By This weeks blog will be a little different as I believe there is a word for His body in this season based upon a recent dream that I had. Although the dream has personal application for myself, I do believe there is a broader application. I am only including the part of the dream that I believe has significance for others in the body of Christ. This is that part of the dream..
In a dream, I was walking in a barren, desert wasteland/wilderness with a well known prophetic voice. As we were walking, we noticed several foxes sneaking up on us. The prophet would just reach down, grab them by the scruff of the neck and throw them off into the landscape.
As we continued walking, a wolf came upon us in attack mode. The prophet spoke to the wolf, “Be still! And GO!” The wolf turned away at the command.
Next we came to a river. The prophet jumped across with skill and ease. Then he yelled at me from the other side, “You have to jump! Just be careful because the river is full of alligators.”
I was petrified but knew I had to get to the other side. So, I backed up, took a running start and jumped. I could see the gators beneath me but I made it to the other side.
End of dream.
Many are the promises of God and in Him they are all Yes! and Amen!
As we walk through this life, there are many seasons of trial, hardship, turmoil and uncertainty. Often during these times, we feel like we are walking in a barren, desert wasteland. We long for breakthrough, we search for answers. We all love the times when God is so near. Well, He is always near, but there are times that it requires a greater seeking, a greater surrender, a greater laying all things down. We may even feel as though the answers will never come, or like we’re groping along trying to find our way. It’s called the wilderness. The place where greatness is conceived.
On our journey through the wilderness, we learn how to depend on the Lord above all else. We find ourselves stripped of all crutches that we used to prop ourselves up. We find ourselves having no-one to turn to in our deepest time of need. It seems there was a time when Jesus had to do the same before His most grueling death on the cross. He took some of His disciples with Him when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, but they slept at the time He needed them to stand with Him. (Luke 22)
Even we may have people around us, but the wilderness is our place of testing. It’s the place that crushes us and then anoints us. It’s the place where we find new freedom and areas yet explored. It births greater faith. It’s the place where greatness is conceived.
We walk with the Lord and learn His ways. We die to the things that would steal our harvest or devour our fruit. We learn so much from Him as we lean on Him. Those little foxes are really cunning and sly. They can sneak in unaware. In the wilderness, He teaches us how to pick those foxes up and toss them aside. We recognize their cunning ways and their deceit and we finally come to the place that it takes less effort or strength to move past them. We just pick them up and toss them out. Gone!
Wolves are predators, devourers, they seek their own gain. Of course, they can also represent false prophets or evil intentions. The wilderness has us confront many predators alone. It’s those things that desire to mislead us or cause us to seek our own gain. Voices scream telling us to go our own way. After all, we deserve it. We are called, anointed and appointed.
Wolves are ferocious and attack their prey. They lead us away from the Truth but don’t always come looking like a wolf. They may look like a sheep but inwardly, they are ravenous wolves. Like David who in secret killed the bear and the lion (1 Samuel 17:34-36), we are being made strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We learn how to fight and make decrees. We begin to grow in authority and speak with power and boldness. Be Still! Go! And it goes. We are learning how to operate in His authority, with His strength and His decrees. The powerful name of Jesus!!
We face impossible circumstances with seemingly no way through. We can’t turn back and the way forward is too dangerous. We may be facing a terrible ‘something’ and we just don’t know what to do. Our only way is forward.
A river is not even remotely possible to jump over unless we have superhero kind of strength. And a river teaming with alligators is nothing slight of a death sentence. Generational issues are flowing in the river, trying to swallow us alive. We feel the danger and the possibly inevitable demise in the situation. Yet, we can’t turn back. He is beckoning us to jump. We can’t toss a river aside. We can’t toss aside this issue. We have to cross.
To go through would mean certain death, so we must go over. We have to leap over into the next, over the past, over the fear, over the pride, over the things that are trying to end our journey. And we watch them beneath us as we jump. Teeth gnashing, but unable to harm us. With Him we can scale a wall! We can leap over the enormity of it all with Him as our guide. He was beckoning me to come. I had to put my faith in His Word and it worked. Much like Peter who walked on water at the command of Jesus. He walked on His Word with His eyes on Him.
There is progressive growth for every believer that heeds the voice of the Lord. The wilderness is where we are tested. But after the testing, comes the time of moving with Him in greater ways. We learn that we are kings and priests unto our God. Priests intercede, Kings decree. We learn how to pray. We learn when to just pray and when to pray and decree. It’s all at His command. We do and say what He says.
The wilderness kills our self sufficiency, and our inadequacies. It brings us to a place of total dependence upon Him. We long for His ways and follow His commands. We realize that nothing is impossible. We grow in authority and come out in power. Some things we just need to toss aside, some things we have to speak to, and others require great faith. But the same way won’t work for every situation. Sometimes it’s a combination, sometimes it’s one word. One thing for sure, utter dependence on Him is paramount.
Just remember, greatness is born here. The place of absolute surrender. The place where we die so that we may truly live in Him. I followed this prophet everywhere and watched what he did. He was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. He was teaching me and I was careful to pay attention to every detail. You are His seed, His child.
Greatness is already on the inside of you. For some, it’s lying dormant. For others, it’s starting to bud and for others, it’s coming forth. No matter where you are, purpose in your heart to fully surrender. Hold nothing back. Yours is the victory if you embrace the ways of the Lord. You will grow in power and authority and see the impossible become possible through Him.
Rev. 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.
1 Peter 2:9
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;
Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion
Psalm 18:29-30
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Ephesians 6:10 (AMP)
be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
Deidre Gaines resides in West Virginia with her husband and best friend, Richard. She has three grown children and one granddaughter. Deidre is a Licensed Minister, Prophetic intercessor, blogger (Shamar), speaker and encourager with a heart to see the nature of Jesus put on display for the world to see. She is passionate to see His love, unity, presence, power and authority transform hearts, cities, regions and the nations through bringing glory and honor to His name. Deidre desires to see the church walk in the fullness of His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, crocheting and being outdoors. Especially taking rides in the side by side with her husband Richard.
by leaps and bounds 