Awaken!

The New Year is coming up quickly. 2020 isn’t just a New Year but the beginning of a new decade too! Are you ready for it? Preparing for the New Year isn’t just about making New Year’s resolutions that are difficult to keep up with and complete. It is important to take some time with the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things we need to let go of (Hebrews 12:1) and what new plans He has for us in this upcoming year and season (Isaiah 43:19) because there may be things that we need to let go of as well as prepare for the future. We can’t move forward while hanging on to past relationships and circumstances that God wants us to release. We give them to Him, trusting that He will take care of them. We may need to ask for forgiveness and if He tells us to do something, we must obey Him, trusting that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). He is good and has good things for us (Jeremiah 29:11)!

Do you have a 20/20 vision for the New Year? Can you see clearly what the Lord wants you to see for 2020? Spending time in prayer and fasting will help you to hear what the Lord is saying and bring breakthroughs where needed. Revelation of God’s plans for you in 2020 will come as you pray in your heavenly language (John 16:13; Romans 8:26, 27). Write down what He tells you and press into it through prayer. Turn your activity into productivity through vision!

And then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2, 3 (NKJV)

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)

On October 17, 2019, I heard myself saying in a dream, “Awake! As I prayed and pressed into this declaration to hear the Word of the Lord, the Lord revealed to me what He meant. It was a clarion call for the body of Christ to awaken from our sleep and come into alignment with God’s kingdom and our kingdom assignment. We are to put off the works of the flesh and live for Christ and to advance His kingdom. We are to walk in faith and think kingdom thoughts (Philippians 2:5-8; 4:8). We need to see things through God’s perspective.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11 – 14 (NKJV)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:8 – 21 (NKJV)

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you, yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say,” Peace and safety!” Then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 6 (NKJV)

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5 – 7 (NKJV)

“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turned away. Isaiah 50:4, 5 (NKJV)

We are in the days of the great harvest of souls, and the enemy is putting increased pressure on the saints, to deceive them, and to keep them from fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives (1 Peter 5:8, 9). We are not to be unaware of his tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must be believers who walk according to the Word of God and by His Spirit so that we do not fall into deception.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)

When Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world (John 1:1-14; 8:12; 12:35, 36). Now that Jesus has returned to heaven, believers are to be the salt and light of the world ( Matthew 5:13-16). We have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and conveyed into God’s kingdom through His Son (Colossians 1:13). We are not to conform to the world and its culture (Romans 12:2) but follow after Christ (Matthew 16:24) and release the kingdom of God into the earth (Matthew 28:18-20).

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” Luke 11:33 – 36 (NKJV)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

The Lord is calling His church, the body of Christ, to awaken to the things of the Spirit and His kingdom. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, and we can see into the spiritual realm (Acts 2:17; Matthew 13:16). He gives us the ability to see powerful visions and dreams! Our eyes are anointed to see (2 Corinthians 4:18). The Holy Spirit wants to reveal God’s mysteries to us (Deuteronomy 29:29; Daniel 2:22; 1 Corinthians 2:10).

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13 (NKJV)

We are to run our race with endurance for His prize. We need to put off everything that hinders and entangles us from running the race that God has called each one of us to complete here on earth.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV)

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5:7 (NKJV)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:14 – 16 (NKJV)

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1, 2 (NKJV)

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His room. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:18-22) (NKJV)

I believe the Lord is bringing another Great Awakening and revival to the earth, such as we have never seen before. As we preach the Word, there will be signs and wonders to confirm the Word (Mark 16:20; Acts 4:30; 14:3; 15:12; Romans 15:18, 19; Hebrews 2:4) that will be greater and increased than in previous times (Isaiah 9:7; 54:2-4; Psalm 102:12-22; Acts 6:7; 15:15-18; Matthew 13:31, 32)!

We are kings and priests unto God the Father through the blood of Jesus (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Our priestly ministry involves interceding for our families, cities, and nations, etc. Our kingly ministry involves decreeing (speaking) God’s Word from heaven to bring it into the earth so that it can manifest here. What we speak will be established! His Word includes the written Word, Word of Christ (Rhema), and Word of prophecy (2 Chronicles 20:20). Jesus is the living Word (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:7). God’s Word is light and gives light to our path (Psalm 119:105, 130).

You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways. Job 22:28 (NKJV)

Start decreeing in faith what you want to see come to pass according to the Word of God. That’s what Jesus did. He spoke the results that He wanted to see. When He prayed, He always began by thanking the Father for always hearing Him. We too can thank Him and be confident that the Father hears us when we pray according to His will, which is His Word (1 John 5:14, 15).

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

Arise, shine, for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1 – 3 (NKJV)

Shine the light of Christ in 2020! Ask Him to give you eyes to see how and where to shine.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the LORD! Psalm 27:1, 14 (NKJV)

My Prayer for You

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call. Psalm 20:1 – 9 (NKJV)

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 (NKJV)