Month: June 2024

Dear Intercessors, Prayer Warriors, and Spiritual Warfare Specialists,

We are very well acquainted with the spirit of delay. We know what Daniel 10:12-13 says ““Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days.” Because of our familiarity with this passage and this spirit, we tend to default to it when something does not manifest as the Lord has declared it would. But remember our enemy is cunning, deceptive, and also perceptive. We cannot get lazy in our spiritual warfare learning and leaning into what God is saying in now time.

One of the names of God is Lord of Hosts, or Lord of Angel Armies. We are not partnering with the angelic from a defensive posture, for the victory is already won, but the manifestation of that victory is still in process. What has been launched against the earth is a spirit of piracy. Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship. The goal is to steal cargo or other valuable goods. The spirit of piracy released a sniper attack on this first day of Sivan (Hebrew Month).

Sivan is connected to the tribe of Zebulun, who’s symbol is the ship, and who’s theme is giving, and who’s call is to business men and women. It is a strategic interception that has happened, for the timing is obvious. Piracy happening on the first day of the month of Sivan. Intercessors this is a call for us to stand guard during this month, for Yahweh is releasing resources but the spirit of piracy is seeking to steal them from those who they have been sent to. We decree RESTORE (Joel 2:25), RETURN (Proverbs 6:31), RECOVER ALL (1 Samuel 30:8) in the name of Jesus.

Do you think God enjoys you or do you think He just tolerates you? I was walking the dog this morning talking to the Lord about two friends of mine who have “big” days today. One is on the final step of a huge breakthrough and the other is awaiting some really big news. As I was praying for them and thanking God that He delights in them, thoroughly enjoys them and is giving them the desires of their hearts, I had the thought cross my mind, do we really believe God delights in us, enjoys us, actually loves everything about us?

As this thought remained in my thoughts for most of my walk, I saw parents with their newborn child in my spirit. Their absolute delight at the sight of this new life made both their hearts smile. I then saw the Lord and the smile on His face as He looked at my two friends receiving great gifts today, was just like those new parents. Friends, God smiles at us more than we realize. He is not mad at us. He is not just tolerating us. He actually enjoys us and loves everything about us.

We as people are so used to be “whacked” by peoples words and actions, we struggle to receive God and other peoples enjoyment of us. We need to celebrate each other more. We need to enjoy one another more. We need to realize circumstances are hard, the world system is rough, but we as people can still find the gold in each other and enjoy one another.

Just because God created you in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27) is reason enough for us to enjoy each other because He is enjoying us more than we realize. I even think when we are spit fire mad, He is smiling at us, realizing we have such a limited view of situations, but it is not a mocking smile, it is a smile that says, oh son, oh daughter, this is a small thing, this too shall pass. I pray you enjoy people today and everyday, for they need to know they are celebrated by God and us!!!!

When I was younger I wanted to be older. I saw how many seemingly more opportunities my older friends had. They could drive, they could get a job and make their own money, they looked so much more free to me. When I became old enough to drive, I realized with freedom comes responsibility, with a job comes discipline. Once I got to where I thought I wanted to be it did not look as glamorous to me.

Many people want to be somewhere they are not, for they see the old days as better than the todays; or they are searching for the eternal fountain of youth because they don’t like how they look in their current season. Contentment is such a gift and so many people are not content, so they are not happy. Being content means living in the moment you are given right now. Honestly, most people are not worried about the things you are worried about when you look at you.

When I was younger I used to hate silence. Silence meant alone which evoked loneliness. But now that I am older I cherish silence. But what I have learned is that there are people who love silence but it is so loud in their head, they never really enjoy silence. Silence is not an outside experience it is actually an inner reality. You can be on the the busy streets of NYC and still be in silence. You can be floating in a salt spa in a dark room and still have no silence. Silence comes with contentment, it is what the Bible calls rest.

I was reading Psalm 65 this morning and it says, “There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God, And to You the vow will be performed.” Silence is a heavenly reality. Even in the midst of praise there is silence, because silence is an internal reality or stillness, the absence of worry, fear, anxiety, etc. Silence is not a sound outside of you, it is a reality that comes from trusting the One who lives inside of you. I enjoy silence everywhere I go, and you can too. Trust is the access code to silence.

Did you know the enemy decieves you into giving away your strength in a variety of activities, so you lose your ability to hear the voice of God? When you are tired, worn out, exhausted, you lose your ability to hear the voice of God, not because God is not speaking, but because you are too tired to hear. People that are going through serious challenges wonder why they can’t hear God, it is because the enemy has so wore them out with other things, hearing the voice of God is very hard, for biblically to hear is to obey and the enemy does not want you to obey God.

Daniel 10:18-19 says, “Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

There are four things in this passage God wants to say to us. Number one, you are greatly loved! Let that sink it, God is not mad at you, He loves you greatly. I know the voices you hear, but the truth is, you are greatly loved by God and by so many other people. Number two, the Lord says, FEAR NOT, if God be for you who can be against you. There is nothing to fear, you have a Father in heaven, who is the Father of Lights and He sees everything, Fear not. Number three, I declare shalom over you. Peace be still to every storm, shalom in your home in Jesus name. Peace is your portion, for the prince of peace lives inside of you. Number four, Be strong! I know that sounds easier said than done, but our God is mighty to save, be strong in your convictions, your passions, your faith, for God is not a man that He should lie, be strong my friends.

Daniel ends by saying, “When He spoke to me I was strengthened and said let my Lord speak!” He wants to strengthen you today so you can hear Him speak. You are love, fear not, shalom and be strong. Love you friends and have a great week.

When I lived in Missouri I worked as an editor for a newspaper called the Pleasant Hill Times. My friend Connie bought the newspaper and asked me to help her out, so I did for about 9 months as she was launching this new endeavor. While doing that, I met a couple that owned a bird rehab sanctuary. They had owls, peacocks, parrots, finches, horses, chickens, cats, all the things. It was a mini zoo in the city called Pleasant Hill, MO.

One day I was at her house to take some pictures and do an interview of her and her husband to highlight them in the paper, as I was doing a series about some of the incredible people who lived in that small town. While there she let me hold an owl, and at one point there were multiple macaws on my shoulder. I remember her telling me we needed to move slowly or it would spook these large gorgeous birds.

I remembered this time in my life as I was reading Matthew 3:16 today, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.” One thing I have learned is that the spirit of God is not in a hurry. He is never darting here and there as though needing to rush in any way. There is a rhythm to the Holy Spirit’s movement.

In a culture that is continually in a hurry, I remember the instructions of that woman in the bird sanctuary that told me not to make any swift moves or it would spook the bird. If we want the Holy Spirit to rest on us, we must not be in such a hurry. God is not anxious, He is not worried, He is not running late, He is not going to miss anything and neither will we if we let the dove rest on us and we don’t try to rush here and there. Shalom my friends, God never misses anything, ever!