A Word from the Lord About Restoration

At 4:30 yesterday morning I heard the whisper of the Lord in my spirit. "The blessings and breakthrough that you've been contending for are about to rise up and come meet you with a kiss!" Many of you have felt tired and dismayed at the length of the battle and how much was required of you to simply hold on to your faith in what has appeared as situations that just would not turn around. Oh, BUT GOD! He is Lord of the turnaround! What many of you have not understood in the midst of the waiting is that your breakthrough and the recovery of personal blessings, even children coming back to the Lord, and many of your prayers have been tied into the timing of world events.

The enemy that has gloated and felt so secure is now in a panic. He is losing control and the prayers of My people have shaken his house. "Did I not say that a house divided cannot stand? Did I not say that when you bind the strongman then you can take away his goods? Now you will see that those places where the enemy has felt smug and invincible, thinking that everything was safe in his hand, still belong to Me."

Many of the people that have been trapped in the enemy's hand have been under the control and influence of principalities and powers that are now weakening. Power structures on a world scale are crumbling and shifting, and captives are being set free. Welcome them home! This is the time to regain fresh strength in prayer. Stand strong in the Lord your God! Sing a new song in the midst of your pain and let worship be your warfare! The time of restoration is at hand!

New Doors for a New Season!

As we were driving home from vacation today, we drove by something that caught me by surprise. Among all the shrubs along the highway, all of a sudden there was this door. It seemed so out of place, suspended by just wires or who knows what. It even had a house number on it, but there was literally nothing but shrubs on either side of it! No building to attach to. It was a door without a door frame around it and it didn't even seem to lead into a house or building. Weird indeed!

It was one of those things that made me just wonder why someone would put a door there, but it occurred to me that sometimes, you know, God does that too. (wink!) He puts a door in an unexpected place. He doesn't need the expected framework or structure in order to place a door where one is needed. As a matter of fact, He can actually create a new door where the expected structure keeps people from coming in or going out, or when a position needs to be created. He can create a new door when someone else blocks the door He would like to use. He knows how to get us around obstacles and doors that won't open! He loves to create the solutions we need, just because He loves us! Our Father is committed to helping us fulfill our destiny, and He can create the custom made solution you need, too. Keep your eyes open and your spirit in tune to His, because suddenly, you might just find yourself staring something right in the eye that seems like quite an unusual encounter. HIS DOOR might show up in a very unexpected moment in a very unlikely place. Ask Him to create the door you need. Ask Him to show you who He wants to use to open the door for you. Ask for divine encounters. Eyes wide open!

What I am finding to be true in this season is that God wants us to be available to shift with Him.New seasons bring change, and often those changes include a change in direction or relationships. Sometimes even geographical moves, or a move into a new community. God uses people to open doors. and if our current social circles or places that we frequent aren't going to cause us to encounter the right person God wants to use to bring us into the new thing He has for us, then He has to move us. He has to redirect us so that he can cause us to 'bump into' that destiny connection. There are certain people that are in our destiny. People that we must minister to, pray for and share our testimonies with. Those people are the ones that will receive from us and are key people that we must meet. In order for each one of us to fulfill what God has put us here to do, it's important for us to be able to shift directions and go where He knows we will run into those key individuals, so obedience is vital to His purposes being able to be carried out. It's already written into the plan of God for our lives! 

Change often feels awkward, and some people may not understand why all of a sudden we seem to go a different direction. They may not appreciate the fact that God didn't include them in His plan for our lives, but we simply must obey God and do what He has put in each of our hearts. God has redirected our path on many different occasions, and the reasons why weren't always clear until some time after we had taken the step of obedience. Feelings of frustration, being stagnant, restless or discontent often precede a move. Things that we once found enjoyment in may no longer bring that same sense of fulfillment or joy. Sometimes God even causes turmoil in relationships in order to make us willing to move out of our comfort zones. If you're in that place, just keep asking, seeking, knocking on Daddy's door until He releases clarity. He will in due time. Pay attention to your dreams, for He often leaves clues as to what he's doing in dream language. That is so that you can gain understanding but also come into agreement with what He's showing you in prayer. Keep praying until your answer arrives! 

Old Forms Are Passing Away!

Mark 2:21-22 AMP 
"No one sews a patch of unshrunken (new) goods on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and the rent (tear) becomes bigger and worse [than it was before].

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the bottles destroyed; but new wine is to be put in new (fresh) wineskins."

God has done an incredible work in and through the body of Christ. He has changed the flavor of the messages coming forth, and changed many hearts in the process. People now understand the importance of integrating with the unchurched in their communities and are actively looking for ways to connect with them like the church at large has not done in a long time. That in itself is wonderful news! We are the new wine that God is pouring out so that others can taste and see the Lord is good.

Here's what caught my attention in the above referenced scripture. New wine cannot be contained in an old wineskin. It will rupture and burst out of the old form. I look back to a couple of dreams I had some months back and I knew that the message was about a mass exodus from many churches. Some churches are still stuck in tradition, and it has kept people stuck in a dry and frustrating place. Many others churches have the message right but they are still trying to operate out of the old form, and it won't work for long. I believe God will come soon with a giant seam ripper and tear the old wineskins.

People have a hard time adjusting to change, and when they cannot bring themselves to make the changes that are necessary, God will bring a variety of circumstances that will force people out of the old form. Just as the act of a mother giving birth forces a child out of the womb and into the world, so it is with us. The bride (the church) must give birth and force her children out of their comfort zone and into the world.

We cannot remain the same, and we cannot remain stuck inside an old form. There are many things coming in the days ahead and God is trying to prepare us now to accept and adapt to the necessary changes. It's a new day. Labor and delivery can be messy and difficult, but the mother cannot try to stop the birth. If she refuses to push the child out of the womb it can kill her and the child. That is a message to leaders in the days ahead. Do not fear the birth! It is time for the children to be equipped and released.Do not try to hold on to them! Release your children to go do what they are called to do. Do it with joy, not reluctance! This is not a time to get stuck in religious traditions or man-made restrictions that keep people dependent upon others. Holy Spirit is responsible for bringing people into maturity. Trust HIM with other people's processes.

There will always be a need for leadership, guidance, prayer, teaching and equipping but it needs to be brought out into the communities rather than expect people to go find what we typically define as a local church. Our verbiage and our concept must change, too. The church is not the building. We are the church, and as such, we bring what God has given us to be given as gifts to others. We are the loaves and fishes that are broken and distributed to feed others. We are going to see more and more of this in the days ahead. Isn't that great news?

God's leaders will always lead. A person's true calling is contained in their gifting, character, heart and attitude towards others. It shapes who they are regardless of where they are. A pastoral calling doesn't go away even when the form changes. A prophetic voice isn't silenced when the church empties out into the streets; the voice just finds a new place to release the words of God. And so it is with all the gifts. They must find a place to impact others. The gifts, callings and mantles are not dependent upon being contained in the old form. It is a time to trust in the Lord for the new. It's time for new places and new faces!

Often, in times of change, we must remember that something needs to die in order for the new to come. Letting go and letting something die is a painful process, but joy comes in the morning as God honors the act of letting go and trusting Him to give us His promise. He longs to give us a gracious provision for a new beginning! It's a time of letting go and trusting God. Old forms are melting away. NEW WINE CANNOT BE CONTAINED IN AN OLD WINESKIN OR IT WILL CAUSE IT TO BURST. The walls that once kept people stuck in the old wineskin are disintegrating. A true apostolic mandate is to send people out to do the works of God. In that sense, we are ALL SENT ONES. It is time to help others to fulfill their dreams and calling. Ask yourself how you can help others achieve their God-given assignments. Ask yourself how you can help connect them with those that may be divine connections for them. Pray God would do for others the way you want Him to do for you. Ask for new alignments. Send them out with blessing! Send them out so that they can birth! It's time for the body to arise and shine!

Declare the Turning Around!!

Do you feel like the world has just gone mad? It seems like every time we check our social media, scroll through the news or turn on the TV, there are more reports of terrorist activity, police officers being ambushed and lawlessness is getting more out of control. We MUST do something to reign it in!

We must keep our eyes on the Lord and remember what God's word tells us. He is not moved by what is taking place on the earth!

"He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision." Psalm 2:4

"Your hand will find out all Your enemies. Your right hand will find out all those that hate You." Psalm 21:8

Our responsibility is to declare His word so that we give Holy Spirit the promise to be carried out. It's like giving marching orders to His angels! The following declarations are made to proclaim a 'turning around' of those that are going the wrong direction and running towards destruction. Feel free to personalize them over loved ones of those you are praying for specifically. Will you join me in declaring God's word?

Heavenly Father, 

In the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I return Your word to You, for it is written in Isaiah 55:11 that Your word will not return to You void. It will accomplish exactly what You have purposed. Therefore, 

I declare  people are departing from evil and turning their efforts to do good. They are pursuing peace according to Psalm 34:14.

I declare that people everywhere are turning their feet away from evil according to Proverbs 4:27.

I declare that people will watch their way in order to preserve their life; they are departing from evil and walking on the highway of holiness according to Proverbs 16:17.

I declare that people are turning away from their evil ways and forsaking their evil deeds according to Jeremiah 25:5.

I declare that people will not be wise in their own eyes but they will fear the Lord and turn away from evil according to Proverbs 3:7.

I declare that people will turn away from evil and move past it according to Proverbs 4:15.

I declare that Holy Spirit is poured out upon the earth and people will hear the words of God. They will respond to the reproofs of God by turning back to Him according to Proverbs 1:23.

I declare that people are listening and turning away from their evil ways so that the Lord will relent from the calamities that are occurring upon the earth according to Jeremiah 26:3.

I declare that many lives are saved because people have turned away from their transgressions, according to Ezekiel 18:27,28.

I declare that people are repenting and turning away from their sins so that their sins may be wiped away according to Acts 3:19. 

I declare that people everywhere are repenting and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, according to Acts 2:38. 

I declare the hand of the Lord is upon the body of Christ, enabling them to evangelize and preach with power, and a great number of people believed the gospel of Jesus Christ, according to Acts 11:21.

I declare the Lord opens the eyes of the blind according to Psalm 146:8.

I declare the Holy Spirit has opened people's eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light; and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ, according to Acts 26:18.

I declare the eyes of the blind are opened and the ears of the deaf are unstopped, according to Isaiah 35:5.

I declare that You, O God, have led the blind by a way that they do not know, and in paths that they do not know. You have made darkness into light before them according to Isaiah 42:16. 

I declare that You have opened blind eyes and brought Satan's prisoners out of the dungeon. Those who dwell in the prison of darkness have been delivered according to Isaiah 42:7.

I declare that this is the day that was written about in Isaiah 29:18 where the deaf hear the words of God's laws. 

I declare the God's Holy Spirit has opened the understanding of many nations so that they may understand the scriptures, according to Luke 24:45.

I declare a release of light into the eyes of people's understanding so that they may understand the hope of their calling in Christ Jesus, according to Ephesians 1:17.

I declare that people who have dwelt in darkness have seen a great light, the light of Christ, according to Isaiah 9:2.

I declare people are running to Jesus to be saved and delivered just as the demoniac ran to Jesus in Mark 5:6.

I declare that people have been transported out of darkness and they will no longer be conformed to this world, but they will be transformed by the renewing of their minds, according to Romans 12:2, and that they will discern the good and acceptable will of God. 

I declare that people will receive the truth about Jesus Christ and believe unto salvation, becoming children of God, according to John 1:12.

I declare that people will understand that there is no other name under heaven by which they may be saved according to Acts 4:12.

I declare that people will produce fruit worthy of repentance according to Luke 3:8.

I declare that people will believe in their heart and confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and be saved according to Romans 10:9,10.

I declare that people will put off their former way of life and be renewed in the spirit of their minds.They will put on their true and new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness, according to Ephesians 4:20-24.

I declare that people are sanctified in the truth of the Word of God according to John 17:17.

I declare that people will present themselves to God in true worship, in spirit and in truth, according to Romans 12:1.

I declare that people will know the truth and the truth will set them free according to John 8:32.

I declare the Book of the Law will not depart from people's mouths but they will meditate in it day and night and find good success, according to Joshua 1:8-9.

I declare people will have the mind of Christ Jesus operating in them according to Philippians 2:5

I declare that people will have a revelation of the good plans You have for them, and they will have hope for their future according to Jeremiah 29:11.



I thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers and declarations and sending out Your angels on assignment to carry out Your word. may Your word run swiftly to accomplish all Your will and purpose. Thank You, Father, for intervening in the lives of those I have lifted up to You. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would over shadow them and interrupt plans of evil on assignment against those that I have prayed for. Lord Jesus, present them with divine experiences, dreams, visions, and other God encounters. Reveal Yourself to them. Destroy the works of evil in their lives so that the direction and course of their lives may be corrected to come into alignment with Your plans and purposes for them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Where the fear of the Lord is missing, there will be injustice. Injustice is a result of people that have no fear of authority or repercussions for their actions. What we see played out in society - anger, hatred, violence and retaliation - come from lawlessness. The remedy then, is the restoration of the fear of the Lord.

God hates injustice. He is exposing a great deal of it so that America will wake up to the lies and deception, and refuse to support those that perpetuate the injustice. Sometimes it can be difficult to know who is able to be counted worthy of our trust, but lean into God for His wisdom.

There is something important that everyone needs to understand about the Black Lives Matter movement and some of the other protests going on right now. They are in a political chess game financed by wealthy political figures that have an agenda to fulfill, and they are using our citizens as pawns. Soros has funded approximately $33 million dollars to these groups to start factions, strife and revolts. They have put more lives in danger and are getting people killed. The leaders have received money to orchestrate chaos. Paid to disrupt the peace and promote violence. Because the bigger picture is a desire to implement martial law and further control, oppress and dominate the American people. The political powers that are afraid of losing their control and positions will stop at nothing to carry out their plans to make slaves of American citizens. I urge people everywhere to put their emotions in check for a moment and consider what they get involved in. Don't let the enemy lure you into his trap!

The reality is none of those wealthy political influences behind all this really care about Black lives, or any lives for that matter. They have no desire what so ever to help anyone except themselves, and yet people continue to take the bait. Hook, line and sinker. Protests, when done well, can be powerful. But, protests that promote lawlessness, anger, racism and murder are simply another form of terrorism. The protests will not correct injustice, end the corruption or level the playing field. It will only add to the problems, keeping the power brokers and corrupt political figures in the very places that hinder real justice. It won't accomplish any of the things that these protest groups are supposedly fighting against. So why are people allowing themselves to get carried away with someone else's political agenda when it won't solve any of the real issues? Wake up, America! There are behind the scenes players that are maneuvering events to suit their desired outcome and they are not for justice. They exploit people's emotions, using the pain of this nation's citizens against them in order to lead them further into captivity and slavery. 

Bitterness has held people hostage but neither side is free until they choose to forgive. Bitterness has made people slaves to the enemy that pulls their puppet strings. Don't rely on your own emotional responses, for they can often be misleading. God's word to all of us is not to take vengeance into our own hands, but to leave room for Him to balance the scales of justice. He will! Remember, even Martin Luther King, who was a minister of the gospel as well as a social activist, did not just march for love and unity. King marched for truth, and truth will always force people to take sides. 

Truth does cause division, but I believe that recognizing the truth and understanding a need for change does not mean that we overlook the issues. When truth is revealed, people must choose what side of it they will be on; what they will support and defend. It is a natural response to feel outrage when corruption is revealed. It is natural to feel as if something must be done to correct things that have gone wrong, but remember that people cannot act as judge, jury and executioner of their own version of justice without taking the side of the destroyer. To think that God overlooks that type of behavior is reckless at the very least and speaks of those that are blind to His ways.

Forgiveness does not mean that we overlook the issues but it does mean we do not take vengeance into our own hands. Let us acknowledge where change is needed and then work together to implement proper measures to achieve the changes that are necessary. Prayer must be an important component in any reformation.

Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that fools despise wisdom and instruction, but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding..It is foolishness to heed the words of those that stir up strife and instigate, by their insinuations, that the increase of more darkness over the earth is the right answer. Lawlessness can only produce more lawlessness, which invites the judgments of God on those that partake of it.

Dr. Ben Carson got it right when he said (tonight on the Hannity Show, Fox News) that America is in a crisis of family values. We cannot afford to divorce ourselves from morality. 

We must heal the great divide. There is a chasm of bitterness that separates American citizens from one another and we must find a way to heal it. The enemy will always seek opportunity to rob people of their hope. This is what is happening right now. There are many issues in the news that promote violence, a loss of constitutional rights, prognosticators that predict economic collapse, corruption that seems above the law and much more. We should feel angry about that. But, these things are happening because as a nation people we have embraced lawlessness and rebellion from God's ways. We have rejected the fear of the Lord and demanded our own ways. So, God gave us leaders that promoted rebellion, corruption and lawlessness. He gave us leaders that also rejected God and this is what we have reaped. Where there is an absence of the fear of the Lord, there will always be injustice!

We must turn back before because the path we are on is not good. America seems headed for the edge of a cliff, but God can bring us back and restore hope once again. We must renounce generational bitterness and seek forgiveness from God, for as a nation of people, we have carried it with us far too long. The only way to heal our nation is to do it God's way. It's to divorce that spirit of bitterness, vengeance and unforgiveness once and for all, and make the conscience decision that no real good can come from carrying it forward into the next generation. 

We must make the choice to end it now before it destroys us all. We must make the choice to repent from holding on to bitterness, a desire for vengeance and allowing anger to over rule sound judgment. No good can come from a dark heart! Will you make the choice today? If it doesn't begin with each of us, where does the answer start? I urge you today to choose mercy.

Forgiveness is not for the weak. Forgiveness can only be done by someone with personal strength and integrity. 

Mercy triumphs over judgment. It represents the very heart of God. It does not mean that acts of injustice and corruption should not be held to an account. It simply means that we are trusting God to be bigger than the corruption. Bigger than those who feel they are above the law. Bigger than those who get away with evil. The truth is, God cares very much and will act in perfect justice towards those that warrant it. The timing and the way that occurs is not up to us; it is left in His hands. The decision to forgive opens the door for healing. If it can do it for an individual, it can do it for our nation. Forgiveness restores a nation to right relationship with their Creator. It builds bridges of hope to the future.

Those that side with hatred and perpetuate more injustice in the name of retribution act like fools and terrorists. As a nation of people, is that who we want to become? Is that how we want to be known? Actions reveal the heart of the person. What do we truly identify with? Our nation is being tested. It's a test of character. It's a test of integrity, but most of all, it's a test to see whether we will identify with darkness or light. Goodness or evil. Hatred or mercy. 

Are we going to be found faithful to our true identity as patriots and defenders of truth and justice? Will we as Americans, rise up out of the ashes of our pain and injustice and band together for a greater good, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and honoring God and others in the process? I urge every person to consider more than just social justice issues, but to consider how they want others to truly know them. The law of love is the highest law by which we will all be judged! 

God sees the pain this nation is in and He will come to bring healing. He wants to restore our hope for the future, correct the injustices and corruption and heal our hearts, but it can only be accomplished His way. He will deliver this nation from evil if we will trust Him. Healing will come as a result of forgiveness, love and a restoration of the fear of the Lord. Mercy triumphed over evil at the cross and it can do it again. Love is the only force more powerful than hate and violence. Love never fails.

Father, 

As a nation of people, help us by pouring out Your grace upon us, enabling us to forgive the injustice, corruption and abuse of power that has brought a dark shadow over us for far too long. Help us to forgive those that have sinned against us and caused bitterness in our hearts. Pull up the root of bitterness out of our hearts and please heal our land. Heal the heart and soul of this nation. We cannot do it without You!  We trust in Your divine wisdom to not just expose evil, but to execute judgement and justice on behalf of those that have been treated wrong. Give judgments on behalf of your people that delivers them from the hands of wicked oppressors and those that abuse their power, position and authority. Turn the hearts of the ungodly towards You and convict them of their sin. Give them the desire to repent from their ways that they may be saved. Let mercy and truth never forsake us. Let mercy and truth enter our hearts and guide us in all Your ways. In Jesus name, Amen.

Renounce Old Covenants!

The word covenant is not a word I find to be common language, except when one is specifically referring to scriptures in the Old Testament. However, in a recent dream I heard the Lord say, “Renounce old covenants!”

I know that God was not referring to every covenant, but He was specific in His intent. He did mention specifically covenants of regret. A covenant is a contract. He wants His people to renounce the agreements we have unknowingly had with the enemy. The word covenant can obviously be applied in a positive manner, such as a marriage covenant or the way God has chosen to honor His covenant with us. In a marriage, there is a promise and an intent of two parties in mutual agreement to live with one another and share in the stipulations of that contract that both parties agree upon. Even business contracts are often similar in nature. However, in this context the word covenant has a negative connotation. It refers to an agreement or a contract between two parties that is legally binding. Remember, Satan is a legalist. Every devil, including Satan himself, examines us for the legal right to enforce the negative consequences of our actions.   

Dictionary.com offers several definitions of the word.

Covenant:

1. An agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.

2. Law. an incidental clause in such an agreement.

3. In relationship to law, a covenant is a formal agreement of legal validity, especially one under seal.

It also means a promise to enter into a covenant between two people or parties, a pledge.

Let me reflect back on my dream. In the dream I saw myself asking a question, “Why have I been so angry?” Immediately it was as if I had been taken back in time, about 20-25 years earlier. The Lord was connecting the dots in my understanding about events that happened around that time, and what my emotional frame of mind had been at that time in my life.

During that time, I was incredibly broken. It was before I came to know Christ and I had been caught in the snares of a worldly lifestyle, an abusive relationship and a whole host of other problems resulting from making poor choices. At that time in my life, I rejected myself in many ways because I was emotionally and spiritually unhealthy. I was full of fear, anger and bitterness. Most of that was due to living in rebellion and separation from God, but the pain of a guilty conscience and depression were overwhelming. I couldn’t escape it no matter what I did. I repeatedly overdosed and almost died several times. I had no real will to continue to live because I was so full of self-hatred and hopelessness. I had many people that looked down on me and daily told me I was a loser. The enemy used others around me to degrade me with verbal assaults and condemn who I was as a person and a parent. The result is that I loathed myself and wanted to die. And so, I came into agreement with those voices. I agreed with the voices that told me how unworthy and unacceptable I was. I agreed with the voices that told me I was a bad parent and would never be good for my child. I agreed with the opinions of others that were disappointed in my conduct and had judged me, told me I was unacceptable and rejected me as a human being.

Fast forward to the present. God has set me free from so many things and has radically transformed the person that I am today. What I did not realize until I had that dream is that somehow, all this time later, (and after renouncing many, many things over an extended period of time), is that there was an old covenant between the enemy and myself that was still affecting me. 

Healing comes in layers, and only God can choose the timing and the method of revelation that we each need so that we can experience greater levels of healing and freedom. In my dream, I had asked the question, “Why am I so angry?” This has been a question of my heart for some time in relationship to some areas of my life where I felt a disconnect and a lack of ability to nurture some close relationships that were very important to me. I’m not perfect but I hope my transparency will not hinder you, the reader, from being able to receive from me. In an area of my life that should come naturally, (parenting) I still struggle. I feel caught between the person I want to be, and yet unable to fully express the love, peace and joy that I know are mine in Christ. So, I’ve been asking the Lord for a while now to reveal the source of that block. That is what the dream was about. He came to answer the question of my heart and reveal why the block existed.

Apparently, the agreement that I had made with the enemy all those years ago was still a legal contract that the enemy was attempting to enforce. You may ask how that could be? I certainly asked that same question! Yet, this is what the Lord showed me. I took in certain lies and believed them, and they shaped who I became. There were still lies circulating in my belief system that told me I wasn’t a good parent and I wasn't good at loving. I had experienced a lack of love and nurturing in my childhood and I just didn’t have the previous experiences to draw from that would enable me to become the mother and person I wanted to be. Although those may be the facts, it wasn't the truth. The truth is, we are new creations in Christ and we don't have to remain the same. Scripture tells us that the old has passed away and all things have become new.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being." 2 Corinthians 5:17 

I know this scripture well but in certain areas of my life and belief system I was still operating in an old mindset. Somewhere along the line I had rejected this truth in regards to my parenting ability, so unbelief prevented me from this scripture becoming a reality in that part of my life. Not everything, mind you, just parts of it. What I found to be true is that I would repeatedly have this negative self-chatter in my head that focused on my short comings rather than giving myself credit for the things I was doing right. Not regarding everything, but towards certain things that were very important to me. As I started to examine those sort of thoughts last night, the Lord told me to reflect on the things I could honestly say I was doing well. I was surprised at the list I was able to make, considering I can be extremely hard on myself. Then I wondered how on earth I had allowed my thoughts to be taken captive all this time, unraveling the good with the negative, critical, harsh and hard judgments I made against myself. I realized I had not only judged myself, but I was holding my young children to some standards that were pretty difficult for them to meet at times. I found myself yelling a lot more than I wanted to, and felt like I kept blowing it every time I opened my mouth. I wanted off the merry-go-round but didn't know how to make it stop! 

In my dream, the Lord brought several people to pray for me and they told me to break the old covenant I had with regret. I said I didn’t know I had made a covenant with regret, but the person in my dream said, “It doesn’t matter if you did it knowingly or unknowingly, you still need to renounce it because the enemy is enforcing it!” That shocked me. As many of you know, I write a huge amount of prayers that deal with renouncing things like this, but that one caught me in a blind spot. We all have blind spots, and I think that was the point the Lord wanted to impress upon me. The enemy hides from us, so it’s the Lord’s job to drive him out of hiding. That’s why we will experience certain areas of our lives where we just seem that for the longest time we can’t seem to get a victory. God shows us the problem,  often by making us miserable with our own frustrations and limitations. Then when we get around to asking the right question, He will come with the revelation that helps us understand how to get free.

When the enemy hides from you, God will send those things that will sting your conscience and release a certain amount of pain associated with it, because He wants you to hate that part of your behavior. He is showing you something that the enemy is using against you to keep your heart and mind and your true identity in captivity. This is one of the ways that God leads us out of old behavior and into our true identity in Christ. The new you is better!

“Moreover, the LORD your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed.” Deut. 7:20

"I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. Exodus 23:28

The things that God is driving out are the enemies of your soul that separate you from who you are in Christ.

In John 8:32, Jesus told his disciples that if they continued in His word they would be His disciples, but on their part they would have to learn how to resist evil, obey His commands and trust Him. In doing these things, they would come to understand His teaching, be led by His Spirit, and also learn where their hope and trust were truly anchored – in Him. Jesus’ response is this: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I feel like this is not just for myself, but for many others, too, because the core principle is applicable to more than just myself. What I understand about covenants is that they are binding until you do something on purpose to break them. When the Lord told me to renounce regret, what I understood (even from a previous dream years ago regarding this topic) is that regret is a spirit, but it’s also an assignment from the enemy. It’s not just a feeling or an emotional response; it’s a demonic entity. As such, we cannot afford to think that we can just shrug off the emotional aspect of it and be done. We must do something intentional to cut off the attachment and demonic assignment. Apostle John Eckhardt, who I consider to be one of the foremost authorities on healing and deliverance, writes about a spirit that also calls itself “Past.” (Eckhardt: Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Manual, Charisma House, 2014). Regret and Past are witchcraft spirits that have an assignment to keep people locked up in the pain of their past. I had dealt with things of that nature in other areas of my life and thought it was finished. Yet, I had not recognized that in a different area of my life that revolved around parenting issues, I still had a stronghold in my thought life that needed to be torn down.

Recently I have become a grandmother for the second time. I have had the pleasure of holding my new grand baby and loving on her, and to be honest, it’s that flashback feeling so many parents experience when they look at their grandchild and feel like they’re holding their own children all over again. But, with that joy also triggered a twinge of regret at not having been the parent my older daughter needed when she was young.  So many times I’ve wished I had a do-over with my daughter and go back and try to correct mistakes I made along the way. I wish I could undo the pain I caused her. I think that somehow knowing she still struggles with heart issues because of things I was responsible for, has held me in a place where maybe I was even still holding myself accountable for all that. What I've come to realize is that regret is also a form of self-punishment, whether we intend it to be or not. I had to choose to, once again, forgive myself. I had to tell myself that I was released from my past and I would not continue to hold onto any regret. I broke that agreement once and for all. Maybe as you read this something is speaking to you about your own need to let go.  

One thing I’ve realized is that we can’t change the past. In fact, regret over the past is not always tied to our own failures and mistakes, but a feeling of what we had hoped could be. It’s tied to things that we longed for but never became a reality. Even as I'm writing this I know that's a big one for a lot of people. Hopes and dreams that got lost along the way or just plain destroyed. Regret can take many forms. It can be tied to people, situations or relationships. Sometimes people need to renounce soul ties to individuals that they feel are tied to regret, loss or disappointment. Regret is defined as feeling of remorse or sorrow for one’s actions, but it is also to think of something (or someone) with a sense of loss, disappointment or dissatisfaction. It is distress of the mind, or sorrow for what has been done or failed to be done. It is, in a sense, hope deferred that made your heart sick with unrealized longings. It involves wrongs that were committed or errors that were made, and it means to lament, mourn, sorrow and grieve. The strongman spirit over all of these is the spirit of heaviness. Well, guess what all these things do? They rob a person of joy, peace, love, patience, kindness and contentment. All those good things are replaced with criticisms, judgments, impatience, harshness, restlessness, irritability and lack of peace. Sound familiar? It was for me. Maybe for you, too. If that’s your struggle, then the good news is, now you know how to direct your prayer. But, before I offer a prayer, I want to encourage your heart.

Many people turn to others to seek help from their emotional pain, and though that is not wrong, I urge you to be careful about others that simply agree with you. If a person never really works towards freedom and healing they will stay stuck in wilderness seasons of their lives and left with the misery that tends to make a person feel bitter. You can break free with God’s help. God knows the hurt, pain and longing in each of our hearts. Although we cannot change past events, we can put our trust in God. He can make all things new, which I translate to mean, He can give us something new that fulfills the longing in our heart. He can heal the areas of our brokenness so that we no longer feel the pain any more, but enjoy life and those he has put in our life so that we truly become whole. He is the healer of sorrows. The One who wipes away our tears. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to experience His touch. He wants to heal. His promise is to bind up our wounds and restore us, to give us a good future.

Your current state of life is not all that He has for you. Look to Him as your hope. He is the Creator and can create all that you need to make you whole.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11,12

Heavenly Father,

Whether I came into agreement with the enemy knowingly or unknowingly, I now take the authority you have given me and break all ungodly covenants with the spirits of darkness. I renounce and repent for any agreements I have made in the spirit realm with demonic entities known as Regret, Past, Shame, Sorrow, Grief, Criticism, Bitterness, Unforgiveness, Irritability, Strife, Anger and Heaviness. Let these spirits be bound in the name and authority of Jesus Christ and sent back to the abyss created for them. I choose to forgive myself and anyone else that I have held responsible for my pain and disappointment. I forgive myself for any pain, offense or disappointment I have caused others. I also renounce any ungodly soul ties to (Declare names of individuals) that are connected to feelings of anger, disappointment, unforgiveness, loss and grief over lost hopes and dreams. I submit to You, Lord, and resist the enemy. I command all demonic spirits to leave me now and never return. I ask Your Holy Spirit to continue to release revelation that will lead me into greater levels of freedom and inner healing. Let peace, love and joy be released in my life now. I also ask You, Father, to create the new things in my life that will continue to bring healing, wholeness, contentment, peace and joy, in Jesus name. Amen.

Who Is God?

On tough days sometimes we need a little reminder of exactly who God is, and just how capable He is in handling everything that concerns us. He has said in His word that to those that order their conversation in a way that honors Him He will show the salvation of God! How many of You want God to show up big in your life? Then give Him a thank offering!

"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23 NAS

Oh Lord God, God who made the heavens and the earth. How awesome is Your name! You are not just Lord, but my Lord and my God. I am not an orphan, I am chosen by You to be Your child. You are not just Father to many, but You are my Father, the One who has known me from before the foundations of the worlds. You are Abba, the One who predestines us to be Sons and Daughters, who adopts us as Your own and loves us unconditionally. You are the One who accepts me just as I am. You are the One who sees everything and understands me, because You made me. You are the One who is full of mercy and compassion. You are my Father, the one loves me and will do anything for me! You’re the One who has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. You consider me the apple of Your eye and Your delight.

Father, You are the Creator God, the One who made the heavens and the earth and all that is. All that has ever been. You are the God who speaks and it comes to pass. You are the God that speaks and acts. You are the same forever. You are the unchanging God, the same yesterday, today and forever. You are The Almighty, the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and my faithful, covenant keeping God.

You are the Rock of Ages, my shield and exceedingly great reward. You are the God I can call on, the One who hears and stops to listen to Your children. You are the God whose hand is long enough to reach out to us no matter where we are.

You are the Creator who never forgets Your creation. You are the God who holds the worlds in Your hands, who hung the stars in the sky, who knows each one of them by name. Forgive my small thinking! You are so, so big! You are the God who exalts His Word more than You exalt your name. You are the powerful God, the Most High, who delivers Your people and rescues us from every fear and foe. You are the God who parted the Red Sea, the One who makes a way where there seems to be no way. You are the One we can depend on, the Great and Mighty God, the One who knows all things and is an ever-present help in time of trouble. You are the God who is unable to be fully understood, Your qualities so vast, Your knowledge immeasurable and Your character so expansive. There is no way to measure You. There is no other way to describe You except wonderful, majesty and awesome to behold. Your ways are so beyond our ways. Your thoughts are so above mine. I am left undone when I consider Your beauty!

You are Lord of all the earth. You are the Lord of Hosts. King of Kings and God above all other gods. Your name, Lord Jesus, is the name above every other name that could ever be spoken. Your name is above every name that could ever be conceived in the mind and imagination. Your name is sweeter on my lips than any other name.

You are Jesus, the God of the spoken word. You, that came from Yourself and lived in the flesh among Your people. You are our Savior, Teacher, Liberator, Deliverer, Defender, the One who Forgives. Your name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. You are known for Your faithfulness. You are the One who paid the price for our sins and our resurrected Lord. You are the Lover of my soul. You are the God who puts an end to all sorrow, the God who gives joy, who calms every storm saying ‘Peace, be still.’

You are my God, clothed in light. Clothed in glory. Everything about you speaks of honesty, integrity and holiness. No one has ever been or will ever be like You! You are the great warrior of heaven, the Commander of Angel Armies, the God who fights for the defenseless, who intercedes for us, the God of our freedom who delivers us from the hold of sin and helps us live victorious. You are the One who tears down walls that divide, who destroys the plans of the evil one and who reigns as the King of Kings. You make the heavens and the earth your footstool. You reign in Supreme Authority over all the earth.

You are merciful and compassionate, a holy and loving God. You are the miracle working God who speaks and does not change Your words. You are the light in the darkness. You’re the God who rescues us from the pit, the prison and the poorhouse. You are the God who redeems time and restores our losses. You are the God who blesses me because You care for me. You are my confident, my conqueror, my protector. You are my God who covers me with a banner of love and spoils evil plans so that the enemy cannot triumph over me!  You are the One who provides, as often as I need one. gracious provision for a new beginning. Your mercies are brand new every day! You are the One who never with holds your forgiveness from me. As long as I come to You honestly and confess, You cleanse me. You graciously begin again with me. Lord, forgive my resistance! I want only You as my God, Jesus! You are my companion, my friend, my provider and the lifter of my head. You are the King above every other king; so pure and holy that you cannot be judged. You are the God who defends those who are truthful, my vindicator, the just Judge of heaven. You are the One who opens doors no man can open and the one who closes doors in their time. You are the God who lifts up the humble and opposes the proud. You are the One who is worthy to walk with and worthy to follow.

You are God the Holy Spirit, who has come as my Comforter, Helper, Healer, and my  Hope. You are jealous for me, to consecrate me to the Lord as His bride and keep me in the ways of righteousness. You are the God of answered prayer, the One who reveals Jesus, and the One who knows the deepest secrets of my heart. You’re the One who sees the visible and the invisible, who understands the heart and motive of mankind. Nothing escapes you. You are the One who lives within me, continually revealing Jesus, and nothing can separate us. You are my great advisor, the One who gives life and resurrects the dead. You are the One who is both the essence of all that is gracious, kind and loving, yet, the God who changes appointments with death because Your power is unmatched. Your ability to transform a dead situation into one of life is unparalleled. You alone can remove inadequacies from my life and turn empty, barren places into places of fruitfulness. God of the living! You are busy loving. The God who blesses, restores and giver of life. You open the womb of the barren. You heal and make whole. You hold the keys to my existence, the keys to my future, and reveal strategies for success. You are the God who can turn a bad situation into good, who rallies to my defense and leads me into truth so that I may be made free.

O Lord of Lords and God of Gods, You are a righteous God and Your mercies endure forever. Great is Your faithfulness! You truly are a great and powerful God, and I exalt you to the highest place in my life. You are worthy of my praise! I give you honor and esteem You worthy to be praised, now and forever! Your heart towards mankind is pure. It is always for our restoration. You never sleep but are always watching out for me. You are the God who listens intently for my voice. I am Yours. I have a glorious Father! A faithful friend! You have good plans for me that will certainly come to pass because You are incapable of lying. You watch over me and You watch over Your word to perform it. You are holy and perfect in all your ways, O God! Eternity will not be enough to praise Your glorious ways, O God! Be exalted in my life, King Jesus! Amen and amen.

Awakening the Prophetic Dream

This is Norm's message from a couple weeks ago at Lifegate Church. Encourage yourself and don't give up on your dream! God has a way to bring it to pass. Don't let the dream killers destroy your identity or the dream God has given you.

He takes examples from the life of Joseph. You can also read more about this topic in Norm's book, Room to Grow, available on Amazon.com.



Awakening the Prophetic Dream

Part Two of Awakening the Prophetic Dream

A Prayer For Children (Any Age)

I get so many parents that write to me with concerns for their children. As a parent myself, I certainly understand that it's a fine line between lovingly parenting your children and crossing a line into control. I have years of experience doing the wrong thing that I'm still learning how to 'undo.' Hopefully I'm improving with age! I can tell you with utmost certainty that trying to force your will into your children's lives when it comes to matters of faith and religious preferences can at times cause them to run in the opposite direction. Fear or faith determines which side of the line we're on. Fear controls and ends up producing rebellion, while faith and love work together in patient endurance, waiting for children to make the choice to find God and make a commitment to Him in their own time. 

So, what do we do while we wait? Pray, of course. :-) And show love. Lots of love.

I modified a couple of prayers I already had so that they could be prayed over children of any age. I also added a little prayer for children to be able to say themselves which is included at the end. The intent of the prayer is to help take the struggle out of making good choices so that they can come to develop a healthy relationship with God and others. Explaining that to your kids is a positive motivation to actually help make their life easier, but again, praying the prayer needs to be their choice.

As you pray through this prayer, just insert your child's name or choose him/her in the appropriate places. You can also pray this over a spouse or other loved ones.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I come before You with thanks for who You are. 

I exalt You as LORD, Savior and King of Kings. 

I exalt You as the Name above every other name that has 
attempted to release oppression over my life and the lives of my children. 

I exalt You as LORD over every circumstance. I thank You that YOU are exalted over (insert name) ___________'s life.

I praise You for the way You lead (_________) by the hand and help 
(him/her) navigate through tight places. 

I praise You for the way You restore our hope and help us 
overcome discouraging thoughts. 

I thank You and praise You for teaching (_______) Your ways, so 
that his/her soul can prosper and he/she can be in health. 

I thank You for getting his/her mind off of unfruitful thoughts 
so that he/she can see your beauty. 

I thank You, Holy Spirit, for sifting out the things that 
don’t even need to be in my prayers. 

I thank You, Holy Spirit, for showing me how to pray in 
such a way as to glorify Christ instead of my fears, concerns or
circumstances. 

I praise You for the way You work through the 
impossibilities of (_________'s) life. 

I praise You that You are in control. 

I praise You that You watch over Your word to bring it to 
pass. 

I praise You because I know that my prayers have been heard 
and I have what I have requested. 

I praise You for the things I can see working in (_________'s) life 
and the things I don’t see. 

I praise You for the way that You are able to take every 
circumstance and redeem it to bring hope and something that 
works for her good. 

I praise You that You are the One who knows how to bring 
the missing pieces together. 

I praise You for being the One who loves (______) and aligns (________) 
for blessing. 

I praise You that You are the One who leads him/her into the 
good plans You have for him/her.

I praise You for showing (___________) his/her true identity in Christ, and that the Spirit of Adoption is released into their life to reveal to him that he is Your son/daughter.

I praise You for helping (_____________) cut off all worldly affections in his/her life and for turning his/her heart towards You.

I praise You for (____________'s) salvation and deliverance that is taking place now.

I thank You and praise You that (___________) is fully committed to living for You.

I thank You and praise You that (_____________) has surrendered his/her life to You. I thank You for making surrender easy for him/her.

I thank You and praise You for releasing the Spirit of Truth into my son's/daughter's life and exposing the lies of the enemy. 

I thank You and praise You for revealing the Fatherhood of God to (________).

I thank You for revealing to (__________) the love of God, Your acceptance and the delight You take in him/her because he/she is Yours.

I thank You that (__________) will praise You for himself/herself and realize that You have good plans for him/her according to Jeremiah 29:11.

I thank You that You have become (____________') compass, drawing him/her to Yourself.

I praise You for my breath. I thank You for breathing life into my child.

I praise You for his/her life, the gifts You've given him/her and that he/she will use them for Your glory. 

I thank You for drawing my children to Your heart and revealing Jesus to them.

I thank You that when I praise You I see You in the highest 
place and my problems come into perspective. 

I thank You that my praise defeats all the power of the 
enemy. 

I thank You that when I praise You my faith is lifted and I 
get a spiritual upgrade. 

I thank You that when I praise you prison doors are opened 
and I am released from captivity. 

I thank You that when I praise You the invisible barriers 
are broken. 

I thank You that when I praise You I receive revelation and 
inspired thoughts from You. 

I thank You that You are the answer to everything I need, and everything my son/daughter needs. I thank You that You are faithful to answer my prayers because You love him/her even more than I do.

I thank You that You are able to get through to those that 
I cannot reach. 

I thank You that when I praise You the heavy yoke falls 
off. 

I thank You that when I praise You my perception of Your 
greatness explodes in my heart. 

I thank You that when I praise You my expectancy towards 
You increases. 

I thank You that when I praise you, I know that nothing is 
impossible with You. 

I exalt You because the name of Jesus is worthy of my 
praise! Amen.


A Prayer for Children to Pray for Themselves:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask You to guard and protect me, and help me to do what is right. Help me to be smarter than the enemy and to recognize when he is trying to tempt me to do the wrong thing. I want to be a good boy/girl but I struggle at times with making the right choices. Can you please help take the struggle out of it? Help me not to give the devil a place where he can get me to do the wrong thing. Holy Spirit, I give You permission to take over when I feel tempted. I do not want to struggle and wrestle with the enemy. When I struggle with wanting to do something You would not approve of, please change my mind so that Your will for me becomes my will and my choice in that situation. When I may be prone to having a wrong response, I ask You to change what comes out of my mouth so that I please You, and honor and respect myself and others. I am asking YOU to take over when I am weak or tempted so that my true identity as Your child wins the battle.  In Jesus name, amen.

I hope you find these suggestions and prayers helpful.

Bless you!!