground and stomp on it! Yes, I mean for you to literally imagine yourself holding those negative words in your hand and then throwing them to the ground and literally stomping on them. 

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  Psalm 91:13

It’s time to step up higher, and step into the stream of God’s word.  His life breathing word.  His chain breaking words.  His power in word form.  Agree with what’s real….God’s word. 

“On that day”, declares the Lord Almighty, “I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,” declares the Lord, “and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the Lord Almighty.  Haggai 2:23

God, I will never again believe the lies of the enemy.  Help my heart be so steeped in the truth that the enemy’s words have no ability to grow roots within me.  Forgive me, Lord, for anytime I’ve believed the enemy more than You.  I know Your word is truth.  Keep my heart in alignment with You and what You say, both over me and over the world.  May Your ways be my ways.  Give me the mind of Christ so I can discern the truth from a lie.  I love You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.