As we celebrate Independence Day in America on July 4th, let us remember, our nation was founded upon the idea that God created all human beings to be free.

The Declaration of Independence states that we, the people, are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But what is “liberty,” exactly? Does it have a deeper meaning than we first thought? Can it be found in the country we live in or is it only found in Christ?

The Bible has a great deal to say about true freedom. It is only in God that genuine freedom is found.

In the beginning, Gods people had true freedom. Adam and Eve gave up that freedom when they chose to rebel against God. From that time forward, man has searched for freedom.

In the Old Testament, the Bible records how God’s people lost their physical freedom time and again. The loss of freedom was always tied to disobedience or worshipping idols or false gods.

When God freed the Israelites in Egypt, it was a foreshadow of the arrival of Jesus, who came to set us free. Gods answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ. In the few short years Jesus walked the earth, He purchased true and eternal freedom for all those who choose to live and have their being in Him. Thank you, Lord!

Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

John 8:36 says, So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I thank God every day that our freedom is found in Him. Jesus, where our only real freedom lies.

That being said, on the fourth of July we celebrate the freedom of the United States of America.

This year, unlike any year I have ever lived, that freedom has come under attack. Freedoms I took for granted, were suddenly being stripped away.
I believe this year we must first thank God for our freedom that is found in Christ, we must be eternally grateful for that and let nothing take our focus off God, the giver of that freedom.

Beyond that, I believe we need to pray for America like never before. We must declare God’s word, His plan and purpose over our nation.

The Bible says the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, that’s us. If we rise up and pray, God will heal our land.

Today, as we celebrate freedom – celebrate Christ and then celebrate our rights to be free in America. Remember to thank God Almighty, that our children and grandchildren will be granted the grace to live in the freedoms we have enjoyed throughout our life. May freedom reign…until Jesus comes again.

Meditate on this:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

I was sitting in my chair, reading Mark 12.

As I read a familiar passage, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “sometimes, the sacrifice speaks louder than the size of the gift.”

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-45

We are all familiar with this passage of scripture. I have heard it taught more ways than I can count. Just for a moment…let’s look at it with new eyes.

Let’s just imagine this scenario for a moment.

Imagine you are at church, about to go up front and give your offering. Jesus, Himself, is sitting on the pew, holding the offering plate. He is bold enough to watch each person’s offering. It wouldn’t help to fold the check. He sees everything.

Knowing He is sitting there watching, many give their biggest offering ever. However, their biggest offering doesn’t really cost them anything. It is not a sacrifice at all. And Jesus, He is not impressed one bit. Then one little elderly lady comes and drops in some change. With a jerk of His head, Jesus looks up at the lady with pure love, and then He turns to the crowd, saying, “I tell you the truth, this woman gave the biggest sacrificial offering today.”

This offering commanded the attention of the King of Kings. Why? What made Him think it was different from the other, larger offerings?

He knew the depths of the sacrifice she had just made.

As a minister, I hear people say, quite often, “when I have this amount, or when this comes in, I want to give an offering to your ministry.” While I know they mean well, I also know they will more than likely never give that offering.

The truth is, if we don’t give out of our lack, we will not give out of our abundance.

Giving is not a money issue, it is a heart issue.

If we have a giving heart, we will give our last dime should the Lord require it.

I know I have shared this story before, but it bears repeating.

Years ago, a partner began to send us change. It was taped to paper. Just a few coins. I prayed over those coins and blessed them each time, as I do all offerings. After a while, the partner would send in a dollar bill. Year after year, the amount grew. This person is still a partner, they no longer send coins or dollars, but a check each month.

What happened? God saw their giving. He saw the sacrifice of her giving. He blessed the seed and brought the increase.

God gives seed to one person…the sower. He knows if you don’t give when you have little to give, you won’t give when you have much.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:23; His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.

What Jesus saw that day, when the lady dropped in her offering, was faithfulness. He saw a heart that gives, when it is easy and when it is difficult.
For one person, a dollar may be a sacrifice. If so, that sacrificial offering captures the attention and the heart of Jesus! For another, a sacrificial offering may be $25,000. Again, if it is a sacrificial offering, it will capture the attention and the heart of Jesus!

Jesus said, the sacrifice speaks louder than the size of the gift. Today, may our sacrifices speak loudly. May they catch the eye and the heart of Jesus! May every offering we give be pleasing in His sight.

Meditate on this:
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:9

At the beginning of the year, the Lord continually talked to me about preparing. I shared many of those thoughts with you in my writings.

I hope you received the teachings in faith and not in fear. There is no need for us to fear. God has given us all we need to not only survive, but to thrive in the days we are in and in the days ahead. He is a faithful God and He will keep us safe in Him.

I want to share a few more verses with you today to encourage you in remaining prepared, not only for what lies ahead, but for today as well.

Proverbs 22 says3; A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

I am not talking about hiding in your homes and refusing to come out. No! I am talking about a different kind of hiding. I am talking about hiding in God. Allowing Him to become your hiding place.

Psalm 91 is a scripture that most of us are familiar with, one of my favorites!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Don’t you just love that!

We have talked about meditating on the word of God lately, this scripture would be a great one to sit and ponder.

The word of God also teaches us that God will protect and keep those who trust in Him.

Verse 1-4, in the Amplified Bible says; He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no foe can withstand. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust! For then He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. Then He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

He is our Refuge, our Fortress and our God. When we dwell in God, we remain stable and fixed in Him. This is the key to thriving in God through all seasons. Remaining in Him.

When we remain in God, when we make our abode in Christ, we are safe in Him. Weapons may form, but they will not prosper.

We see this promise in again in Isaiah 54; For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. “O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed, they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

I have given you two powerful set of scriptures. It is my hope and my prayer that you will begin to confess and declare these over yourself and your family today. In doing so, you are making sure you are prepared for today and for the days to come.

The time to build a storm shelter is before the storm comes. Not during the storm. The time is now to cover you and your family in God’s word. The time is now to get under the shadow of the Almighty. Noah built an ark at the word of the Lord, when no one had seen or heard of rain. We must build our ark and make God our dwelling place. Our hiding place. We do that with the word of God. We do that with faith in the God of the word. He is our safe place. Today and always.

Meditate on this:
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thess. 3:3

Have you ever wondered if God still speaks through dreams?

If you have, the answer is yes.

Joel 2:28 says, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Yes, God continues to speak through dreams. In the past few days, numerous people have come to me to share the dreams God is giving during this season.

He is actively speaking through dreams in this time of transition.

How about you? Are you experiencing unusual dreams from God during this season? I know I am, as well as others around me.

Still, it’s not always easy to understand what God is saying or showing us from dreams. There are resources that can assist in that, in addition to first praying and seeking God for insight.

Personally, I have used two books to help me discern dreams over the years.

• Understanding the Dreams You Dream by Ira Milligan
• Interpreting the Symbols and Types by Kevin J. Conner

Both these resources have been invaluable to me.

If dreams interest you, I highly recommend you purchase these books. And if you are interested in knowing more about how God speaks through dreams and visions, here are some tips that may help. They will at least give you greater insight of why God gives us dreams.

He Reveals Our Heart Through Dreams

Over the years God has used dreams to reveal the hidden things in my heart. Issues that I wasn’t aware were even present. God used these dreams to show me things I obviously didn’t want to see and the dreams then challenged me to make the needed adjustments in my own life.

He Uses Dreams When We Become Too Busy

Sometimes God is speaking to us and we are too busy to hear what He is saying. If we continue to fail to listen, He will often speak to us through dreams. We are asleep, He has us right where He wants us, we have no choice but to listen in our dreams.

He Uses Them to Bring Instruction

For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. (Job 33:14-16)

God not only opens our ears, but also gives instruction through our dreams. Perhaps we have been diligently praying to God for answers, and we can’t seem to find the answers we need. Often times, He will give us the instruction we need in a dream. We can learn through dreams; we just have to be open to hearing His instruction during the night season.

Remember when Joseph interpreted the dreams of famine? God gave him a strategy to prosper during times of severe famine. Not only survive but thrive. He can do the same with you in dreams.

God Gives Warning Dreams

Job 33:14-18 says, For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Over the years, God has given me several dreams to warn of something that was to come. Even when they involved other people.

I recall a dream many years ago. It was about a family member. In my dream they were planning a trip out of town. Their intention was to meet another man, other than their husband.

I called this person the next day and shared my dream, never imagining it was on point. I later learned they did have an out-of-town trip planned without good intentions. This dream saved them from doing something that could destroy their marriage.

Yes, God still speaks in dreams. And He is speaking through them right now. Be alert. Listen for His voice, especially during the night season. He is giving us insight and instruction through dreams – may we have ears to hear.

Meditate on this:
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. Numbers 12:6

Many of have experienced the numerous spiritual benefits of giving.

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. (Mal. 3:10)

He who gives to the poor will not lack. (Proverbs 28:27)

These are but a few of the spiritual and financial benefits of giving – but did you realize there are also physical benefits to those who give?
Researchers have been exploring how generosity affects our health for years. And, as it turns out, it comes with a great deal of perks.

Giving is Good for Your Brain

Have you noticed when someone gives generously they light up? This reaction is called givers glow by researchers. According to research, when we give, our brain releases several chemicals that give us a sense of joy and peace, making us glow. Isn’t that awesome!

Generosity Makes Us Feel Good

People who have a heart to give are fun to be around, have you noticed? They are not just generous with money. They are generous with their time, with compliments, and in many other ways. They make those around them feel happier because they have such a giving spirit.

Giving is contagious! When someone gives, once others see the joy in giving, they want to give as well.

Generous People Often Live Longer

One study from a university found that people who give have lower stress levels. That’s huge, since stress is a risk factor in many diseases. Givers are also less likely to develop high blood pressure.

Giving delivers a host of benefits to the body and brain. So whether you give your time or money, part of your benefits include, lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, less anxiety and depression and increased self-esteem. That is in addition to the benefits of giving we find in God’s word.

When we have a heart to give and choose to live a life of generous giving, it has many advantages, not only to the receiver but to the giver as well. We can think of it like a big circle. When we give, we benefit others and it circles back to bless us.

Today I encourage you to cultivate a lifestyle of giving and reap the benefits thereof.

Buy someone a gift. Pay for their lunch. Bake them a cake. Babysit for a friend and give the parents a night out. There are many ways we can give and each of them contains multiplied benefits, spiritually, physically and financially. As you give, don’t be surprised if the joy of the Lord and happiness itself overtakes you in the process. Remember Proverbs 11:25 says, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. May your giving bring great refreshment to you this day.

Meditate on this:
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Pressure. We all experience it in one form or another, sometimes, daily.

It may come from family issues, work deadlines, finances, kids, or many other life challenges.

The weight of these things may at times feel like more than we can bear, yet God promises His grace is sufficient for us, and it is. Still, these things often distort our vision of God and His word by controlling our focus.

While we can’t avoid pressure, we can keep our eyes on God in the midst of it.

Matthew 6:33 reminds us, But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:4)

Keeping our eyes on God is the key to overcoming the pressures of life.

Here are some tips to help us keep our eyes firmly planted on God amid the challenges of life.

• Be Still

Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Exodus 14:14 says, The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

Being still is not referring to sitting around, doing nothing. Quite the opposite. To be still before God, we must spend quality, quiet time with Him. Seeking His face, listening for His instruction. Asking for His wisdom, peace, and strength during the pressures we face.

• Look Beyond What We See

If we focus on the pressures we face, we can become anxious and fearful. Making decisions in fear is never a good idea. It’s important during these times to keep our eyes on God, not on the problems. It is vital to remember, there is no pressure bigger than your God.

During times of pressure, don’t allow negative words to come out of your mouth. Speak faith! Declare the outcome of what you want to see.

• Remember What God has Said

Has God made you promises? If so, the pressures of life do not change what He has said. His first word to you, is His final word to you. His promises are not hinged on what you are facing at the moment. They are anchored in His word.

Perhaps you have not received a prophetic word from God. That doesn’t change the truth that His benefits are accessible to you.

There are literally thousands of promises in the word of God – they belong to YOU and your family. They are within reach. They are yours because of the cross of Jesus Christ. It is vital to remember His word and what He has said during pressure filled times. His word has never changed, and it will not fail. You can firmly rely on that truth.

• Be Led by the Spirit

I am reminded of the words Mary spoke concerning Jesus at the wedding. The one where He turned water to wine.

“Whatever He says do, do it.” She instructed.

The same applies today. Whatever God says do, do it. Seek His face, get His instruction and then obey. Always be led by the spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 tells us, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Isaiah 11:2 promises, And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Wisdom and insight come only from being led by the Spirit of God. When you receive His wisdom and obey His word, just like the water into wine, God can turn your situation into something wonderful.

Pressures will come, for all of us. It is not something we can escape. However, we can be diligent to keep our eyes on God in the midst of it. We can purpose in our heart to firmly fix our focus on God and His word. As we do, the Lord, Himself will set us free and bring us into an abundant place. It’s His promise to us. (Psalm 118:5-6)

Meditate on this:
My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! James 1:2 (TPT)

Just read something so true…it is in a book by Rick Renner, Life in the Combat Zone….

He said, we as believers must live our lives in such a way that it leaves no door open to the enemy.

If we all lived in this one truth.

If you don’t want the enemy in your finances…don’t give him an opening. Honor God with your money. Do what the word teaches us to do.

If you don’t want him in your health, keep the door closed to him. Take care of your body, it is a temple of the Holy Ghost. Treat your body in a way that is pleasing to God. Speak the word of God over it, do not speak negative things over your body.

If you don’t want him in your home, don’t let him in. Keep strife and division out of your home. At much as depends on you, live in peace with everyone. Pray in your home daily. Worship and praise in your home. Keep it covered in the blood of Jesus through your declarations.

We open the door to the enemy and invite him in when we disobey God and His word. We let him in with our actions and words that do not line up with God’s word.

Live your life in a way that leaves no door open to the enemy. Remember Jesus said, “he is coming BUT he has nothing in me.”

May it be so for all of us… may the enemy find nothing in us, no entry way, no open door.

The devil is not a creator, he has no original power. It was taken from him by Jesus. All power and authority has been given unto us through that same act. The only power the devil has access to is what we hand over to him. We do that by leaving areas for him to enter into, mostly through disobedience to the word of God.

Let me ask you a question. If God was here in the flesh and you were standing behind Him, or better yet, wrapped in Him, do you think the devil could do anything to harm you? Of course not.

So it is with the word of God.

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and the word of God are one. If you are surrounded by the word of God, you are surrounded by God, Himself. If you are living in the word of God, you are living in Jesus. They are one.

Let’s look at some benefits of the word of God:

Your faith is increased by reading and hearing the word of God.

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

You will walk in truth and freedom.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

The word brings renewing in our mind, which empowers us to know what the will of God is and to walk in it.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Meditating in the word of God brings success and prosperity.

His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)

God’s word, when applied to our lives, exposes things in us we need to deal with and correct. Enabling us to live in His truth.

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God’s word brings joy! But only when they dwell inside of us.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)

If we desire a life where there are no open doors to the enemy, we must live a life wrapped in the word of the living God. Today, I encourage you, surround yourself with the word of God. Meditate on it. Declare it. Saturate yourself in it. Then, do what it says! (James 1:22)

Use Gods word to close every door to the enemy. Until you can, like Jesus say, “the enemy is coming, but he has nothing in me.”

Meditate on this:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

I want to share this prophetic word with you today, in lieu of a personal writing from me.

SPEAK TO THE DOORS!

Nate & Christy Johnston

JUNE 23, 2020

A few nights ago I had a simple yet profound instructional dream from the Lord. In the dream, I was standing in what at first seemed to be an intersection of a very busy inner-city district. I could barely see around me because there were cars coming from many directions and their lights were blinding. I didn’t feel unsafe but I did discern that these cars represented the vehicles of men’s purposes and the vehicles of culture, movements, and ministries. They were both the vehicles created by man that carried zero anointing and also the vehicles of movements anointed by God to usher in the kingdom of God Into the earth.

Then the scene suddenly changed and I was yet again in the middle of something that was moving around me but I found that instead of a busy intersection I was in a room of moving doors that were swirling all around me. Now I have had similar dreams and visions before but this time I felt an urgency in the spirit and heard “SPEAK TO THE DOORS!” But what are the doors and why were they moving? I believe these doors were both the doors of the enemy that needed to be shut and the doors of heaven that needed to be opened. The movement represented both the “movement” or transition and change taking place with these doors right now and also reiterating the urgency of the hour for the church to rise up and speak and command things to align according to the plans of heaven.

GET BACK YOUR KEYS

We need keys right now not earthly weapons, strategies, and ideas that have no authority in the heavenly places. Revelation 3:7 says;
“Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia, for these are the solemn words of the Holy One, the true one who has David’s key, who opens doors that none can shut and who closes doors that none can open”

We are being reminded right now of our authority that opens doors and closes them. We have that authority yet the enemy has been trying to strip the church of its power in a time we need it the most and cause us to slip back into survival mode instead of VICTORY-mode. The enemy wants is fighting in the trenches and getting muddied and wounded and lost in the hand to hand combat instead of rising higher and walking through this season aware of who we are and where we are seated.

“He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!” Ephesians 2:6

The word heavenly realms in greek is “epouranios” which means the place or expanse that encompasses and supersedes every other realm, the seat, or place of authority where things are brought into order. Right now God is inviting us to step out of the second heavens where angels and demons war and into our true place of effective warfare which is above the demonic, seated INSIDE Christ in heavenly(3rd heavens) realms where we are able to speak and declare and bring things on earth into divine order. How do you do that? You spend time with Jesus in worship. You turn off the news that has been causing you to fight with your fists and mind and step into a higher dimension. From there you will find your keys and suddenly find that you are no longer running around trying to put out fires but you will be effective at tearing down strongholds and seeing God move in your life and the world around you.

So with that in mind, this week I want to prophesy OVER YOU but also encourage you to prophesy with me in these areas:

SPEAK TO SLAMMED SHUT DOORS

Firstly, I feel to prophesy over the areas of your life that seem like they are completely shut and out of reach right now. Maybe you came into 2020 full of promise and expectation but have felt like one after the other doors have continued to slam shut around you both in the natural and in the spiritual. Maybe these are doors in your business or ventures where what you were planning now seems impossible or stopped from moving forward.

Maybe these are the doors that if felt like God was leading you to and now you feel confused as to why they are suddenly dead ends. Maybe this is where you are doing “all you can do to stand” and still it feels like nothing is budging. I prophesy that those CLOSED & IMPOSSIBLE doors are opening! Don’t give up yet. Don’t throw in the towel because it looks like there is no way forward. God is going to provide a way forward where there seems to be no way! I hear the Lord saying “Get out your song, release your cry, and SPEAK to the doors!” and YOU WILL lift out of the rut you feel in. Every single obstacle surrounding you is going to be level ground because this week God is turning the key of FAVOR that will cause every and all doors that you need to SWING WIDE OPEN! I prophesy that every door that God wants open to be opened NOW in Jesus’ name. Pray this week with authority and declare “Nothing can stop the doors opening that God has destined for me in Jesus’ name!”

SPEAK TO THE DOORS OF DELAY

We have entered a time of “sped up time” where the spirit realm has increased and we can see that in the earth where what normally would happen or transpire over decades is happening in a shorter span of time. That is the earth is birth pangs and God is readying is for the greatest harvest, so what’s in the enemies arsenal in a time of rapid momentum? Delay. That’s why you feel that strange and frustrating tension between your spirit man which is moving ahead in leaps in bounds and sensing the movement, but your head is constantly dealing with the confusion of seeing earthly doors of delay. For many it’s just feeling like everything in front of them is slow and tedious. Maybe this is where you feel like you are always taking the long way around, the long route, or the more complicated path. Maybe for you, the doors of delay are the pressures, unusual roadblocks, or the legal red tape and processes that you keep finding are stuck in a holding pattern. These doors need to be shut. The enemy can no longer intercept your promises, it’s a violation and you need to shut all points of delay and command the angel armies of heaven to bring you the breakthrough or answer you need right now.

SPEAK TO THE DOORS OF RESOURCE

I woke up feeling to pray over the opening of the doors of extreme resource. What I mean by extreme was that I saw that God was wanting us to experience not just His faithfulness in this season and for right now but also for the future and past. That is God pouring out such a blessing that squared away the robbery and famines of the past but also poured out the needed resources for now into the future. I saw that the doors of resources go far beyond finances but open up all the puzzle pieces for those who are needing certain areas to come together for their kingdom purpose. With this comes the wisdom, strategies, and blueprints to know how to step into new ventures, be in certain partnerships, investing, buying, and beginning new things. The enemy has wanted this door closed because he has been working hard to starve out Christians so they forsake God’s door of resource and create Ishmael’s in orchestrating their own. I prophesy for those doors to open NOW in Jesus’ name! Pray with me that every door or favor and resource the body of Christ and YOU need will be opened and not shut up in Jesus’ name!

SPEAK TO THE DOORS OF CHATTER & CHAOS

In this season there has been such an onslaught of witchcraft chatter in the form of judgment, accusation, and slander and when it lands on its recipient it wreaks havoc and chaos upon them and their family. Years ago I would be taken out by this and it would take me days or even longer before I realized what was happening and break the words against me. The doors of chatter and chaos are loud right now and pulling less discerning people into its devices and causing Christians to fight and war against each other out of the need to be right, justified, and validated. It is causing literal chaos and mental torment to enter people’s lives and homes and that is not ok as people partner with the accuser and spew hate and accusation and these doors need to be closed. So right now I command EVERY WORD that has come at you that doesn’t originate in heaven to be destroyed, and every door of chaos to be SHUT in the name of Jesus!

SPEAK TO THE DOORS OF TERROR AND CALAMITY

As I was praying I heard the Lord say to speak these following global doors to be shut and replaced. The first door I sensed was the door of terror and calamity around the nations of the earth right now where the enemy wants to cause tumult, anarchy, and global chaos by inciting fear and hatred which results in wars. I feel like we are in a window of time where we need to be covering the nations of the earth in the blood of Jesus and taking authority over the hidden plans and plots of the enemy that are using people as puppets to create it. There are hidden agendas running rampant right now to bring about the movements of man that DO NOT originate in the heart of God. At its core, it is terrorism disguised as freedom and rights and is not building nations but destroying them, and this door needs to be shut. I command every door of terrorism around the globe to be shut right now and every plot to be exposed by the light of Jesus!

SPEAK TO THE DOORS IN CITIES & NATIONS

More than ever before we need to speak to the doors of cities and nations and I’ve been sensing to pray specifically into influential gateways where there is the most spiritual tension. Where it feels like the spiritual battle is at its peak and to take authority over it. Last week I dreamt of two cities going through a 2nd heaven war – Washington D.C and San Francisco. It was like the belt of America’s waistline was being squeezed hinging on these two points and both the good and the bad were being revealed. There are so many other cities and nations that God wants us to cover in prayer and speak over right now, in fact, God is right now repositioning and recommissioning watchman around the world right now to watch over nations in its hour of birth pangs. Are you taking authority over what is happening in your city or just adding to the noise? Anything that happens in your city and nation that is not from God YOU can take authority over. In fact, Psalms 24:7 says that YOU are the door!

“So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you ageless doors of destiny! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you”
So step out of hopelessness and begin to decree today and shut the doors of the enemy and for you to awaken and BE THE DOOR in your region that the King of Glory comes through. Speak to the doors of the enemy to be shut in your city and for the doors of the kingdom to be open. Speak and prophesy that the Glory of God would realign the nations and cause every demonic plan to come to nothing.

THE HELD BACK ROAR

The last part of the dream that I didn’t share was that I felt intimidated by the swirling moving doors and when God said to “SPEAK” I felt quite muted. Maybe you have felt that way lately like your voice is tired and weary and a little intimidated by what is happening around the world and also directly in your own life. I see a global sound rising of a roar that has been held back by a people that the enemy has wanted to keep on mute for a long long time, but right now we are getting our roar back so we can SPEAK to things to doors that need to be shut and open doors that need to be open. Don’t be a victim another day longer, get your voice back and your roar back. This is the body of Christ’s Hosea 2:14-23 season and we are moving out of the wilderness and back to the table of promise. Out from being under and rising above. I prophesy that you are going to feel strength and fire come back to you where you have felt defeated and depleted and in the days to come you will begin to hear your breakthrough roar begin to bellow up from the deep and YOU WILL MOVE FORWARD without restriction, see STRONGHOLDS BREAK, and live VICTORIOUSLY once again in Jesus name!

“I will place upon his shoulders the key to the treasures of David’s palace. He will open doors that no one can shut, and he will shut doors that no one can open” Isaiah 22:22

I received an email from one of our partners last week that was too good not to share, so here goes:

At the beginning of the week, I read your motivation about the one drop at a time. It has been on my mind all week. Right after I read it, God began showing me how complaining and grumbling has a similar but inverse effect! I wanted to pass it along. He said that complaining and grumbling chip away at our foundation just a little at a time leaving us vulnerable to storms and other attacks. It weakens our integrity in the truest sense of the word. Then he left me with the phrase, “grumbling leads to crumbling”. That phrase paints such a powerful picture in my mind and is really making me think before speaking more than I have in the past. (JT)

We know from scripture that complaining will stop the promises of God from manifesting in our life. We see that with the children of Israel. They complained and murmured against God and Moses continually. Because of that, they did not enter into their promised land – they never received their promise. They died in the wilderness. We do not want that to happen to us, do we?

I love what the Lord shared with my friend; grumbling leads to crumbling.

In other words, it is destructive from the inside out.

Philippians 2:14-16 says, Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

We cannot shine as a light in this world if we choose to grumble and complain.

Complaining, as the Lord said, makes us vulnerable to attacks from the enemy. This truth is confirmed in the following verse.

Nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (1 Cor. 10:10)

After studying through a few scriptures, I became curious. What effect, if any, does complaining have on our physical body?

I want to share an article I found that answers this question.

Your brain stores information, thoughts, data, and affirmations. Unfortunately, it doesn’t distinguish the good from the bad. As a result, the most repeated actions come more easily, and these are often negative.

Being in a constant state of negativity affects the main organ of your nervous system without you even noticing it.

It gradually gets used to these kinds of thoughts. These are ones that are more easily addressed in the near future.

Your brain function is composed of multiple synapses (neural connections) that are in charge of carrying information. These activate the moment you have a thought or idea. They’re helped by an electrical pulse.

With the passage of time and the collection of information, your synapses get stronger.

When we think negative thoughts constantly, your brain will restructure itself.

So, you end up making these ideas (negative) very common and easy to access for your next neural reflexes.

At a glance, complaining is like destroying yourself from the inside. In other words, it degrades your body’s health.

Your central nervous system isn’t the only one affected by negative attitudes. Other regions of your body change due to this bad habit.

Areas like your heart and digestive system suffer from the effects of complaining. This increases the likelihood of suffering from diseases like diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure.

In general, your immune system is also affected if you continually complain. These problems are associated with cortisol. This is the hormone that’s released by the adrenal gland during stressful moments.

When it’s produced in excess, your immune system is disrupted. When this happens, problems start to arise. (steptohealth.com)

Complaining and grumbling affects us physically as well as spiritually. It’s no wonder God’s word teaches against it. It opens us up to attacks from the enemy and it paves the way to sickness and disease.

Spiritually and physically, a negative attitude destroys from the inside out. None of us want that.

I encourage you today, pay attention to your attitude and your words. Psalms 141:3 says, Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

May the words of our mouth be pleasing to God as we refuse to complain and grumble.

Meditate on this:
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:9

I have always made spaghetti the same way. It was good, but never great.

One day a couple years ago, I ate dinner with my daughter, Breanne. She made spaghetti and it was delicious. The best I had eaten. I was curious since I was the one who taught her to cook.

“What do you do different in your spaghetti?” I questioned.

She replied, “I let it simmer for a long time.”

I began to do the same thing. Surprisingly, it took my spaghetti from good to great.

A couple years ago, I hired someone to help me with my writing.

In times past, I wrote my articles on the spur of the moment. Whatever God gave me, I quickly sat down and put pen to paper. Of course, I checked for typo’s, but basically I wrote what I was impressed to write and scheduled it to go out to our readers.

One thing Karen taught me was to allow my writing to simmer, so to speak. She suggested I write my article, then walk away, and let it sit before going back to it to make needed changes.

Just like the spaghetti, when I responded to her instruction, it took my writing to a different level. Noticeably so.

The word of God works the same way.

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3

The Bible teaches us success comes from meditating on Gods word. To meditate means to mutter, muse, imagine and ponder. In other words, to allow it to simmer.

With the spaghetti, simmering brought out flavors that were hidden. With the writing, simmering brought new words and phrases that added impact to my articles. I began to see everything I wrote with new eyes.

With the word of God, allowing it to simmer, will bring out revelation and insight we may not have seen before.

Not only that, but the Bible says when we choose to mediate on the word of God day and night, it will have residual benefits.

 We will be like a well-watered tree that always bears fruit
 Our leaves will not wither, no matter the season
 Everything we put our hand to, will prosper

Psalm 119:15 says, I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

Psalm 119:148 says, My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

David, a man after the heart of God, knew the benefits of meditating on Gods word. This practice brought great success into his life. We too should take time each day to muse and ponder on the word of God.

Today, don’t just quickly read through your Bible. Take time to let the word of God simmer. Meditate on it. Ponder it. Draw everything out of it that you possibly can. Study it. Pray about it. Let it become a part of who you are. Then, and only then, it will do all it is supposed to do in your life – bring great success. What an awesome promise!

Meditate on this:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8