The Bible establishes the fact that Jesus Christ came to restore us to right relationship with God. Through His blood, we are free from sin. By His stripes, we are healed. This sacrifice was without limitation to every person, yet not all are free from sin and not all are healed and well. Why? Because it requires something of each individual person. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12 In order to be free from sin, you must receive Him as your Lord and Savior and believe. To be healed and live in health, it is necessary to receive Him as your Great Physician and believe that He bore your sickness and pain.
In order to better understand how the anointing of the Spirit of God works we need to take a closer look at its biblical description. In the context of what the prophet Isaiah describes we see that Jerusalem was coming under the impending attack of the Assyrian King Sennacherib. The advancing army had already conquered everything in its path, including the heavily fortified Israeli city of Lachish. The Jews in Lachish put up a good fight, but the Assyrian army proved to be too strong.
We are moving into the new year. The Lord is raising up people everywhere to pray, even if you're not an intercessor. I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give... Habakkuk 2:1 NIV Also ...Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 3:17 NIV How to pray: Ask the Lord to put an end to violence. Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure - you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. Psalm 7:9 NIV
I didn't grow up celebrating Advent. When I was little, we put up a tree, got presents and had a Christmas Eve service. It seemed to me that most grown-ups were stressed over Christmas and thankful when it was all over. It wasn't until much later, as an adult, that I discovered the beauty of Advent. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, and technically means "coming." Throughout church history, Advent became a season of expectancy and waiting. The church celebrated the coming of Jesus, born to a virgin in Bethlehem, while expectantly waiting for Christ's second coming.
I was remembering a time when my husband and I were praying over friends who had been in a situation for many years that had caused deep trauma to their souls. As we were praying for them, I became aware of an angel standing over them holding a large water pitcher. This angel then began to pour a heavenly liquid over their heads. I was taken by surprise because I had encountered this very angel some years earlier. It had appeared while I was with a dear friend who had experienced a traumatic loss in her life. It appeared with the same pitcher and was pouring a liquid substance over her as well.
Do you believe the Lord is concerned about your emotional and spiritual health? He is. He wants you to know how to improve your emotional and spiritual health to be resilient in turbulent times. One of the most powerful things you can do to improve emotional and spiritual health is to pray in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is tapping into and being in the presence of the Lord. It means you allow Him to sanctify you as you speak what He brings to mind. Perhaps He brings things to mind He wants to repent of, or He brings things to mind He wants you to recall and praise Him for. Speak these things out.
There is a generation that failed to come together in the way I wanted, says the Lord, and the pain of the failure has hurt many, but I did not forsake all. While some got disheartened and left, some stayed and lamented and sought Me. My own Heart grieved as I saw some turn away, but I build in an Order and if that is not seen, it is not done, and many have sought to build the Kingdom on their terms and not Mine. Yet as I promised, I did not leave nor forsake those who wanted Me yet felt "left out" of what I was doing. I have collected their tears and will use them for the next Outpouring. All things do work together for the good if you Want Me, says your God.
Co-Creators: Creating Your Day is my newest book, and I'm so honored to announce that it is now available worldwide, wherever books are sold. As we came into this unprecedented year, the likes of which we've never seen before, I heard within my heart the voice of the Spirit saying, "It's time to awaken the Creators!" If you're reading these words, my prayer for you is that even now you would begin to feel that stirring within you to not only advance the Kingdom of God where you are but also to create the abundant life you've been called to enjoy.
God desires us to grow into maturity. How does that work? Does it happen automatically. There are some areas of our lives where we have grown, and then other areas can be left neglected. But God wants us to grow in all areas. You may be new in the Lord, or you may have been walking with God for years - there are areas in our lives that may have never changed that might should have by now. It is never too late to change. God's transforming power is only limited by our choices.
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:20-21
Follow Up
