by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

As I write this from Toronto, where 20 years before this date on January 20, 1984, the Toronto Blessing was birthed, and I remember the incredible breakthroughs God released for Destiny House in this very same season in 2012, I release an anointing for unprecedented breakthrough into destiny over you today. Let my story be your legacy and testimony. Allow the currents of this stream to pull you farther into your own destiny in Him. Take courage, it is time for the baby to be born.

Stretched

I feel like this season in January/February is a time when God wants to birth dreams that people have been carrying for way too long. I feel that He is bringing relief and release as we continue to put our hope in Him. Has anyone else felt stuck, stretched to breaking point, or trapped lately? Have you felt like you’ve been in one season too long and are itching to get to the next season but just can’t seem to get there? I feel like there are many of us who have this dream or this baby inside and instead of the 9 months allotted for the normal birth cycle, its taking 10, 11, 12 months or more. It’s to the point where the stretching is incredibly uncomfortable and its extremely painful carrying this heavy load. The baby is way overdue and we are wondering how much longer we have to carry it and what’s wrong with us that it’s not coming out.

I feel prophetically that what has happened to me over the last couple of years offers hope for any who might feel this way. My story can be weaved into the generation of Israelites moving from a season of constant provision in the desert to a season of abundance in the Promised Land. From 2007-2011, I was somewhat hidden away in England for 4 years doing research and writing. When I finished my Ph.D. in the summer of 2011, I was ready to come out and play, to do more creative things with Silver to Gold, and to get launched. I was ready for the baby inside to be birthed. I had carried some of these dreams long enough without release.

Getting Restless

Upon my return to the States, I transitioned to Redding, California. By January 2012, I was living on a blow up air mattress at my friend Carrie’s house. I had searched for a job but couldn’t find one. Because I was just back from England, I also did not have a car. Carrie had graciously agreed to let me stay at her house for one month which was a huge blessing. During that time on January 19, 2012, God gave me a prophetic dream in the night having to do with an airplane. I didn’t quite understand the full meaning of the dream at that time.

Then a couple of days before the end of the month, I found a room I could rent which was perfect provision. I even said “yes” but then started to get restless and did not feel peace as I moved towards it. I felt the tension; the baby inside was bursting to get out and to breathe but I had to keep it in longer, hold back on the release of the promise. I was stretched. The time was right, the baby was past overdue but the pieces were not coming together. Even though I had already said “yes” to the landlord, I did not feel right moving in and knowing that within a month I would just move right back out. Then February 1st hit, that uncomfortable day when I began to overstay my welcome and felt completely helpless with no way out. I struggled with the tension of dreaming for more when I couldn’t even get my needs met.

Held Back

Meet two of my friends and heroes, Joshua and Caleb. They knew when the time was right to move forward. But their community, the Israelites, couldn’t see it or step into it until it was too late. This community missed out and put Joshua and Caleb in the awkward position of waiting another 40 years for this part of their destiny to be birthed, for their promise to be fulfilled. Joshua and Caleb had to sit and watch a whole generation of Israelites die before they could move forward. They were stretched. The birthing time was set but the baby didn’t come. They had to sit in a place of the promise getting bigger and bigger without a release until 40 years later. For 40 more years they had to carry this baby as they watched those who struggled with unbelief die off. They had to love the same community who were the very reason they were held back from stepping into their destiny 40 years prior.

Then it was finally time to venture into the unknown land of their destiny. They had waited their whole lives for this. In this process however, the constant provision would be stripped from them, dry up, and disappear as soon as they moved to step into the new land. As they chose to walk into a destined land, they knew they must face new giants they were never trained to fight before. But this wild, dangerous, and unsafe land was so much more satisfying and teeming with life than any they had known thus far. And they knew God had promised it to them. They held true to the seed that was planted long ago (Numbers13-14).

Then Suddenly

On February 1st, after Carrie encouraged me not to make a rash decision and to take a few more days to stay at hers if needed, I turned down the other room for rent. I said “no” to perfect provision for a room that was affordable and quiet even though I had no idea of where my Promised Land living situation for that next season would be. I was simply following what I felt in my spirit even though it made no sense at all and some people thought I was crazy. Then on February 2nd, after being stretched beyond capacity, everything shifted within a matter of moments. It was literally one of those "and then suddenly” moments.

At 5:00pm on February 2nd, after spending a full day in the Hebrews coffee shop at Bethel church, I had a breakdown. My potential ride home had just left and I felt stuck once again, powerless, having no control at all. This time I could not take it. As soon as I saw my friend, I burst into tears. For some reason Rene had felt led to go to the church right then. Within a matter of moments, several friends appeared out of nowhere and were surrounding and trying to help me figure things out. Right in the midst of all this, Heidi texted me back and said I could stay somewhere for 2 weeks in between trying to figure out other housing. It was in her in between place where I finalized the manuscript of what would become known as Life on Wings: The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomery. I later found out that the desk I finished it on in that place was Bill Johnson’s desk! Amazing how a crazy turn of events can position one moments of destiny.

Desperate for Breakthrough

This was also the place where on February 5th, after hearing Mario Murillo preach, that I called out to God more than possibly ever in my entire life. It was the most intense Superbowl Sunday of my life, I remember it clearly. Mario spoke about how Hannah was desperate to have a baby and she called out to God. Her desperation later saved the nation of Israel when Samuel was raised as a prophet. Similar to Hannah, I felt that the baby inside me had to come out or I was going to die. I couldn’t take it any more. When I prayed that day, I told God that I didn’t need a car, a husband, or even food, I needed to step into the destiny He had put before me at all costs. I was willing to lay it all down. I was desperate for breakthrough.

February 15th was the day when I emptied out my bank account to step into a destiny I hoped was really of the Lord and not just me. By faith, I was standing on Carrie Judd Montgomery’s legacy from over 100 years ago as I moved towards renting a house I felt the Lord had led me to. I still remember sitting in the parking lot at the bank with my friend Nicol and asking her if I was making the biggest mistake of my life. I felt I was jumping off of a cliff and had no idea what was going to happen next. I had no other options but than to trust and rely on the Lord to carry me and give me wings to fly. It was either one of my biggest mistakes or one of my biggest breakthroughs. I was shaking and trembling in the car just like I was at my ordination with Heidi Baker a month and half previous to this moment. This was not just a financial transaction taking place, it was a spiritual transaction and I knew I was stepping into another level of trust and dependence upon the Lord. I was in over my head. I was scared of making a mistake that could not only cost me everything I had but also put others in a difficult situation.

Many of you know the rest of the story up until now. The day after I took out money from the bank, I moved into what would later become known as Destiny House. This would become the fulfillment of the airplane dream I had the month before as well as the birthing of a dream I had been carrying elements of for over a decade.

The Final Push

Joshua and Celeb waited 40 years and still had strength to step into the final push. They chose to let go of the comfort and constant provision in the desert to step into a dangerous new adventure. They knew they would have to fight a battle to enter into the Promised Land. They stayed prepared all those years, feasting on God’s promises planted in their hearts. They stepped in for the final push.

I believe that the burden of carrying an unfulfilled promise that has nearly crushed us is coming to an end. I declare that the stretching and the pain of carrying this "baby" beyond term is over. I believe that God is saying that many of us have carried, hoped, and prayed into seeds of destiny that have felt long overdue in being birthed. Carrying the weight of these promises has been extremely painful to some. Some of us feel we are almost bursting at the seams and we can’t take any more. Some of us are struggling with giving up.

I believe that in many of our lives, including mine, over the next few months, God will be calling us to step in for the final push to birth what He placed inside us long ago. As we are led by the Spirit and remain in His love, He will lead us deeper into our destiny and into His heart. For some it will only take one more risk, one more small step of faith, one more act of hope, breath of courage. This final push will not come through our own strength. He says that it’s not by might nor by our own power but by His Spirit that we can live the impossible (Zechariah 4).

I challenge you today to move towards that dream deep inside of you that you have yet to see the fulfillment of. Soak and saturate that dream in prayer and worship and ask God what He thinks of that dream and desire. It is highly likely that it was He who planted it in your heart when He knit you together in your mother's womb. His dreams for our destiny are bigger than our own. He is so for you today and for your destiny being birthed.

Take heart, be encouraged. Believe and strengthen yourself in the promises God has given you long ago. I urge you to cling to Him and hold tight to Him in this season, for I believe we are about to embark on one of the wildest rides of our lives!

To learn more about the journey behind Destiny House see Destiny House History

For further inspiration on this topic, check out Heidi Baker's new book Birthing the Miraculous

Jennifer A. Miskov (written 2011)

Looking at “The Gift of Singleness” article I wrote several years ago, I have noticed that the insights are very good but that the article is a little imbalanced. It must be stated that I was not writing about an actual “gift of singleness” but more so referring to the “season of singleness” as a gift from God, one of the only times in our lives to be fully and 100% devoted to God without having to take care of our spouses, etc. I think having a godly perspective on dating is very important and I think the issue holds two tensions that need to be awkwardly balanced. I admit that I have swung from one extreme to the other but I do feel that some need to swing from the wait on God perspective to a more active stance on the issue depending on their season (while continuing to hold both tensions in the balance if that’s at all possible!).

This article is only written to those single people who are very interested in getting married in the near future. If that’s not you now, please enjoy and take advantage of the freedom that your singleness offers!

Men: Active Pursuing
There are many singles today who are lovers of Jesus but are experiencing severe loneliness and even depression because their needs are not being met with a spouse. Adam was lonely before he even sinned. Humans were created for one another, man and woman together in perfect union. Loneliness is a very real thing that is unfortunately plaguing many single Christians today. I want to encourage the men if they are stuck, to stop waiting for God to point them to the perfect woman who is going to be their wife before they do anything. For many, dating is how people find out if someone is good for them or not. Christians in general need to get over the hurdle of believing that the first person they ask on a date is going to be their wife.

Take some risks, date women to get to know them and once you get to know them you will know whether or not they are a good fit for you. And in the process, you will learn how to relate to women and hopefully develop some positive friendships in the process if putting God first. And a hint to men, you become more attractive when you are intentional and pursue a woman. And look for windows of opportunity and go for it. These change and when it’s too late, it really might be too late. Second hint, many women are more open than you think; many will give you a chance and go out on a date with you if you just ask. If it doesn’t work out, shake off the dust, at least you know that it wasn’t a good fit, then try again. If you don’t risk and get over the fear of rejection, you won't be able to move forward.

Women: Active Waiting
And women, rather than being an adorer from a distance and creating this wonderful fantasy of how you will one day fall in love with this ideal man, get out there and breakthrough into reality. Figure out a way to spend time with him, whether it’s in a group or out to coffee, and soon. Then at least you will know if he really is that ideal man you’ve made him up to be in your mind or if he is just a creation of your imagination. And then if he’s not the ideal man you thought he was, you won’t have to spend endless hours, days, weeks, and months wasting your thoughts fantasizing about someone whom you thought could be the “one.” I believe that it’s not our job to pursue men, but at the same time I think it’s perfectly okay to put yourself out there and pursue a friendship with a man you might be interested in. Please continue to put God first, be yourself, but also learn how to invite pursuit, smile, and be more open to the men in your life.

And if you are thinking about putting on makeup, dressing cuter, looking fabulous, yes that is something that will attract men, which is a good thing, but I think above all, if you choose to do any of these things, do them for yourself first and foremost. If you are content with yourself, make up or no makeup, that is what is going to show the most in your interactions with men. If someone’s heart is bursting inside them, they are full of smiles and love, and open, the right people will be drawn to them.

I really feel the season of preparation in the midst of the gift of the season of singleness needs to be capitalized on. I think that the best relationships happen when a woman is content in who and how God has made her, then she enters a relationship in a giving mode not a taking one. Granted, no one will ever be perfect enough before entering into a relationship but why not use that time before marriage to intentionally ask God to prepare us while we are actively waiting.

All:
So to all, I think the key word really is RISK. Begin to put yourself out there and take chances with people. As long as this is done with respect, each person can only begin to grow up more, learn from mistakes (yes, there will be many but you will improve with time, I promise), and get closer to marriage. Ask God to open up your eyes and heart. He may want to bring you someone whom you have not previously considered but who is right in front of you.

Just last year I needed to by a warm coat for my new life in England, yes in California we don't have such strange weather. Anyway, I looked and looked for the ideal coat. I was close minded to all coats over a certain price range as well as all coats with furry hoods. There was one coat that I really liked the style of. It seemed to be totally me but when I tried it on, it didn't fit right. I did actually consider buying it anyway. Regardless of how good it looked on the hanger, realistically it wouldn't have suited me because it didn't fit right. Finally, after looking for hours for that perfect coat, a friend convinced me to broaden my horizon. She encouraged me to at least try one of the coats with the furry hoods just to see. Turns out that I tried one, it was a great fit, and I ended up buying it.

All this to say, sometimes the style we think will be the perfect fit doesn't end up working at all. And there might be times we risk missing the unexpected perfect fit because we are too close minded to give it a chance. You will never know if it fits unless you try it on. What do you really have to lose anyway? You might make a friend in the process, or even better, who knows, you might end up with that perfect fit after a few tries. There might just be greater things God has for us if we are more open minded to possibilities we otherwise never considered. Just a thought.

Thanks for listening to my musings.

To read similar articles around this subject see:

Ladies in Waiting: 10 Encouragements for Single Women

God Holds the Key to Our Destiny

The Gift of Singleness (If you struggle to trust God in this area and always have to be dating someone)

On Break Ups

Water to Wine: Experiencing God’s Love in the Canary Islands

Silver to Gold: A Journey of Young Revolutionaries

Jennifer A. Miskov (2009)

On the issue of singleness here are some of my present thoughts and encouragements, mainly written for women, based off recent conversations, a friend asking me to write on “purity,” and my own devotional reading centered on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Here Paul is mainly giving his own wisdom and advice.

1 Corinthians 7:25-40
“Are you married? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this…I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world- how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may love in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord…”

I honestly don’t think that it is our responsibility to seek a husband. It is our responsibility to seek first His kingdom and trust that all things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). Marriage is not going to cure us from loneliness, not being satisfied, or our emotional void. Yes, it will deepen and stretch us, and there are incredible benefits, or so I have heard :). Yet in the mean time, there are so many wonderful things the single person can be celebrating and growing into. I have seen too many single people living a life of perpetual mourning and sitting around waiting for their prince charming to come instead of living a full life of adventure.

The Gift of Singleness is also the Gift of Preparedness in disguise. I have been pondering the woman of Proverbs 31 and more and more instead of trying to fantasize about my husband and what he will be like and praying for God to hurry up already and bring him to me because I have been so faithful (there has definitely been a time and place for that my friends), instead of all that, He has graciously turned me toward really beginning to love my future husband by having me pray preparation over myself. As a woman, instead of the outward action of seeking, I have been led to ask the Holy Spirit to do some intense preparation on my own heart and soul so that when the time does come, I will be ready.

Hadassah spent 12 months in preparation before getting her chance to meet the king and then consequently become Queen Esther. What could be worse than having the man of our dreams show up on his black stallion ready to sweep us off our feet but we don’t see him because we are wallowing in self-pity, struggling with bitterness that bleeds a horrible stench over us, or not self-controlled enough to wait for him? Or what if he doesn’t see our beauty because it’s clouded by all the baggage we haven’t taken the time to deal with? Granted nobody is ever going to be ready enough or perfect, but why not take advantage of the gift of singleness set before us to allow the Holy Spirit to make us even more wonderful than we already are so that we can give even more to our future spouse?

Ultimately living with the tension of the now and not yet in the area of relationships, being single and at the same time really desiring to be with a man and knowing, hoping that he is coming soon, doing this well all has to do with the issue of trust. The majority of my personal problems and my problems with God all come down to this issue…Trust. Is my perspective correct? Do I really believe what God says about me and my future and is He trustworthy to make all things comes to pass? If there is an intense desire in my heart to get married one day, can I trust that God will bring it to pass in His perfect timing if it is really His will? And can I be so secure in Him either way that I trust that He knows what is best for me regardless of the outcome? Do I really believe Him when He says He wants to do “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think)” in Ephesians 3:20? Do I believe Him when He says “There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” in Psalms 34:9-10? Or when He says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” in Psalms 37:3-5? These are some of the main verses that consistently have gotten me through times of desperation in desiring to be with someone. These truths I continue to hold on to for when that next wave of desperation comes so that I won’t be swept off my feet.

Today, I am convinced that “my God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:20). He is in love with us; let us invite the Holy Spirit to continue preparing us for when God’s perfect timing comes to pass. And in the meantime, let us enjoy this one and only chance to live a totally undivided heart towards the Lord!

To see another side of this issue that I wrote several years later, see Action Dating

To read similar articles around this subject see:

Ladies in Waiting: 10 Encouragements for Single Women

On Break Ups

Water to Wine: Experiencing God’s Love in the Canary Islands

Silver to Gold: A Journey of Young Revolutionaries

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

The following are 10 things I have learned in my own journey of singleness that I want to pass on to all of the ladies in waiting. I say “Ladies in Waiting” not because you are sitting around waiting for your prince charming, but because you are waiting on the Lord for all things, including the release of your husband. I hope and pray you are encouraged by some of the things God has revealed to me that have strengthened me in this particular journey of the heart. Not in any particular order…

1. God Will Give Us “All Things”

If the Father did not even spare His one and only Son because of His great and awesome love for us, how will He not also meet our every need and desire and give us all things, including our life partner at the right time (Romans 8:32).

2. Seek Him First and “All These Things” will be Added Unto You

God knows the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37). He will satisfy us just how we need to be met as we continue to seek Him first above all things (Matthew 6:33).

3. He works out “All Things” for our Good

Every broken relationship, risk taken, and broken heart God promises to turn around for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Allow the Lord to transform the hard times from the past to strengthen and prepare you for your future relationship.

4. He is the Author of our Relationships

It is God who stirs up and awakens love in it’s time (Song of Songs 3:5). He removes the veil and causes worlds to intersect in His perfect timing as we keep our eyes on Him and run after Him with everything. It is the Lord who opens or closes the doors of our hearts (Revelation 3). If the Lord is opening our hearts towards each other, no one can stop this. If it’s not the Lord, there’s not much we can really do to make something happen if He’s not leading us in it.

5. What God Joins Together Let No Man Take Apart

When it is God who does the joining together, there is no need to strive. If both people are actively seeking the Lord and He is leading them to each other, it will be an anointed journey. This does not mean it never gets hard but it means that there will be an abundance of grace for each other because God is the one who is at work doing the uniting. There are also times when God is not clear but as we step out and risk towards following our hearts, He makes it clear in His timing.

6. Don’t Go Anywhere without His Peace and His Presence

The journey into the heart is a wild and dangerous adventure. It is important to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).” Just as Moses was not willing to enter into his destiny if God’s presence did not go with him, so must we be courageous to enter into the depths and crevices of another’s heart only when God’s presence and peace is with us there (Exodus 33). We must align our lives with Him and be led by His Spirit above all other emotions and feelings.

7. It's Not “Either Or”, it’s “Both and More”

Because of Ephesians 3:20 and God’s promise to bless us exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask, hope, dream or imagine, we don’t have to choose between someone we are attracted to but who lacks character  versus someone we are not attracted to but are one in spirit with. I believe God wants us to have “both and more” all in the one He chooses to give us. He wants us to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually attractive to each other. Don’t ever settle for silver when you’re destiny is gold. God doesn’t want us just to be partnered together for a life of ministry but He also wants us to be so in love with each other that our love displays His glory to the world. Don’t marry the person you can live with, marry the person you can’t live without. Marry the person who inspires you to greatness, who stirs you to dive deeper into the heart of God. And be that same inspiration to them.

8. You Can't Say the Wrong Thing to the Right Person

If this is the one God has for you, no awkward conversations can deter that. If you are following the leading of the Holy Spirit and remaining open, there’s not a lot that can stop the momentum of God’s heart coming your way. Be patient and remember that God only has good things for you. Keep your heart yielded to Him. Remain open to receive all He has and is waiting to pour out on you in His timing. The process towards marriage is like Michelangelo discovering the David in the block of stone. As we take risks towards following our hearts, we are discovering something that is already there and destined to become. We are finding a hidden treasure in the other that God has buried long ago.

9. Rejection is Redirection

When you follow your heart, become vulnerable, and risk and the other person does not feel the same way, take the time you need to grieve the loss of what was hoped for and then move on. Rejection is just redirection and it means you are one step closer to discovering the person God has for you. When someone doesn’t choose you back all it means is that God is protecting you from giving your heart to anyone who is not going to be married to you. Clarity and rejection is so much better than fear of rejection because then you can move forward and out of the realm of fantasy into the reality of being prepared for an actual relationship. Celebrate the fact that you were willing to live from your heart and take a risk. You are now one step closer to the real thing with greater wisdom to take with you on the journey.

10. Diamond Rings

When you go to a jewelry store and look at the diamond rings, there will be one that stands out to you above all others. There will be one that is just the right fit for you, your personality, and style. One that you feel you could wear forever. This does not mean all the other diamond rings are ugly or have no value; it simply means they are just not the right fit for you. Just because one person does not feel called to align the rest of their lives with yours, that does not change the fact that you are amazing, beautiful, and unconditionally loved (Ephesians 1). It simply means it was just not the right fit and there is a better fit out there. No matter who reciprocates your love or who does not, you are still amazing. When you are rooted in God’s love, nothing can change your value and worth. Never forget who’s you are and that no matter what happens, you are awesome and beautiful in every way.

God is so for you and already at work behind the scenes to bring you into an even greater measure of abundance as you trust in Him (John 2). You are amazing and so loved because of His great love for you. As you feast on God’s goodness and pursue Him with everything inside of you, may He release alignments from heaven and may this part of your destiny be better than you could ever hope, dream, or imagine.

To read similar articles around this subject see:

God Holds the Key to Our Destiny

The Gift of Singleness (If you struggle to trust God in this area and always have to be dating someone)

Action Dating (If you are ready for marriage and need encouragement to begin risking)

On Break Ups

 

In honor of Evan Roberts and the spark of the Welsh Revival on October 31, 1904 which we released at Destiny House this Halloween, we are auctioning off this hand painted masterpiece. All proceeds will go towards furthering what Holy Spirit is doing at Destiny House.

If you are interested, email Angela your bid at AngelaLocke@silvertogold.com. Silent Auction will close at 11:59 p.m on Friday, November 15th! The winner will be notified and presented with this Revival History Painting at our next Destiny House "Spirit Flood" event November 16, 2013 or it can be sent in the mail if not in Redding.

Artist: Jenny Schoensiegel

Title: Evan Roberts

Medium: Oil and varnish on hardwood

Dimensions: 30x23cm

www.jenny-evans.com

by Jennifer A. Miskov (originally written while living in England in 2009)

What is this abundant life that Jesus talks about?

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, TNIV)

It seems my whole life, or at least my whole adult life, I have spent in search of that abundant life Jesus talks about. Is it to be found in learning about Him? Serving the poor? Giving possessions away? Getting a career doing something that I love? Pursuing my dreams? What exactly does this abundant life look like, and why, even though I have put myself in places where I should experience it, have I seemed to elude it altogether?

After 29 years of searching, just before my 30th birthday, I discovered a satisfying answer. I have come to find that the answer to the questions above is both yes and no. Yes, many of the things I have done have brought me life because I am engaged with God’s heart. When I put myself in a place where I can use the gifts God’s given me, I experience fulfillment. When I have the chance to help others learn, it recharges me. Building this into my dreams and lifestyle will fulfill me in certain ways and also glorify God.

Yet at the same time, if I am not happy now, then an amazing job, a husband, a role in ministry is not necessarily going to change that fact. What needs to change is a new perspective in my own life. Running after my dreams is great and wonderful and important, yet that can never be the sole source of my satisfaction and happiness.

Determining to find and live that abundant life has taken me to many places. The thing I am realizing now is that to find the abundant life Jesus talked about, I don’t need to go anywhere—rather, I need to go to Someone. In Jesus alone will I find that abundant and satisfied life that I have been longing to find in other things, all of which are great but need to complement my satisfaction and fulfillment in Jesus, not replace it.

Ordinary Jesus

What does the abundant life actually look like, anyway? I recently had an epiphany: Jesus lived the abundant life. The full life might be a good way of describing it. Imagine 30 years of ordinariness. For the most part, Jesus lived an ordinary and routine life His first 30 years. I would never think to classify the ordinary as abundant. Nevertheless, Jesus lived the most abundant life possible, and the majority of it was just ordinary.

The 3 "Wow" Years

Then He had three “wow” years thrown in there. Now that’s what I think of when I think of the abundant life: being the life of the party by turning water into wine, casting out demons, raising the dead, offering forgiveness to prostitutes. Twelve people followed Him around wherever He went, and He helped them grow in their faith. He spoke to the multitudes. These three years of His life were fantastic, ecstatic, marvelous and abundant. His previous 30 years seem normal in comparison, but because Jesus is our example, we must identify and include those years as part of the abundant life.

Suffering is Abundance?

To top it off, after His eventful miracle season, His final days were filled with rejection from His closest friends, being mocked and ridiculed by people who didn’t understand His great love. He was whipped, beaten and crucified, feeling the absence of His Father when He needed Him the most. So this, too, is part of the abundant life? Am I still sure I want that?

What made Jesus’ life abundant? It wasn’t a life without suffering, a life of pure bliss. But He was always in tune with His Father. This is what brought Him great pleasure and fullness despite the heartaches. Jesus came and fulfilled His destiny, but it wasn’t in fulfillment of His calling that He found the abundant life—it was in His relationship with His Father.

I have spent so many years searching for and coming up empty and less fulfilled in my quest for that abundant life. I have come to the realization that the abundant life isn’t an unending state of bliss and eternal happiness, but rather a full life lived with great joys and deep sorrows, filled with the mundane and the exciting, filled with intimate love and pain. It’s a life that has its source in the Father’s love.

May you be inspired to dive in even deeper to the heart of the Father today, knowing that the life you've always dreamed of is found only in Him. 

To learn of a surfing encounter where I experienced the full measure of the abundant life, check out Water to Wine: Experiencing God's Abundance in the Canary Islands

God Holds the Key to Our Destiny but we need to use it!

These are notes, videos, and an audio recording from a word released at Destiny House February 23, 2013 to celebrate our one year anniversary. When we understand that all things work out for our good, courage can be released to go through all the doors of destiny the Lord is setting before us no matter how many closed doors we have to go through to get to them. Jesus is for us and has already prepared doors for destiny for us to walk through. I invite you to enter in!

All Things

here is one verse that greatly helped me get through my time in high school and that was Romans 8:28. Once I understand that literally ALL things work out for my good, I realized that I could never fail with God!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:28, 31-32

The book of “All”

I love the book of Joshua. Silver to Gold, my life message and book comes directly from this story. In the book of Joshua, the word “all” is used 213 times used, Chapter 10 uses it 33 times.

“So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” Joshua 21:43-45

“You know in all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Joshua 23:14

The Four-Letter “F” word

In light of Romans 8:28 and God's faithfulness found in the book of Joshua, the only time should use the 4 letter “F” word FAIL should be used is when talking about how not one of the Lord’s good promises can fail!!!

Keys and Doors

I want to bring in an analogy in light of these scriptures and the topic of destiny. Jesus is the door to eternal life and to experiencing the exceedingly abundant life He has promised to us here and now. In addition to that, He also places doors of destiny before each of us and invites us to enter into. Ephesians 2:10 speaks of how we were created uniquely and that there are already good works He has prepared for us to walk into. Our job is to search out and discover these doors and enter into the fullness of all He has for us. I decided to use keys and doors to represent finding the right fit for different seasons of destiny in our lives.

Each Key Is Unique

You are perfectly made and created for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10)

You have a responsibility to enter into the doors of destiny God puts before you. Nobody can do it for you.

In life, there are specific and special doors waiting for you.

Sometimes it takes some time to find just the right fit, but don’t give up.

Each of you are unique and have a different fit.

Have to Try the Key

In life, we can stand and look at a door in front of us and say, “Wow, this is the most amazing door I have ever seen in my life, I wonder what the amazing possibilities will be on the other side.” We can keep on dreaming and fantasizing all we want about what is on the other side, but it’s not until we go and use our key and turn the handle that we will know if it’s a fit and something to further explore or not.

The function of a key is super significant because it opens the right door to your car, your home, where you need to be at that time.

God has treasure chests waiting for each of us. Engage in the search for your gold.

Try your key and don’t give up until you find the right fit for that season.

When Your Key Fits for a Season

Sometimes the key works for a season in a certain door but then it locks up and no longer works there because there is a new door to explore and open.

Its like when you have a pair of shoes that you absolutely love. Sometimes there comes a point when your feet grow and the shoes no longer fit. You can try to keep shoving your feet in because you like the shoes and get bruised up in the process. Or, you can realize that your feet have grown and while those shoes were wonderful for a season, it’s time to get a new pair. This doesn't mean the shoes are bad or your feet are bad, it just means it's time for a change in a new season.

When Your Key Doesn’t Fit

It does not mean it’s a bad key or a bad door. It also does not be mean that that door is not gold; it might be someone else’s gold or your gold later on. It just means that it’s not a fit at that time.

You Have Two Choices How to Respond When Your Key Doesn’t Fit

-You can get disappointed, blame yourself for not fitting, blame the door, get defeated and give up.

-Or, you can realize that God is over all (Romans 8:28) and just because it isn’t a fit at this time, this does not mean that God is not working all things together for the good. Grieve the loss, get a sozo or whatever you need, but then move on and explore other doors.

Realize your key not fitting does not reflect the value of how amazing your key is.

Rejection is Just Redirection or waiting for the right timing.

Abraham Lincoln was born to poverty, lost 8 elections, had 2 failed businesses, went bankrupt, and even had a nervous breakdown spending 6 months in bed all before he was elected the first ever republican President of the United States.

Thomas Edison tried over 1,000 patents before trying to invent the light bulb. Edison allegedly said, “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.” Sometimes the “failed” ideas are part of the process of discovering or positioning for something better.

Your Key Didn’t Fit Before but You Are Still Drawn to that Door

Sometimes the key won’t open the door because it’s the wrong timing. Sometimes you have to go back to same doors that are filled with memories of rejection and defeat and try again. This takes courage that comes when you are led by the Holy Spirit back into those places. And because God is over ALL, in His world, He can change the shape of your key to open doors that were previously closed. At other times, you need to let go, mourn the loss, and move on anyway. Being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and connecting with community can help bring discernment in these situations.

Open Door Before You

When there is an open door before you, explore and experience if that’s the door for you for the season. The further you go, the more or less peace you will have. But if you stay stationary, you will likely be stuck in confusion and speculation. Movement helps bring clarity.

When Your Key May Fit Into Several Doors at Once

You can only go through one door at a time even though several may open to you.

Be close to the Spirit and He will guide you.

Don’t be afraid to step out and risk, even if you’re not sure. Don’t remain stuck waiting for clarity. It’s in the process of movement (also in the act of creating) that things become clearer and begin to come together.

You can only go through one door at a time. The other doors might be gold for you at a later time but not in that season. Just because you don't enter them at that time doesn't mean they are lost forever. Whichever is the strongest fit for that season that you feel the Holy Spirit leading you into, as you move towards it, you will get more clarity.

When the Key Fits but the Door is Jammed

Sometimes our key fits in a door but it is jammed. Even though the key goes in you have to push until it swings open. There might be boulders and other barriers behind one of your doors to destiny that you have already unlocked and is yours but you have to be tenacious to breakthrough to the other side.

Does God lead us to Closed Doors?

I believe sometimes God leads us to closed doors to form us in the process or to accomplish some other purpose.

In the process of moving towards doors that do not end up opening, God is preparing us to learn how to better steward the doors that He will open later on. There are many life lessons that can be learned. God can form us in the process and journey towards following our dreams.

I like to call people to commitment because in the process of figuring out if it’s a fit or not, it causes them to get clarity on the direction they should be moving in at that time. As they begin to explore their options, it will either become a fit or it will force them to re-evaluate what their own destiny and go towards what’s really on their heart. My invitation should cause them to make a choice, rejecting one thing and embracing the best fit for that season.

Key Chains

A ship can only get to its destination if it’s moving, just like a key can only work when it’s put in a door handle. Ships and keys can always be re-directed but there needs to be initial movement towards something first.

You are a perfect fit somewhere but not everywhere.

The only way you can miss out on your destiny is if you never use the key God’s given you.

Unlimited Courage

You are a beautiful key that unlocks the heart of Jesus, perfectly fashioned and made special. Nothing can change that. God has already set out doors of destiny that He's waiting for you to unlock (Ephesians 2:10)

Explore these doors of destiny the Lord puts before you by using the keys He has given you. Stay near to Him and don’t get stuck in paralysis for too long because of lack of clarity.

Whether some doors work out or not or change in the process, it doesn’t really matter because He promises to work ALL things out for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. You can never fail in Him.

God is over ALL, including open and closed doors and the right timing for them. Don’t be afraid to step out and risk. Try your key in the door you are drawn to. You will never know if you never try. You have absolutely nothing to lose and you will gain clarity and momentum towards fulfilling your own destiny in the process. Remember that ALL things work together for your good because you love God and are called according to His purpose. When you step out and risk towards following your heart, you start preparing yourself to carry greatness.

If there are bad things that have happened to you in the past, begin to thank God that He promises to turn those around for your good because you love Him and are called according to His purposes. This does not mean that what happened wasn’t bad. It simply means that He is faithful to use what the enemy used against you and will turn it around for your good (See the book of Esther). The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly (John 10:10)! I encourage you to begin to thank God, not for the bad things that happened in your life, but that He promises to turn them all around for your good.

I release a deep understanding of the value you have in God’s eyes no matter what happens to you or what doors open or close to you. I bless you with the right closed doors and also with the right open door for this season. May your joy to remain full in all circumstances and may you be filled with Unlimited Courage to take risks towards unlocking the doors to your destiny today!

“Why settle for silver when you’re meant for GOLD?”

OUR KING AND HIS KINGDOM

Carrie Judd Montgomery

Triumphs of Faith 8:12 (Dec. 1888)

“And he sware unto to her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.” These words of royal power and condescension were spoken by an earthly king, unto a young damsel who pleased him with her dancing at his birthday supper. Large power was thus granted her to take from his bounty, but even then it was a limited power, for if she chose to take the half of his kingdom she could not take the other half. But our blessed King does not limit us. He says unto them who please Him by their faith and loyalty, “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive.” He does not add, “Unto the half of My kingdom,” for since He has given Himself, His life, His all, He can withhold nothing. The power which King Herod held forth to the dancing girl was accepted, but abused, for she asked for that which made even this wicked king “exceeding sorry,” and “yet for his oath’s sake and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.”

            Our King has also confirmed His promises to us with an oath, for we read, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew, unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath.” But, unlike this earthly king, it is impossible for our King to be “sorry” for any promise that He has made, for he knew when He gave us the promises, every advantage we might be able to take of them, and yet He has in no wise limited us, but says, even when we think we have asked so largely, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

            For the sake of his oath, and for the sake of his guests, Herod would not reject his niece even in her dreadful petition for the death of a just man, and our King surely will not reject us, in petitions inspired by His spirit, not only for His oath’s sake, but also for the sake of His dear Son, with whom we are joint heirs of His kingdom, and for the sake of His own blessed and holy character, which He cannot help but maintain, for with Him “is no variableness neither shadow of turning.”

            We read of another king in olden time who might be approached without fear if it pleased him to hold forth his royal sceptre, and as queen Esther “obtained favor in his sight” he held out to her his golden sceptre, and said, “What wilt thou, Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom.” Very rare were the times when it pleased this king to hold forth the token of his royal favor, but, praise God! the golden sceptre of our King Jesus is never withdrawn from us. We sometimes turn away from it, and sadden His loving heart, but still His love and mercy are extended, and His sweet voice says, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” “A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom,” O beloved Lord, and Thy righteousness is held forth even unto us, and to all who will draw near and rest upon it.

            Again we read that “King Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked beside that which King Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.” This is a true picture of our King Solomon, our Prince of Peace, for not only does He give us all that we ask of Him in faith, but because of the smallness of our asking, and because of the greatness of His generous love, He must needs pour upon us much of “His royal bounty” which we never would have had the heart to ask for. How much, then, do we need a receptive heart, in order that we may not grieve Him by turning away from His bountiful gifts.

            And how much do we need to meditate upon His gracious character as revealed in His word, that we may know His will and come boldly to the throne of grace. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” Not a part of it, not half of it, even, but “the Kingdom,” in all the fullness of its grandeur and glory.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

It is essential to have the Bible as your grid. As you are in tune with the Father you will begin to naturally walk in the works God has already prepared for you, the things He has already begun to put in your heart (Ephesians 2:10). Ask yourself if this decision will bring freedom or bondage in your life? Will the decision contribute to you walking in the fullness of all you are called to be?

For bigger decisions, seeking counsel from people in whom you trust can be a great resource (Jeremiah 6:16). Prayer is great help, not only by yourself but also with others.           

Remember that ultimately it is your decision and you are accountable to God for it. Get wisdom from others, but don’t rely upon them to make your decisions for you or live for you. You need to hear from the Lord (Joshua 9).

It’s also important for you to realize that God trusts you. Sometimes the fact that there is a desire in your heart to do something means that it’s from God. Timing is important too. You may have something in your heart to do, but ask God the timing of it as well and then be patient to wait and pray (Psalm 37).

God is not going to speak to you about every decision you make. Do you pray before you pick out what to wear for the day? About where to go to lunch? What kind of drink you should order from Starbucks? What color shoes to buy? He trusts you.

Sometimes making decisions according to God’s will is like a backyard. You can go swimming, play in the sandbox, or play catch and can still be in His will as long as you play in the boundaries of the backyard (not deviating from His Word). He trusts you.

The Nike principle- Sometimes you have to “Just do it.” It’s so much better to risk (Faith is spelled R-I-S-K) than to never be 100% sure and thus to never move forward. You can never fail with God, you can only learn, grow, and be re-directed (Romans 8:28). God can always redirect a moving ship but He can’t do much with a ship that is still stuck in the harbor.

How to do the right thing when there’s no rules

For the gray areas in the Bible, the areas not explicitly shown as either right or wrong…music, movies, dating, random decisions

Ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Will this action build me up in my relationship with others (1 Cor. 10:23, 6:20; Heb. 12:1-2)? 

2. Will this action cause others to stumble in their faith (1 Cor. 10:24, 8:9-13)?

3. Will this action bring glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31; Colossians 3:17)?

And finally, in the words of Paul (in Galatians 5:16), “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,” or as St. Augustine would put it,

“Love God and do whatever you want.”

This is a word released to the Destiny House community November 17, 2012 (see video below to see the worship that followed)

Are you ever not sure what to do when people come up against you, circumstances around you become out of control, or there’s no options for escape in sight? I am struck by the actions of a king when he got hit with some devastating news. He got word that an army bigger than he had ever seen was on their way to take him and his people down. By learning from his example and leadership, how we respond can in fact influence the outcome. Check this out…

Armies Approaching

 “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazan Tamar (that is En Gedi).” 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NIV (throughout this story)

Has that ever happened to you? You hear news of a storm coming from around the corner, you hear of bad news coming to your workplace, you hear that someone has been offended by you and is coming after you, or that an army is preparing to take you down? King Jehoshaphat, along with the people God had entrusted him to lead, were about to be annihilated. I am blown away by his immediate response. “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord…” He did not run to other lovers, freak out and see himself as a failure, get depressed because of the looming destruction about to overtake him. No, the very first thing he did was to resolve to seek out the Lord to hear His heart on the matter. He had an understanding of the truth that God is over all. Even with this, while he my not have understood why God was allowing His people to be attacked by a massive army, he chose to seek Him still, understanding the supremacy of God Almighty above anything that could war against him.

Responses to Looming Disasters

The second thing he did was that “he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him.” I notice here the solid leadership of the king. First of all, he did not go to his confidants to seek advice, although this can be good at times. He ran first to the Lord and led the people to the same place so much so that they came from every single town under his leadership for the sole purpose of seeking the true King of Kings. He was not afraid to lead. He did not ask everyone their opinions on what they should do, get a group consensus, and then move forward. He did not care if people would jump on board or not, he knew what needed to be done and he honored God by the first fruits of his response. The first fruits of our responses to God after horrible things come towards us or even after great blessings are important. The Father gave us His first fruits by sending His first and only Son for us.

Right View of God

“Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: 'O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” How did King Jehoshaphat view God here? As a king, he recognized who the true King of kings truly was. He recognized that the only power given to him was given from above.

God’s Friend

He went on, “O our God. Did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” The king saw the power of the testimony. He recognized that recapturing God’s history could be a source of strength and breakthrough for the present and the future. He also saw the sweet connection between God and his friend Abraham. Okay, so you know when you have a good friend and because you are such great friends with that person, you have favor with some of the people that know that person? It’s almost the same here. The king sees a kindred connection between Abraham and the living God. To even mention friend here demonstrates that he believed it could happen again. Could he be known as a friend of God too? How wonderful would it be to be known as a close friend of God and also that those around us might get some of the benefits from our relationship with the Lord?

Honoring Generations who have come before

He continued to call out to God and told Him that the descendents of Abraham, who is His friend, “have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand in Your presence before this temple that bears Your Name and will cry out to You in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’” He honored generations of the past who honored God. He honored and learned from their legacy and in turn stepped into some of their inheritance in that process. He reminded God of what has already been promised by Him in past generations. He reminded God of the position he was being put in at that moment with armies en route to destroy what generations from past had contended to build and protect.

Calling God Out

After the king honored God with His rightful place in the kingdom, reminding God and the people about promises from the past, he talked to God about their present situation. “But now here we are men from Ammom, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession You gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will You not judge them?” It was God who gave them the land in the first place, not their own strength. Would He not be faithful to continue to give them the strength to inhabit it for His glory? The king was pretty much calling the Lord out and saying, “we did everything You asked, will You not come and defend us, it’s time for You to step in."

The Humility of a king

The king continued, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” In front of all the people he was leading, the king admitted that without God, he had no power of his own. He was outnumbered. There was no way in the natural that his army could even put a dent in the army approaching to annihilate them. He admitted before all the people that he did not know what to do; he didn’t have a solution to the problem approaching. How many leaders do we know who would ever admit before all their people that they had absolutely no idea how to face the problem heading their way? What if the president called a state address and told the people that the financial crisis is too great, or a large country has just declared war on us and our country is going to be in ruins and he confessed that he had no idea what to do. What if he admitted that we are greatly outnumbered and there is no hope for coming out of this unless the God in whom we trust intervened? What if he called a fast and called people to wait on the Lord for the direction of the nation? How many people would through “stones” at him? King Jehoshaphat humbled himself before the people and the Lord, became vulnerable and did not hide the facts. In the midst of not knowing what to do, his eyes remained on the true King of kings.

When Jehoshaphat stood before the Lord, it caused the people to follow suit. “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” It was after this whole community humbled themselves and stood before the Lord that “then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant from Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.” I find it interesting how specific the Lord is at describing where this man came from. It was ordained since the time of Asaph that his descendant would stand up in a solemn assembly for such a time as this to shift the direction of a whole generation and help to save them from the oncoming onslaught.

Jahaziel said, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

Who is this Jahaziel?

This is quite possibly the only time we see this person in the whole Bible. There is another Jahaziel of a different family line that was one of David’s mighty men, however the one mentioned here is different. This Jahaziel was born and positioned for such a time at this. He was known by this community and therefore his word could be received. He did not come as a lone ranger to release this word then flee. No, he journeyed with this community and was known by them. His time for greatness had come in that moment. What if he hadn’t come to stand before the Lord with the others? What if he was afraid to release what God had been burning inside of him? Addressing the king and all the people is quite an act of courage. What if he thought someone else would reveal what was on God’s heart? Why did it have to be him? Whatever battles he faced and overcame to get to this point of speaking up in the midst of a congregation before the king is a tremendous breakthrough. I wonder how many times before this he spoke up. Or how many times he got shut down. Whatever courage he had to overcome challenges from the past prepared him for this moment of destiny.

Jahaziel spoke confidently as a mouthpiece of heaven. He released a very specific word, including even details of where the enemy’s camp would be stationed. And while deliverance would come from the Lord, they were still called to take up their positions, stand firm, prepare for battle and go out and face the army. They still had to position themselves for victory. Even though the battle was already won according to the prophetic word released within that community, they still had to face their enemies. Can you imagine God telling you that you already have victory but you still need to prepare, put your armor on, and then go to face your enemies head on?

Worshipping when the Armies are surrounding

Johoshaphat responded to this word and “bowed his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”

Had this community seen the victory of the Lord over their enemies? At this point there was still a massive army on their way to attack and destroy them all. One word from God changed everything for them. The only reason it changed everything was because they had come before the Lord with open hearts ready to receive the word and they believed Him. Even in the midst of their enemies en route to destroy them, in response to the prophetic word for this community and after the king became vulnerable with his people, the worship leaders stood up and praise the Lord with a very loud voice. The king bowed down first and all the people followed. The worship leaders could do nothing but praise with very loud voices. They were releasing the response to what God was going to do. They led this congregation in praise songs as loud as they could sing. The victory had not yet happened. However, because Jehoshaphat saw that Abraham was God’s friend, he knew that God would show him favor as well.

Early in the Morning

“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”

Have faith in God to be upheld, to be stable, to not fall. Have faith in His prophets to be successful, have victory, have more than enough. It is interesting to notice the call to trust both the Lord and His mouthpieces. Jahaziel must have felt some relief after hearing the king respond like that. A prophet honored in his home community. That alone is remarkable in itself. Praise God.

Singing about God’s Love at a time like this?

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

            ‘Give thanks to the Lord, For His love endures forever.’”

So why in the world was this community singing about God’s love when they were about to face the biggest army they had seen in their lives? I wonder what we can learn from this community of believers in how to respond to major crises when they approach us. When the enemy seeks to kill, steal, and destroy, is our response to sing of God's love and to give Him thanks? I wonder what things would shift in the atmosphere if every time we were about the face the enemies attacking us that our focus was on God’s love? What if worship led our procession into the fires and storms of life?

Can you imagine what this community must have felt as they marched towards the hill, about to face the largest army they had ever seen? Were they crazy for marching and singing songs of love to God based on one prophetic word? I wonder how confident they were at this point. Would they get to the top of the hill and see the massive army coming straight at them? Did they hear wrong from the Lord? Could they really put their hope in that one prophetic word to save their lives? Would God really come through for them this time? Why did they have to put all this armor on if God already had the victory?

Worship Disarms powers of darkness

Look at what happened when worship was released. In the process of this community gearing up to face their enemies, “as they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” Songs of thanksgiving and love to God disarmed their enemies. As they kept their eyes on Him and not their circumstances, as they walked by faith and not sight, they were able to rise above the fear. Giving God thanks and singing about His love in the midst of near destruction is completely counterculture to their situation. They were not singing battle, war cry, or intercessory songs rebuking the enemy; they didn’t sing about fighting against darkness or even make declarations of their victory. No, they simply remembered what God had done in the past and thanked Him; they put their focus on His enduring love.

Maybe the first thing we should do when faced with challenging circumstances, when the enemy opposes us, or when things of this world try to take us down, is to sing songs of thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness and focus on His great love.

Total Annihilation

“The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.” All of this was happening in the midst of worship and unbeknownst to men of Judah. They did not see any of this. They simply released worship into the atmosphere and trusted in the Lord as they marched towards the army.

Because they honored God and the prophets, they received a greater reward

“When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value- more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah (Valley of Praise), where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called Valley of Beracah to this day. Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets.

The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.”

Responding to what comes up against us by offering a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done in the past and celebrating ahead of time for what He is going to do in the future, is probably one of the best ways to face any trial. Going in the complete opposite spirit towards the things that come up against us and keeping our focus on loving God will cause us to rise above our circumstances and give us a greater capacity to see God and trust in His mighty strength for our lives. As you seek Him for His leading, as you continue to step out in faith, fully prepared to face your enemies, thanking and worshiping Him at every corner, do not fear, He will fight on your behalf. Worshiping Him because He is worthy despite our present circumstances can be on the most powerful weapons to disarm the enemy and release the breakthrough God is waiting to release. May fierce worship be stirred up and released within you as you victoriously rise above your circumstance by seeking His face.

Below is the worship explosion that released after this word was deposited in the Destiny House family November 17, 2012. May it release joy unspeakable in you today as you rise above your circumstances in glory, setting your affections on the One who is worthy of it all.

See also God Holds the Key to Our Destiny