by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”  -Richard Foster

God wants to free people from fear. He wants to raise up His bride to embrace all He has in this new season. One of the ways He wants to equip people to step into all that He has is to bring a resurgence of what has been overlooked, forgotten, abused, broken, misunderstood, or misappropriated. God is raising up an army of lovers who will go anywhere and do anything for him. When I hear people say that they want to be like Heidi Baker, John Wesley, Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, Carrie Judd Montgomery, Rees Howells, Saint Francis of Assisi, or even Jesus, I encourage them to follow in their footsteps and embrace the things they embraced. These all practiced spiritual disciplines. They all lived with their lamps full of oil. They all regularly positioned themselves to step into all that God has by integrating the spiritual disciplines into their daily lives. If we want to walk in same authority, dominion, power, love, intimacy as these, a good start is to discover and tap into similar wells where they found life.

Purpose of Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are for the purpose of knowing God. We practice spiritual disciplines so that we can live deep within the heart of God. We commit to walk the path of spiritual disciplines so that we can choose God first and feast upon Him. I regularly go to the lake and spend time waiting on God, being with Him, reading His Word, playing with Him, or simply resting in Him. I long to be with Him alone. No one else and nothing else can ever satisfy. Choosing to embrace the disciplines will help position us to be with the One we love. Contending for space with the living God for the sole purpose of communing with Him is invaluable.

Richard Foster says in his Celebration of Discipline that “The purpose of the Disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery to self-interest and fear. When the inner spirit is liberated from all that weighs it down, it can hardly be described as dull drudgery. Singing, dancing, even shouting characterize the Disciplines of the spiritual life!”*Spiritual disciplines, including prayer, meditation, fasting, reading the Word, worship, and community help us to align our lives more with heaven. The disciplines are an invitation to explore the hidden crevices of the Father’s heart. This world is crying out for deep people who can live from a place of interwoveness with the Creator. Foster says that “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths.”* There is so much more of the Father’s heart to explore and the disciplines simply help take us on that journey.

Everyone connects with God differently according to their personality and how they are wired. Some people connect with God in nature or in silence while others connect with Him during activity or through music or dance. Practicing the disciplines helps everyone, regardless of how they are wired, tap into a greater measure of the heart of God.

The Spiritual Disciplines

• Deepen our connection with God
• Bring us into greater union with God
• Invite us to feast upon God
• Position us to hear God’s voice
• Align us to receive God’s blessings
• Prepare us to step into the kingdom
• Keep our lamps full of oil

Spiritual Disciplines Release Freedom

The Spiritual disciplines are intended to bring freedom and liberation. The motivation should always be a longing to know God more (Psalm 42:1-2). The disciplines bring focus, self-control, and pave the way to walk on the highway of holiness. It is the pure in heart that see God. The disciplines also can act as a purifying fire. While there is always the danger of the disciplines degenerating into law and empty ritualistic practice, fear of this happening should not be greater than the drive to take hold of the King of kings by positioning ourselves in front of His throne. The disciplines help us do just that.

Some people confuse the disciplines with striving or trying to manipulate or control God when in reality that could not be farther from the truth. While only God can grow us spiritually, there are things we can do to prepare and cultivate our lives to invite this. One helpful example of explaining spiritual disciplines is likening it to farming. A farmer can’t make the seeds grow. However, he can plant the seeds, cultivate the ground, water the crops and create an environment that invites this growth. When the sun shines and the rain comes, saturating what he has cultivated, life springs forth (Galatians 5:22-25). The same is true for us. We all have seeds of destiny deposited in our hearts. As we cultivate and tend to our hearts by practicing the disciplines and thus positioning ourselves under the waterfall of God’s grace, when the outpouring comes, we are ready to receive. The floods will cause our dreams to spring forth (Isaiah 61:11).

Another benefit of the disciplines can be likened to training for sports. Athletes don’t win gold medals by sitting at home and watching television. They train their bodies for the big race. Similarly, spiritual disciplines can also act as spiritual training for us to be ready to advance the kingdom of God. Because we have been building our spiritual muscles and regularly filling our lamps with oil, we will be ready to set the oppressed free, tear down demonic strongholds, release healing, and love the broken when the need arises.

Freedom to Soar in His Presence

If you have been under an oppressive system of law rather than love and grace or have run from the spiritual disciplines because you have been wounded by their inappropriate and legalistic implementation, today is your day to be set free. I invite you to no longer react out of fear. God wants time with you. It takes discipline to set aside and guard time for Him alone. You will have to fight a million battles to protect your time with God. Discipline will help you win those battles. Discipline is not intended to imprison you but instead to bind you to Christ Himself. Motivated through your relationship with Christ and by following the leading of the Spirit, may God use the spiritual disciplines to free you to fully explore and dive even deeper into the heart of God. I release you from fear in Jesus’ name. I release grace to forgive those who have hurt you through legalism. I impart courage to dive into a new world of forsaking all other lovers. Today, I invite you to be compelled to set everything aside for the sole purpose of beholding Jesus.

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

Psalm 27

See also Feasting on God: The Lost Art of Fasting (Part 1)

*All Richard Foster quotes come from Celebration of Discipline (New York, NY: HarperOne, 1978, reprint 1998), 1-2.

Destiny House Ministry Trip Report: San Francisco and Livermore

On July 19, 2014 some of the Destiny House family loaded up in the van and headed out on our 1st ever Destiny House family ministry trip. The trip was marked by God encountering us every time as we simply made time and space to wait on Him (Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 40:31). It was the first of many more trips to come of blessing cities. We first met our hosts Chuck and Kenny, when they discovered Destiny House after Kenny was woken up by the Lord at 2 a.m. They later found us and attended one of our Friday morning worship sessions in early May 2014. They were touched and invited us to come and bless their city. Elisa, who lives at Destiny House, jumped on this opportunity and volunteered to coordinate this ministry trip which was such a gift. Our first stop was in Oakland at the Home of Peace to get filled up and soak in the glory there.

Home of Peace in Oakland, CA. This is the 1st ever healing home on the West Coast, founded by Carrie Judd Montgomery.

Our Destiny House family with William Booth inside the Home of Peace. Jenny, James, Nick, Lukus, Michael, Simona, and Elisa.

San Francisco, CA

Destiny in the City

On Sunday morning, we had the honor to minister at Revive Church in Miraloma. After a powerful time of worship, I had the opportunity highlight the destiny of San Francisco. By sharing about the history of the Golden Gate Bridge and my Miracle Flight to UK, I was able to encourage the saints to step into the impossible. Since we can’t step into the fullness of our destinies without God and the body of Christ, we did a prophetic act of holding hands and taking one step towards the impossibilities we felt God leading us to. Then Destiny House family members James and Jenny came and led the ministry time along with the others. They had the privilege of honoring Jake, one of the lead pastors by speaking words of life and destiny over him. Our Destiny House family ministered beautifully alongside the saints in San Francisco at the Miraloma campus.

Revive Miraloma campus in San Francisco

Preaching barefoot in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Jenny and James ministering with lead pastor Jake.

Waiting on God with Hip Hop Dancers

We went from there to Revive Sunset in another part of town. This meeting was marked by the Holy Spirit invading the room and us simply waiting on the Lord for about 25 minutes together. It was powerful simply being in the presence of God together and allowing Him to minister to hearts, minds, spirits. God was releasing downloads and strategies from heaven. He was loving people powerfully as we waited on Him. After calling out the destiny of the city, we had the opportunity to minister to those we saw the Holy Spirit touching. I was immediately drawn to several young women hip hop dancers who use their craft to glorify God. I believe that day, He deposited powerful downloads of new dance moves that will release hope, freedom, and set the captives free. There were tears of freedom and healing released in the room. Our team had some powerful prophetic words released to the community there. Our time in San Francisco was such a gift. The work that the saints are doing in that city by being present and shining for His glory is incredible. We were honored to be a small part of what God is doing there.

Livermore, CA

Hope Restored

On Monday, after worshiping and soaking at the Home of Peace, we set off to partner with God in Livermore, California. With a beautiful ministry called Psalm 84, we got to spend time with the homeless of the city. In the service before the dinner, Elisa played anointed worship while Lukus went up to share some prophetic words. He pointed out one woman wearing a green shirt and start prophesying into her destiny. When he did this, the Holy Spirit fell upon her and she started to cry. I responded to what the Spirit was doing and went to pray for her. She shared her whole story with me. She was in her 50s and after a series of bad circumstances in her life, she found herself jobless and then homeless. She was very discouraged and hopeless when I first encountered her. I prayed for Vera and shared with her that many times right before one of our biggest breakthroughs, we have one of our biggest struggles. I encouraged her not to give up because I felt that hope and breakthrough was just around the corner. As I continued to spend time with her that evening and encourage her not simply to try and get by, but to dream again and to go after what really makes her heart come alive, God began to do a new work. Her countenance completely changed. Hope was infused in her. So much so that she shared with me that several people told her that she should write a book. Of course I found an extra copy of my book Silver to Gold and sowed it into her life. When I was about to leave, she was already on page 4. I love how God used the community at Psalm 84 to host the event, Elisa to lead worship which softened Vera’s heart, Lukus to speak a prophetic word over her, and me to follow up and instill hope. The body working together is a beautiful thing. I believe that what God did in Vera that day will act as a turning point for the rest of her life. Praise God for releasing hope to the hopeless!

Overflow Catches One by Surprise

One of my favorite stories of the trip happened at this same homeless outreach. When several of the team were connecting with some of the leaders there and praying blessings over them, one young man on his bike was standing nearby. A few of us noticed that the Holy Spirit was doing something in him so Simona, Crystal, and I pulled ourselves away from the group and went to see what was going on. There was such an overflow from when we were praying for a leader, that this young man on his bike got hit with the presence and glory of God for the first time in his life. He was fighting holding back tears. He didn’t know what was happening to him because he never felt that way before. For the first time in his life he said he was able to drop his barriers and defenses and feel God's love. He struggled to receive this love because he felt unworthy but Simona encouraged him to let God love him. We got to pray for him and explain a little of what was going on. When he left, we saw him walk outside the gate and lay down on his back in the grass, looking up to heaven and continuing to soak in the glory. I love that as we simply love each other, there is an overflow of God’s presence and glory that leaps upon people nearby.

Shepherd’s Gate: "Healing in my Right Hand!" and Glory

During our trip, we also had the opportunity to visit several locations of Shepherd’s Gate. This is a tenderhearted ministry for women who have been abused and are seeking refuge. During our time with these amazing women, we gathered together in their living room area and worshiped. We all got into God’s presence together just like how we do on Friday mornings at Destiny House. I shared some Scriptures as they were encountering God. Then after several of the Destiny House family released God’s heart, we simply lingered and spent time in His presence together. After blessing and anointing the whole house, we also got to spend time blessing the staff. At our first location with the staff, we played our Destiny House worship CD in the background and invited God’s presence (you can download this CD for free HERE). There too, we simply lingered in God’s presence together, waited on Him, and responded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to bless them.

When we were about to leave, we found out that another lady arrived who wanted prayer for her knee. I noticed that Jocelin, who we had prayed for earlier, had taken her off wrist brace. Her wrist was totally healed! We had her place her healed hand upon the other lady’s knee and then we all placed our hands on hers and prayed together. A few minutes later, when the lady stood up to try out her knee, she discovered that it was healed! Jocelin raised up her healed hand and said, “I have healing power in this hand!” It was beautifully seeing how one who had never experienced healing until that day freely gave what she freely received within moments. Jocelin later sent us a note saying, “I can’t thank you enough for today! My faith has grown so much stronger and I actually know what peace is suppose to feel like finally! I’m glad you were a chapter in my life.” Praise God!

Defeating Armies by Praise in Dublin, CA

On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to hold a meeting for a variety of different church leaders in a room that overlooked the region. It was a powerful time of worship followed by us waiting on God and lingering in His presence once again. After some of our Destiny House family shared some wonderful testimonies, I released the word from 2 Chronicles 20 about Defeating Armies by Praise. I once again encouraged them to walk towards impossibilities, trusting that God will move the mountains and make a way. We had a wonderful time of ministry.

Psalm 84: Centennial Light and God Holds the Key to Our Destiny

Our last night we had the opportunity to minister at Psalm 84, the group that Chuck and Kenny are a part of. There, we saw the waitress we had met earlier that day come for the first time! Psalm 84 is a beautiful community of Jesus lovers who all have a heart for revival in the city. After a wonderful time of worship, we spent some time lingering in the presence of God together: praying, waiting, singing melodies to God, praying in tongues, listening, and simply being in His presence. God was releasing strategies from heaven and new songs. One of the women got a download of a song during our time waiting on God. When she sang out the song in Spanish over the congregation, God’s presence was magnified. I found out later, that she had never encountered God like that before.

After our time of being in His presence in a tangible and powerful way, I shared briefly about God’s heart for the city of Livermore. The world’s longest light bulb has been housed there for over 100 years. The reason that it has lasted so long is because it doesn’t get turned off and on, it simply remains shining bright. What a powerful picture of hosting the light of God in a city for 100 years. What would happen if just like the light bulb, God’s presence was hosted uninterrupted in one place for 100 years? How far would the circumference of hosting God’s presence and glory overflow just like it did to Steven during our homeless outreach? Could a city be transformed by a community simply being willing to host His presence continually for that period of time? And how many other cities nearby would be affected and receive its overflow? I can only imagine the ripple effects in the city and for eternity that would take place

After sharing about how God Holds the Key to Our Destiny, we did another prophetic act. Everyone gathered together in a large circle and was given a key. Since the keys to our destiny are released in God’s presence and also within members of the body of Christ, we had everyone exchange a key with someone in the room before they left. It was a powerful time as people prayed, prophesied, and encouraged each other during this exchange of “gifts” in the room.

After our final meeting, we loaded up in the “party van” and headed back to Redding, arriving just before 4 a.m. the next morning. The Destiny House family was blessed beyond measure by our hosts who loved, honored, and valued the gift of God that we are. They, along with the saints in the city, lavished love and blessings on us throughout the trip. It was a huge encouragement to see what happens when just one or two people decide they want to bless their city. Chuck, Kenny, and the community there desire to love their whole city well from the poorest of the poor to the most influential. We had the opportunity to minister in a wide range of areas in the city, from the homeless, to women seeking refuge, to church leaders from around the area, to a budding movement of Jesus lovers passionate about city transformation. It says a lot of the destiny of the city when two people invite us simply because they want to bless their city.

Me with our incredible hosts for these cities, Linda and Chuck.

Blessing the City

So, from our house (Destiny House Redding) to yours San Francisco, we bless you with being launched into a greater measure of your God given destiny for such a time as this. As the Golden Gate Bridge shines bright, may you arise as the crown jewel of the city and even the State. May everything you touch turn to gold. May you be a city of enduring hope and a forerunner for stepping into the impossible. May you be a gate for people from all spheres of life to enter in and encounter the living God (Isaiah 62:10). And to Livermore, we bless you from our house to yours. May you shine for generations to come, hosting the presence and the glory of God. May strategies be released from heaven to equip you to become a sustainer of revival in a powerful way that will create momentum for generations to come. May you stand tall as a lighthouse for people from all around to come and find direction, protection, salvation, truth, hope, and abundant life (Matthew 5:14-16). So from our house to yours, from San Francisco to Livermore and everywhere in between, we bless you and call for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your land. May you be flooded with a Tsunami wave of revival sweeping your land. May God grant you wisdom as you knit yourselves together with the body of Christ to become the net needed to receive and disciple the coming harvest. May He send His Spirit in even greater power for Jesus Christ’s sake. Thank you for loving us so well. You are welcome to visit Destiny House anytime. With love, Jen and the Destiny House family.

Kenny, Chuck, Linda and the Destiny family: Elisa, me, Crystal, Nick, Lukus, and Simona sending you blessings!!!

To learn more on similar topics by Jen see

Stepping Into the Impossible: Miracle Flight to England

God Holds the Key to Your Destiny

Defeating Armies by Praise

Revival History in Redding: Re-Digging Wells at Destiny House

Video of Jen sharing at BSSM about Carrie Judd Montgomery's Legacy

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

“This is what the Lord says,

He who made a way through the seas, a path through the mighty waters…

‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’”

Isaiah 43:16-19

Seeds Sown October 27-November 2, 2013 will Emerge August 2014 and Beyond

In my own life, I am feeling that July 2014 is the final trimester in the 9 months of what is about to be birthed in August 2014 and beyond. I believe that seeds that were sown during the week of October 27-November 2, 2013 will come to see their fulfillment in a greater measure August 2014 and beyond. I see August 2014 not only as a time of birthing things that were sown 9 months previously but also even more fullness, synergy, and alignment from lifelong dreams and promises given by God in the past.

When I reflect back on what happened the week of October 27-November 2, 2013 in my own life, it was full of signs, wonders, declarations, clarity, shift towards alignment, new tongues, and other strange but profound experiences. I encourage you, too, to look back in your journal or your calendar and recall with the Lord what happened your life during that week. Then ask God if there was anything that happened then that will be birthed soon and how He wants you to prepare yourself to step into this upcoming season. If negative things happened that week, pray for God’s kingdom to come in that area and ask Him what He wants to sow into your life in this new season instead of those things.

One of the seeds I have seen develop and grow since that profound week in late October 2013 has to do with our Destiny House Redeeming Halloween event. Our Destiny House family set out to redeem and sanctify October 31 by worshipping and recounting what God did in history at that time. Besides this being a catalytic day for birthing the Protestant Reformation, it was also the day that Evan Roberts lit a fire for the Welsh Revival at Moriah Chapel in Wales. You can learn more what was released at that event in a blog HERE and soon be able to access a recording of the event on our PODCAST.

That same week, Destiny House Alumni Jenny Schoensiegle offered to do a painting of Evan Roberts as a fundraiser for Destiny House. Her painting received a bid from someone all the way in Wales named Darren who lives around the corner from Moriah Chapel. Seeds that were sown that night were only the beginning of what has begun to develop, grow, and increase these past nearly 9 months…

Not long after my MIRACLE FLIGHT to the UK in June 2014, Darren picked me and my friend Becky up at the train station in Wales to take us to the Moriah Chapel. While there, we met up with a few of our Destiny House family, Cornelius and Matt, who were present at the October 31st event and happened to be in Wales at the same time. Matt is the anointed Welshman who sang a Welsh revival song in his mother tongue during our October 31, 2013 event at Destiny House. It was incredible reconnecting with these friends in the land of revival. Through Darren’s connections, I also got to stay a night at the house Evan Roberts grew up in. Glory!

During this adventure in Wales, we also had the opportunity to visit revivalist Rees Howells’ Bible College. A year or two before this, I had studied about Rees Howells and learned about his great faith. In part, it was recalling some of his testimonies which inspired my own faith to step out and trust in God’s leading over my circumstances for breakthrough to get to England. At our June 28, 2014 Destiny House event, Cornelius and I shared testimonies of our time at Wales and I also released impartation of Rees Howells’ legacy. Cornelius also invited everyone to join in on a prophetic act of consecration.

Building on the momentum from of our October 31, 2013 Welsh Revival event, our trip to Wales, and our Rees Howells night of consecration at Destiny House, this August 8-10, Cornelius, I, and some of the Destiny House family are heading to Carrie Judd Montgomery’s Home of Peace in Oakland, CA for our 3rd Annual Healing & Revival Retreat. At this first and historic healing home and revival center on the West Coast, we will continue to build on this theme of Re-Digging the Wells of Revival. I can feel the momentum building from all from seeds that were deposited October 31, 2013.

Throughout this past 9 month season from October 2013 to August 2014, I have also seen some alignment and long awaited dreams fulfilled in my own life. In March 2014, one of my dreams came true when I got to release Carrie Judd Montgomery’s Legacy at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry 1st Year Class in Redding. On May 1, 2014, alignment came together after nearly 2.5 years when all 3 floors of the Destiny House were released for us to rent exclusively for hosting the presence of God and releasing impartation, healing, and destiny. We started with one floor in 2012 and over the past few years God has continued to bless and add to our growing Destiny House family by sending people from around the world to run after the things of God with us in that place.

After 3 years, I also finally had the opportunity to return to England to reconnect with my friends and be there for my friend’s wedding. This miracle flight to get me there was influenced by Rees Howells’ faith. While all that happened these past few months leading up to August 2014 were so special and I am more than thankful, I remain hungry and I believe they were precursors of what is coming in even greater fullness and measures in this upcoming season. I believe these promises fulfilled are only just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg of what is going to hit us August 1st and beyond.

It’s a Time for Consecration: July 2014

I see July as a time of stretching, strengthening, purifying, and consecration. It’s like a time right before a snake sheds its old skin and awaits the new. Or a when a caterpillar has been in its cocoon and feels it’s ready to be set free but the wait is just a little longer. Or when a pregnant mother is ready to explode but has to wait just a little longer for the promise to be birthed.

I believe that the month of July 2014 is to be a time of consecration, refinement, and preparation for what is about to come upon us. A stripping off of the old, shedding old skin, getting rid of old ways of thinking, purifying our thoughts, lives, plans and being present before the Lord to hear what He is saying for this new season.

Rees Howells and Corporate Encounter

On March 29, 1936 at his Bible College in Wales, Rees Howells had a time of corporate consecration when he called his students to surrender their lives afresh before the Lord. The next day it was recorded in the diary of the College meetings that

“Fire fell on sacrifice. Holy Ghost descended on evening meeting. We went on knees and someone started the chorus, ‘Welcome, welcome, welcome! Holy Ghost, we welcome Thee.’ Liberty and power so great we continued singing this one chorus for a full hour.”[1]

Just over 9-10 months after this, a corporate encounter followed the act of consecration. The presence of God was so thick on the campus that the staff and students could only whisper to each other. The earlier act of consecration and surrender continued to yield an “increasing consciousness of God’s presence.” It became visibly manifest when a woman on staff broke down “confessing her sense of need and crying to the Holy Spirit to meet her.” Then “He came” and they experienced a corporate visitation for 3 weeks straight of His presence surrounding the campus. The headmaster of the school at the time recalled that God

“[He] did not come like a rushing mighty wind. But gradually the person of the Holy Ghost filled all our thoughts, His presence filled the place, and His light seemed to penetrate all the hidden recesses of our hearts. He was speaking through the Director in every meeting, but it was in the quiet of our own rooms that He revealed Himself to many of us…We were people who had left all to follow the Savior, and had forsaken all we had of this world’s goods to enter a life of faith, and as far as we knew we had surrendered our lives entirely to the One who died for us. But He showed us, ‘There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.’”

“There was no excitement or enthusiasm of the flesh those days. When His power had come upon us after March 29 we had been carried away and were singing and shouting our praises. But in these days we were so awed by the holy majesty of His Person that we hardly dared raise our voices in the meetings…Even the grounds outside seemed filled with His presence. Walking around together we would suddenly be conscious that we were speaking in whispers. The late hours came, but no one thought of bed – for God was there… 2 and 3 a.m. often seemed just like midday as we communed together, prayed with some who were ‘coming through,’ or waited before God in the quietness of our hearts.”[2]

May God do it again in this season. May the Spirit quicken our hearts and draw us to lay down everything at the feet of Jesus, trusting Him with our very lives. He is worthy of it all. May you have grace, strength, and endurance to enter into this new season with no strings attached, fully able to take hold of all that He wants to pour out. Ready your heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to clear away anything that is not meant to enter into this new season with you. I pray He invade your very being with the Father’s beautiful love and position you exactly where you need to be in this next season. All that you have surrendered and sacrificed in seasons past have not been a waste. He is waiting to pour out His Spirit in immeasurable ways. Be ready to receive all that He has for your today. He is so for you.

[1]Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor (Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1952), 208.

[2]Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor, 218-219.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 moments after God did the impossible!

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

"When you have no other options but God and the body of Christ, something beautiful is bound to happen..."

Having no money to my name, I was determined to make it to my friend's wedding in England even if that meant having my bags packed and showing up at the airport without a ticket...

For many months, I had felt that God was sending me to England to be there for my friend's wedding. It was literally impossible for me to get there because I had recently finished a work project and was still in search of my next paid assignment from the Lord. Even though I was not able to come up with the money before the wedding, I still felt led of the Lord to be present for my friend's wedding. I had RSVP-ed months before by faith. The week leading up to the wedding, I still had not received the breakthrough I had been praying for in getting an airplane ticket. However, I continued to plan and live my life as if I would be there because I really felt that God was sending me for such a time as this. We recently were able to rent all 3 floors of Destiny House for the ministry and I had not been back to England for nearly 3 years since living there from 2007-2011 and completing my Ph.D. I cleared my schedule and was believing God wanted to bless me with celebration and rest in addition to the wedding. On Monday, May 26th, by faith, I sent out my newsletter telling people that I would be in England later that week. I felt I needed to do this as a declaration over my life and act of faith believing that what I felt I heard God say would come to pass in His way.

I had arranged to start my journey towards the airport on Tuesday. When Tuesday morning came however, as I was getting ready to go, I hesitated and thought I needed to do more research on airfares and be more prepared. As I began to research more though, I felt unrest and could feel this thinking was filled with doubt and fear. After being back and forth about when to leave, I looked at my bank account and realized I had no other options. There would be no point in staying in town because my situation was impossible even to stay. I felt that the breakthroughs I needed into this new season would be on the other side of this journey. With literally only a full tank of gas in my car and my bags packed, I decided to go towards what I believed was part of my destiny for this time in my life. I knew that the longer I delayed, the more my faith would diminish and that I would possibly never step out to move in this direction or I might miss God's timing.

ON THE WAY

Rainbow of Promise in the sky on the way down.

In the Bible, I have noticed that many miracles happened "on the way" when people responded in faith to move towards the direction Jesus gave. I was praying for the same to be the case for me as I headed towards San Francisco Airport by faith that I would make it to England by Friday for the wedding. I still had no idea how I would make it there at this point. Some of our Destiny House family, Matt & Lisa Shutte, and Brittany came along for this faith adventure. During the car ride, we saw a beautiful and strange looking rainbow cloud in the sky. I received this as a promise from God! Then, I got a call and offer to teach online for a theological seminary in fall! Promise in the sky and job breakthrough was a great start to this adventure into the impossible!

STOP OVER AT THE HOME OF PEACE

We of course headed straight for the 1st healing home on the West Coast, The Home of Peace, founded by Carrie Judd Montgomery.  I did not feel the need to rush to the airport that night so we spent the evening resting and catch up with some good friends there. Almost immediately after we arrived, someone there pulled me aside and handed me a check for $500 towards my trip!  If I had hesitated or waited to go on my journey the next day, I would have missed seeing this person and her husband since they were leaving early the next morning. Praise God for giving more confirmation and providing through the body of Christ! Then on Wednesday, we all spent the morning in the chapel soaking in God's glory and enjoying being in His presence together as family as we prepared for the airport.

Carrie Judd Montgomery's Home of Peace in Oakland, California established in 1893. You should visit, there's lots of glory here!

Beulah Chapel just outside the Home of Peace. Getting ready to head to SFO.

WEARING DESTINY

Knowing that if I was to make it to my friend's wedding that I had to catch a flight that day, I decided to accessorize  myself with the testimony ofGod's incredibleness. Something beautiful happened with our Destiny House family on our last Monday night all together that was truly and sign and a wonder. He merged two separate gifts into perfect alignment even matching the Silver to Gold theme of my life message in the mix. This sign from God symbolized Ephesians 3:20 to me. That is exactly what I needed Him to do that day in blessing me exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask, hope, dream or imagine. I wore this promise of His faithfulness around my neck and feasted on His goodness to help strengthen my faith to step into this next breakthrough.

Symbols of testimony, hope, signs and wonders held in my hand and worn around my neck leading up to the breakthrough.

After our time at Carrie Judd Montgomery's home of legacy, it was then it was time to head to SFO. At this point, there was just enough gas to get us there and I now had $500 to get a ticket that would cost over $1500. I enlisted many of my prayer warrior friends as we headed to SFO. Earlier in the week I had asked Heidi Baker who had done this several times in the past to give me a testimony and pray for me on my similar journey. She shared how one time she only had $100 but felt led to go to New York. She showed up at LAX and when she was there a sale price ticket from LA to NY showed up for $99. I recalled her testimony time and time again as I headed towards the impossibility that awaited me.

When I arrived at SFO, I felt led to get in line at the United Airlines line first. I handed the man my passport as if I was on a flight and he typed in all the info. I wondered if by some miracle a ticket would appear. He couldn't find it ether. Having never gone standby, I asked him about it and he asked me who my buddy was. I told him Jesus because I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he told me to fly standby I needed to have a friend who worked for United. He offered his hand in marriage for me to be his buddy so he could give me a ticket but I politely declined. However, I felt God's favor on that interaction more than the following ones where I went to counter after counter seeing if there was a cheap ticket and not getting anywhere. After awhile of no doors opening, me and the crew sat down, not sure what to do next.

NO OPEN DOORS

My sad Emo shot after several closed doors.

I walked towards the bathroom and began to entertain the idea that what if I didn't make it to my friend's wedding. After trying every door I could think of so far, I became very sad when I started to believe the lies that this would not work out even though I had originally really felt God on it. Doubt, discouragement, and sadness overcame me.

Thankfully the others who came along still had hope for this breakthrough. I already encouraged them to go explore the city and that I would stay at the airport until something opened up somehow. They wanted to see God move so they stayed with me there and waited.

Before the breakthrough. Our spirits are still up. Thankful for Matthew & Lisa, and Brittany praying and believing with me on this faith journey!!!

After knocking on several more closed doors, while at the airport, I texted some prayer warriors to pray for a miracle. I told them that I was at SFO, no open doors and I needed either $1000, a buddy pass, or to be transported. Then, in relation to the conversation about the buddy passes, I thought I would message a friend to see if she worked for United. I knew she worked for an airline but last I time I spoke to her she was not able to help with tickets so it didn't even cross my mind to reach out to her. Crazy Cristina, a girl I discipled over 13 years ago and even baptized who has since become a very good friend of mine, lives in Colorado and called me soon after I messaged her. I followed the United man's suggestion to ask if she worked for them. She didn't work for them but she did work for another airline that could also do buddy passes. Within moments, she was typing my information in as we were walking to the airline counter. The flight was leaving soon, so we had to walk straight there. I was giving her my passport info and writing down reference numbers enroute while my friends were carrying my bags and leading me in the right direction. When we made it to the kiosk, still on the phone with Cristina, I typed in my information on the check in computer. On the computer screen, my name popped up and then out popped a ticket from SFO to London!!! The presence of God fell in such a powerful way in that moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life. The Lord didn't let me down. It was a miracle. Cristina ended up getting my ticket for only $578. This was wonderful, just 1/3 the price of a normal ticket and only $78 over what I then had. After getting that sorted and checking in, while still at the airport, a friend wanted to come and say goodbye to me and said he had it in his heart to give me money while in Redding but he missed me. We walked over to an ATM and while at the airport, I was given another $200. My ticket paid for now and even a little extra spending money for the journey. God is so good!

One moment I will never forget for the rest of my life when God moved mountains on my behalf! His faithfulness endures forever!

I boarded the flight and was also blessed with a friend John hearing of my overnight layover in Chicago and arranging for Abi Grace to let me stay at hers. Right when I landed I received a text from Abi, who I had never met, saying that she had driven an hour to come pick me up and take me to a place to sleep for a few hours. The nice man sitting next to me, after already hearing all about my crazy testimony of getting on the flight, was shocked at God's goodness and hopefully inspired to learn more about the true and living God after hearing about all that God had done. Then when I arrived in London, I was so blessed when friends from Birmingham, England, Jo Bullock and Davina Kempson drove out to pick me up late that night.

After a great night's sleep at Jo's house, I had the incredible privilege, honor, and blessing to celebrate with the beautiful bride Kay at her wedding. I am so thankful to God for this miracle of turning water into wine on behalf of bringing the family of God together for such a special time as this. I love how Jesus' very first miracle in the Bible was when He turned water into wine at a wedding celebration. Just goes to show how much He loves to celebrate life and bring family together in miraculous ways. I am so thankful in how God came through for me by using the beautiful body of Christ who surrounded me and believed with me for this miracle. May God receive all honor and glory for this miraculous gift!

Celebrating this wonderful couple that God loves a lot!

STEP INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE TODAY

I share this testimony with you, not that you will show up at airports whenever you want to go somewhere, but that you will respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit to step towards even impossible situations when He calls you to move. As you step out in faith and move towards the things you think He may be leading you to, including closed doors and impossibilities, trust in Him and watch as He parts the waters on your behalf to bring you into a greater measures of His abundant life for you. I also want to make sure to say that while God broke through in a marvelous way this time, I also have many other stories of knocking on doors and nothing opening up like when I moved towards buying a house by faith a few months ago. I went as far as I could go and in the end it never came through even though I felt it was my house in the Spirit. Even though the results did not become what I hoped then, I feel great that I was led by the Spirit as far as I could go and because of that I have no regrets. I still believe that one day, that same door will open up to me.

May this current testimony and breakthrough of transportation to England to celebrate my friend's wedding inspire you to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit regardless of the circumstances. If God is sending you somewhere, as you stepoutin faith to follow His leading, even along unfamiliar paths, He will make a way where there is no way in His perfect timing. Where in your life do you feel the Lord leading but it seems too impossible to even try? Maybe the Lord put that dream in your heart. Maybe the impossibile circumstances exist so that you can learn to rely more on God and the body of Christ. Maybe God wants to bless you so ridiculously so that He alone can receive all the credit. If He did not even spare His own Son, how could He not also, along with Him, give us all things? (Romans 8). God loves to love us. He will part the waters before you as you move towards Him.

Isaiah 43:16-19

"This is what the Lord says - He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters...'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past (unless feasting on His faithfulness and testimonies of old). See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.'"

Several days before my miracle occurred, I texted a friend and said, "I am believing God will make a way and that this testimony will be sent out to dismantle strongholds of fear and infuse this generation with hope in a God who loves to love us!" Would you please help spread this good news that God is for us and loves to work on our behalf as we step out in faith towards living the abundant life that Jesus died for us to have (John 10:10). May you receive a fresh impartation of faith today to believe that what God has initiated, He will indeed bring to pass regardless of the surrounding circumstances (Philippians 1:6). May the courage of Joshua and Caleb be imparted to you today; I pray that as you keep your eyes on God, lean into Him, and step out in faith towards the promises He has given you, that you will walk in new levels of intimacy with Him and enjoy new fields in the Promised Land that He has destined for you.

To be inspired with similar stories check out Heidi Baker's Birthing the Miraculous or my other testimony where I felt God similarly turned Water into Wine on my behalf. To learn more about Carrie Judd Montgomery's faith which has taken my faith to a new level check out Life on Wings and/or Spirit Flood. See also God Holds the Key to Our Destiny on this blog.

Thanks for coming on this faith journey. Hope you have enjoyed the ride. May this testimony mark you with courage to cling to God and to step out in faith towards His promises no matter what the surrounding circumstances. God is for you and so in love with you today!

“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations” (Isaiah 61:4).

Built in 1949 with the same materials used on the Shasta dam, the property on 2391 Placer Street, now functioning as Destiny House, was at one time a church in downtown Redding. The top floor was a wide open space where the children met for Sunday school. Later on, the city officials of Redding met there to declare laws over the city. A space that used to release goodness over the city later took a turn when it was vacated in the early 2000s and instead became a center where child pornography was filmed and released around the world. Witches and others later inhabited the home until 2007 when God led Jennifer Beebe and her family there. God gave Jenn a vision for it to be a glory house they called the Kabod House (Kabod means heavy weighty glory, honor, and blessing in Hebrew). Kris Kildosher and several young men who attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry felt led to live in the home. They helped sanctify the home spiritually and also began its restoration process. They regularly worshipped together in the open space on the top floor. As they did community together in the glory alongside the Beebe family, they saw many unique signs and wonders. One of the prophetic words released over this site during this time was that the salvation of the city is tied to this home. The Beebes lived in community here for 9 months until they had to move out in 2008. They owned the property for a total of 2.5 years until they went bankrupt and had to let it go.

After several years of the house being vacated, homeless people took residence there. A handful of people were drawn to put in an offer to buy the house but God protected it from being bought until Brad Coultier reluctantly put in a ridiculous offer. He secured the property for only $132,000 in September 2010. Fulfilling the prophetic words over Redding (Isaiah 61), he began to invest his time, resources, and heart into rebuilding the house. To learn more about Brad's journey go HERE.

In early 2012, shortly after finishing her Ph.D. in England on the life and ministry of Carrie Judd Montgomery, the founding mother of the healing home movement in North America, God divinely led Jennifer A. Miskov to the home. Through standing on testimonies of faith by Carrie Judd, Jen felt led to move into the house even though she had no car, no job, and very little money. All the resources she had would only cover the deposit and first month’s rent. God broke through in amazing ways and sent people every step of the way to help. She moved in February 15th. A few days later on her birthday on February 18th, 2012, Destiny House was officially dedicated for God’s purposes. At that time, it consisted of one floor with 3 people. To learn more about Jen's personal journey towards Destiny House and the incredible God story, go HERE.

Jenn Beebe was invited to a BSSM graduation party at Destiny House in the summer of 2012 by one of the girls who lived there whom she used to know many years before. It was at that party that Jenn Beebe met Jen Miskov for the first time. As they shared their hearts, they then realized that God had given them identical visions for the house years apart. Jen Miskov knew nothing of the Kabod house until after she had already moved in. At the party, Jenn Beebe saw a picture of Carrie Judd Montgomery and recognized her from one of her dreams. Her journey all began to start making sense.

Other threads of destiny began to be revealed as time went on. During one of the Friday morning worship and prayer times with the few girls in the house, there was a discussion of what the street name of the house, “placer,” meant. When it was discovered that it had to do with gold mines, Jen Miskov was sparked to share her favorite sermon by Carrie Judd Montgomery entitled “Life on Wings: The Possibilities of Pentecost.” As the sermon was read, unbeknownst to Jen at the time, there was a reference to placer mines! Within that very sermon originally released in 1910 was a tie to the street name of Destiny House, a home influenced and modeled after Carrie Judd’s healing home, the Home of Peace. Behind Destiny House is “Gold Street.” Jen Miskov’s life message can be found in a book entitled Silver to Gold. For Jen, there was prophetic destiny all over this house and she was tapping into something much greater than she had realized from the start.

By June 2012, the bottom floor of the house was also released. After the summer, God sent Jessica Phelps to steward the downstairs to have a total of 9 women in the house, all students attending BSSM. For most of 2012-2013, Destiny House operated as a community and glory home, centered around worship and God’s presence that also hosted and honored missionaries and leaders from around the world. Senior leaders from church movements in the U.K., a leader of the underground church in the Middle East who also works with the royal family there, Iris missionaries including one who works with rebel soldiers in the Congo, a movie star’s mother, brother-in-law to John Wimber, and many other saints stayed at or visited the home during this season.

By May 2013, God sent Angela Locke who would be the first full time missionary to be a part of Destiny House besides Jen Miskov. The two floors transitioned back to a community centered around God’s glory and focused on Friday morning worship and ministry times, Saturday night monthly Holy Spirit nights, and Monday night community meals. There was continued prayer for and release of destiny to missionaries and leaders as they joined the weekly and monthly gatherings. One lady who heard about Destiny House through her visit to the Home of Peace, drove up from Oakland for the Friday morning worship time. After being prayed for, she later received financial breakthrough of $217, 544.21 forgiven off of a house loan.

Besides ministering to many visitors, the young women who have spent a season living in this set apart atmosphere have received a great deposit for the rest of their lives, most importantly learning how to worship God in all circumstances. Many of these who have learned to live powerfully within a community centered around worship, have been transformed and launched into a greater measure of their destiny.

After over 2 years of praying, hosting God’s presence, worshiping Him in all circumstances, honoring missionaries and leaders from around the world, imparting destiny to all who enter, and Brad rebuilding the house and adjacent property according to city regulations, the top floor of the home was released May 1, 2014 for the Destiny House family to rent and have set aside for the whole ministry. God sent the Hess family with their two beautiful daughters to eventually reopen the missionary room that was open in phase one of Destiny House. This home that used to be a church, then the Kabod House, is now being restored to perfect alignment with heaven as a place set aside to host God’s presence and to learn to live in the glory within the context of community. It is becoming a prototype for restoring family worship and living a lifestyle in the glory. It is a model for future Destiny Houses centered on glory, honor, and destiny to be launched around the world.

Could the rebuilding and restoration process of the house on 2391 Placer Street in downtown Redding, once called the Kabod House, now called Destiny House, be a prophetic sign for the city of Redding based on Isaiah 61? Could Destiny House’s rebirth be prophetic in nature of what God is about to do in the church by bringing perfect alignment and convergence to prepare for what’s coming next?

With the full alignment of Destiny House, I release a prophetic declaration to the city, the church, and the world that this will be a season of long await dreams fulfilled, hope restored, broken parts fully healed, convergence, perfect positioning to step into all that God has, and destinies released. To the city of Redding, may you be called a Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord. May you be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted (Isaiah 62:12). God will come in great power shortly, position yourselves to step into what He is about to pour out. May now be a time for us all to “Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations” (Isaiah 62:10).

Please pray for us as we enter into the next phase of what God is doing in our community here and around the world. Thank you for celebrating our journey with us.

While there are many who have played a part in this miracle over the past few years, this article is dedicated to the two hidden heroes and pioneers who have literally laid down there lives and given all they had because they believed in a dream from God. We would not be here if it wasn't for you two. To Jennifer Beebe and Brad Coultier, may this be your season of convergence, may blessings flood and overtake you, may honor chase after you for the things you have done in secret, may you experience God’s love beyond what you ever have before. Thank you for making a place for the Destiny House family. You have an inheritance and a direct part in everything God does in this place and you will never be forgotten for your great kindness.

See video below to learn more of our future direction and the 100 year vision to cultivate and release God's glory from this place. We are in partnership with Iris Global. All are welcome to join us for worship and receive ministry from our Destiny House family Friday mornings 8:00-10:00am at Destiny House.

To learn more of Jen Miskov's personal journey and some of the craziest breakthroughs of her life as she was moving towards Destiny House, go HERE.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D., March 11, 2014

One of our Friday morning worships with the Destiny House family.

The Friday morning before I left for Springfield, Missouri, I had opportunity to meet with one of my favorite leaders who is incredibly inaccessible. The trouble was that the meeting time would have overlapped with our family worship Friday mornings at Destiny House which I did not want to miss. I chose family first and that Friday morning at Destiny House was powerful.

There was a new release of speaking in tongues. A friend and regular worship leader there, Cornelius Quek, gave a challenge to practice speaking in tongues more regularly and make it a discipline in the same way of fasting or reading the Bible. It was a beautiful time singing together in a heavenly language with the Destiny House family. Thankfully and miraculously, I was able to meet this leader later that day after hearing a talk at the conference about the importance of family. A few days after this, I headed on my next adventure to Springfield, Missouri.          

At Evangel University where the conference was held.

There was something unique and powerful about the 43rd Annual Meeting for the Society for Pentecostal Studies in Springfield March 6-8, 2014 that I will never forget. I have been to these annual conferences since I started my Ph.D. in England in 2007 but this was the most memorable one to date. I believe that what happened with this community of over 300 scholars of Pentecostalism from around the world is a foretaste of what God is going to continue to do within the church.

Preserving Heritage

Darrin Rodgers giving us a tour.

I flew out a day early so I could go on the tour of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center led by archivist, Darrin Rodgers. It was very exciting for me to learn about some of the history within Pentecostalism and see the way they set up their museum and are releasing the power of the testimony. I also got to go inside the vault where they keep the very special materials. I was surprised, excited, and honored to see my book about Carrie Judd Montgomery on their shelves!

Following this, Glenn Gohr helped me in the research room to look at actual photographs of Carrie Judd from years ago. After that, he gave me box of Smith Wigglesworth’s writings to feast upon. I had the opportunity to look through original sermon notes, journal scribbles, and other valuable primary sources. I was like a child in a candy shop with all of these precious and powerful testimonies. I am so thankful to the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center for digitizing so many resources I have used for my own research.

Me and my friend Smith Wigglesworth!

Special Session

One of my personal highlights of the conference was the special session for the history interest group that took place on Thursday afternoon. I was honored to participate in a session to review and discuss my book entitled Life on Wings: The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomerywith Biblical scholar Craig Keener, Pentecostal scholar and advocate for women Kimberly E. Alexander, Christian and Missionary Alliance historian Paul L. King, former Provost of Fuller Seminary and Vanguard University Russ Spittler. I started the session with a short PowerPoint presentation of Carrie’s healing testimony and life story. Following this, Craig Keener shared how Life on Wings opened him up to understand healing in a new way and “come to grips better with the question of healing in the atonement.” Russ Spittler commented on it’s importance for the future, Kimberly E. Alexander shared how it was one of the best biographical studies on a person in early Pentecostal history, and Paul King was thankful for the contribution.

Paul King, myself, Kimberly Alexander, and Russ Spittler during the session on my book Life on Wings. Special thanks to Derrick Rosenior (not pictured) who chaired the session.

Following some questions and response in relation to the development of healing homes and such, I read an encounter that Carrie had following her Pentecostal Spirit Baptism encounter where she experienced God in a greater level than she ever had before. I then read one of my all time favorite prayers by Carrie Judd Montgomery taken from her “Life on Wings” sermon. I read this same prayer a year ago in a session and it was used as confirmation and inspiration to my friend Alicia Jackson to move forward to pursue her Ph.D. You can see her testimony from the year before in the video below.

Then in this academic setting, everyone stood up to receive a blessing and we opened up the session to pray for healing. It was such wonderful, honoring, and humbling time for me to be surrounded by all of these incredible, powerful, and legendary scholars commenting on my work and to see God move in the room.

Tongues and Interpretation

On Thursday night, we had a plenary session. Towards the end of worship, someone broke out in tongues in the congregation of scholars. Following this, someone else gave an interpretation. I could feel the presence of God powerfully when this happened. I remember hearing people speak in tongues and then waiting for the interpretation when I grew up in John Wimber’s church at the Anaheim Vineyard. However, for the past several years in my church circles, for whatever reason, I have not witnessed this happening much at all. I believe that what happened that night is a sign of more to come.

Spirit Break Out

The following day, our society was forever marked. It all began when Kimberly E. Alexander had to switch sessions to do a plenary address alongside powerful scholar at Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cheryl Bridges Johns. That pairing was divine. After Cheryl gave a moving plenary address, Kimberly followed it up with a talk based on the research from her latest book What Women Want: Pentecostal Women Ministers Speak for Themselves. The Holy Spirit was brooding in the room over this topic of women in the ministry. Rather than closing the session himself which was the original plan, Kenneth J. Archer, the active S.P.S. vice president at the time, felt led to give space to Cheryl to close with a prayer.

With the conviction of a lifetime of paving the way for women in the academy and in the church, Cheryl was vulnerable in front of an audience of academics. Against all odds, she has pioneered the way for many when she was the very first woman to join this society years ago. She admitted that she was tired of having to continually contend in relation to the issue of women in ministry. Then, with tears in her eyes, she prayed in tongues over the whole group. When that happened, the presence of God fell powerfully in the room. I could feel the weight of His presence upon me.

The sound of one weeping could be heard in the audience. Women who have fought so long to have a voice, who were tired of being put on the sidelines because of their gender, were experiencing a release of that pain. Archer followed Cheryl’s prayer by inviting young women to stand who are called to the academy or to ministry. I responded. Through their tears, I saw the deep pain these women scholars had to endure for so long. Knowing the price they paid for me to have a place broke my heart. When I saw Kimberly pray for my friend Aliciaacross the room, I saw this as a passing of the torch.

Cheryl Bridges Johns speaking moments before the Spirit broke out powerfully.

The legendary Cheryl Bridges Johns, Estrelda Alexander, and Kimberly Alexander. I thank God for these women who have paved a way and created space for people like me to have a place.

I felt the power of God in that room more heavily than I ever expected to experience Him at an academic conference. Baptist minister and colleague from England, Tim Welch, offered to pray for me. I couldn’t stay standing. Tears streamed down my face. I could feel the burden being released and healing flood that room. Estrelda Alexander, one who has pioneered on behalf of women and the marginalized, came to pray for me as well. The transference that occurred between these legendary women scholars to the newer generation, along with the beautiful space shared between men and women in that room, stripped us all of our armor in the form of titles, letters, and Ph.D.’s and reminded us what it is like to be family.

As people started to clear out of the room, I could still feel the presence of God powerfully upon me. I couldn’t move and I didn’t want to leave that atmosphere. This was a holy moment and I didn’t want His presence to lift. I found myself alone in the hall. In a busy world where we have to fight for pockets of silence, He gave me a chance to linger with Him a little longer. I felt tingling on my whole body. Even as I write this now I can feel His presence upon me as I did in that moment. He came and I was undone. It was a sacred time.

Giving Space to the Anointing

Upon reflection, I recognize that it was moment Archer stepped back to share his platform with Cheryl that the Spirit broke out powerfully. He created space for one who was under great conviction and anointing to release the kingdom. In a similar way that A.B. Simpson created space for early Divine Healing Movement leader and Pentecostal pioneer Carrie Judd Montgomery to soar, Archer did the same for Cheryl. I praise and thank God for Archer’s sensitivity to the Spirit. If he did not yield to the Spirit right then, I feel our society as a whole may have missed out on what God wanted to release. This divine moment became the tipping point for the whole conference and maybe even the society as a whole.

This precious moment also moved our community from simply being members of a society to being a family in a greater way. Academics who sometimes don’t quite fit in the world or even in Christian institutions or the church, found comfort, understanding, and love amongst other forerunners, pioneers, prophetic voices for the church. The men in that room loved, honored, and gave space to the women. They sought understanding and stepped into our pain with us. This act alone brought such healing. Since I believe that artists, musicians, creatives, entrepreneurs, and even academics are prophetic voices for the church, I believe that what happened to us there is also a sign of what’s about to break out at in unprecedented measure within the church. See my article “Coloring Outside the Lines: Pentecostal Parallels with Expressionism. The Work of the Spirit in Place, Time, and Secular Society?” in The Journal of Pentecostal Theology for more on this.

Family

Me and Stanley Horton. "Praise the Lord!"

During the conference, I was also blessed with the opportunity to see many friends and colleagues who never get the credit they deserve for the incredible contribution they are to the Body of Christ and to the church. I was happy to see people like Azusa Street Revival historian, Cecil M. Robeck Jr., who shares a similar passion for Carrie Judd and was my external examiner for my thesis, Dr. Mark Cartledge, my friend and advisor from England who gave a wonderful plenary, Stanley Horton, who is nearly 98 years old and has contributed greatly to Biblical scholarship. Whenever I spoke with Horton, he regularly ended our conversations with “Praise the Lord!” He is such a powerful example of what it can look like to follow God even into our 90s. I, too, want to be full of the Spirit and saying “Praise the Lord” at every turn even as I near 100 years of age!

Me and my friend Mel Robeck.

While there are many more highlights to share including Lee Roy Martin’s presidential address on Psalm 107 beginning with a video of Martin Luther King Jr., I will close with a connection I had with Craig Keener. He is one of the foremost Biblical scholars in the world and does his work in such excellence that the glory of God is magnified just by him simply being a scholar as unto the Lord. He is also one of the most humble men I have met. I was very honored and humbled to have him be a part of the discussion on my book. Even more, after the final banquet for the conference, my friend Alicia and I shared a time of blessing, praying, and honoring Craig followed by him blessing us with an impartation of his writing gift. I am privileged to know a few people who after I spend time with them, I feel like I have just spent time with Jesus because the purity, humility, and glory of God in their lives. Craig has recently become one of these. This was a beautiful way to end this most memorable of conferences for the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

This is a picture of me and Craig when I met him for the first time at S.P.S. in 2013. We are exchanging each others' books here.

I am proud to be a part of a society that marries both the academy and spirituality and allows freedom and inspiration to not only love the Lord our God will all our hearts but also all our minds. With mixed views, denominations, genders, races, and other diversities, the society thrives because it is a family of believers who loves God first and foremost. When a bond of love is created within any community, love supersedes disagreements and also provides a safe environment for stimulating conversation to take place. Everything changes when a society, church, or community becomes family. This is my testimony of what happened when the Spirit broke out this year at the Society for Pentecostal Studies conference. I pray it blesses you and inspires you to speak in tongues more, give space to who the anointing is on regardless of gender or age, and invites you to move beyond structural barriers to become family with those in your circles.

I now leave you with my favorite prayer that Carrie Judd Montgomery released in Chicago in 1910. May her words inspire us all to rise above all circumstances and to soar with wings like eagles.

“Now, who is going to trust God for the winged life? You can crawl instead if you wish. God will even bless you if you crawl; He will do the best He can for you, but oh how much better to avail ourselves of our wonderful privileges in Christ and to ‘mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.’ O beloved friends, there is a life on wings. I feel the streams of His life fill me and permeate my mortal frame from my head to my feet, until no words are adequate to describe it. I can only make a few bungling attempts to tell you what it is like and ask the Lord to reveal to you the rest. May He reveal to you your inheritance in Christ Jesus so that you will press on and get all that He has for you.”

I want to thank everyone who prayed or sowed into my trip. Your support has made such a difference!

See also another view of this account I wrote that got published in Ministry Today.

See also article I wrote about my time in Toronto entitled "There's a Tidal Wave of Revival on the Horizon." To learn more about Carrie Judd Montgomery, check out the CJM Project, or to learn more about Destiny House, see video below. Thanks for joining me on this journey. Many blessings and impartation of God's love and presence to you!

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