Over the past week or so I have been hearing the Lord repeating over and over "I am releasing strategy for strength." Instantly I had a vision and I saw many weary warriors where the battle, struggles, fires and trials they have endured have left them really weary. The Lord's voice thundered over them "I am releasing strategy for strength." Instantly I knew that an invitation was being released from the Lord to come and hear HIS strategy that He is releasing right now. I felt this strong sense in the atmosphere that it is crucial to be hearing and following HIS strategy alone, because the enemy is attempting to lure God's people into 'false strategies' not flowing from the heart of God to weary them and burn them out.
But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." John 4:4–7 I encourage you to read the remarkable story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Considered a woman with a shady past, she was gossiped about in her village and probably shunned for being a home wrecker, a "stealer of husbands."
Many people start thinking about making New Year's resolutions this time of year. Have you ever tried to do a New Year's resolution, but by February you've stopped? Or maybe you have things you want to change in your life but don't know where to start?I heard the Lord say, "Get New Year's revelation from Me for your resolution!" Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction. Proverbs 29:18 NIV Getting revelation from God can help you cast off restraints and gain clarity. What this means is you can get a prophetic plan or strategy from the Lord on what area of your life you want to change. Then take practical steps to fulfill it.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NSFLB) Immanuel. God-With-Us. Near. Personal. Jesus, the Son of God came with us in the flesh 2000 years ago that we could experience the character and the love of the Father. Today we can all encounter Him through the Spirit of Jesus. One encounter with the living God changes everything. James, the brother of Jesus, is a great example for us. His epiphany dramatically changed history.
Deep in My heart I have a special place for you to dwell to be kept safe, to be ministered to, to be refreshed, built up, edified. My great grace is poured out upon you there deep in My heart. I want you to bask in My everlasting streams of love there. Be refreshed, My people, and know that I am always with you even in the deep and darkest night. Many are experiencing a place they've never been before and don't even know how they got there but I want to tell you that being there is not without waste. Every moment of your life there is a purpose for it building you up to be My people.
Consider the heartbreaking story of Samson who traded the secret of his anointed strength for sin. How foolish he was to throw away his supernatural power in his lust for a traitorous, immoral woman. Yet he did, and he suffered greatly for it. When he revealed to her the secret of his incredible physical strength—his hair that had never been cut since birth—she shaved it off, leaving him powerless against his captors. At that time, mortal enemies would punish captives by brutally gouging out their eyes, thus rendering them harmless.
I felt something in my soul prompt me. Not a voice, not an audible instruction, just a gentle nudging. "Tell her how you feel." I had briefly seen my mom earlier in the day and realized something I appreciated about her but never acknowledged. I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message. I didn't think much about it at the time. Immediately, I got a response, "I cannot believe the timing." She then went on to explain the incredible coincidence of what I said and what she had been thinking about. I sat with misty eyes at the beauty of the magic of intertwined lives.
I had a burden of prayer the other day for a dear friend, and it since has turned into a burden for several more because of life events - people who have lost a dear loved one, which can include even more people as the circle widens. Especially when it comes to friends, I always ask what the Lord might be saying. They feel such a loss, and I have experienced that too with both friends and family. Anyway, as I was interceding, the Lord said abruptly - and He will speak in strong ways at times - "You don't get it, do you?" I was surprised by the way He said it. "I gave those people a person to love them. I did that! " (I knew He was including me too.). His tone was not rebuking as much as it was a strong type of correction.
In Ephesians 1:17–19, Paul prays that believers may be enlightened in our understanding in order to have the riches of glory and his power manifest in our lives. This means that every believer must be led by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (a.k.a. the Holy Spirit) to understand the Father's heart. As our relationship with God deepens through experiencing his activity in our lives from day to day, our knowledge and revelation of him and his perspective on the world also grows. When our eyes are opened to the ways God sees things, we can begin to see our destiny and the world around us from his perspective and point of view. Spiritual understanding or enlightenment is different than natural wisdom.
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.John 19:30 I see a new generation of God's people emerging as the grace revolution sweeps the globe. The truth is that only grace, found in the person of Jesus Christ, can lead us into the Promised Land. Moses, who represents the law, is dead (see Josh. 1:2). And only Joshua (Yehowshua in Hebrew), a type of Christ, can bring us into the Promised Land. We can't enter it based on the obsolete Mosaic covenant. We can't inherit it based on our efforts to be justified through keeping perfectly the Ten Commandments.
Follow Up
