

Encouraging. Empowering. Equipping.
I sense a weariness in the Church today. I come to you with a word of encouragement.
First, the battle is not YOURS. I hear the Lord speaking clearly that this battle is His. He’s calling us to fast, pray, worship, and watch for His mighty hand of deliverance.
Many of you know this is beyond human hands but you are worrying. You are trying to figure it out. You are trying to hear “a good report” or even “a bad report” just so you KNOW something.
He wants to pull you away to refresh you, refill you, renew a right spirit in you, and revive you.
He wants for you to silence the many voices so you can hear Him as He speaks to you His strategies and plans.
He knows you feel that feeling of protectiveness for Him, Christianity, your country, and your president, however He has got this.
This is not another election—it’s a battle of good and evil.
The enemy has his fingerprints all over this—he is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy and this time he has overplayed his hand. He has been caught. He will have to pay back.
I see the turnaround coming in like a huge wave. I keep seeing a wave like a tsunami. It will come in with a red wave. The red wave I am seeing is the blood of Christ that will be pouring over this nation and ultimately this world.
This is a time to worship. Worship wins the battle. Worship wins the war.
Habakkuk 3 will be your war cry:
“Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! Habakkuk 3: 18-19
Remember 2 Chronicles 20? In this passage, King Jehoshaphat is sent “a bad word” that a “great multitude” was coming against him and his people.
Defeat appeared to be definite.
God had already placed His man in leadership and Jehoshaphat did the RIGHT thing…he immediately “…set himself determinedly, as his vital need, to seek the Lord.”
He proclaimed a fast in the whole land. What was the Word of the Lord? What was the answer for the battle that was on the horizon?
Look at it in 2 Chronicles 20:
The Lord says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Go down against them tomorrow. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley, in front of the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the Lord who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.’”
Stick with me…
So they go out the next day. Keep reading…
20 So they got up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe and trust in the Lord your God and you will be established (secure). Believe and trust in His prophets and succeed.” 21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praise and give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”
Praise!
Give thanks!
Worship!
This is their military plan!
It did not make sense. It sounded so absurd. Their enemies were gathered all around and were ready to destroy them.
Praise?
Give thanks?
Worship?
Yes! Praise! Give thanks! Worship!
Then look what happened:
22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down [in defeat]. 23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab [suspecting betrayal] rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When [the men of] Judah came to the lookout tower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies lying on the ground, and no one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including equipment, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away; so much that they spent three days gathering the spoil.
What a way to battle!!
Before we go on—God takes attacks against His beloved very serious. He is clear that those who bless His people will be blessed and those who curse His people will be cursed. Those who attack His children will be battling HIM. HE is the Almighty God. He warns not to touch His anointed.
What happens?
He battles for His family.
He wins.
He is the Almighty God!
No one, no power, no principality can come against Him and prevail.
We have a culture with a segment of people who have exalted themselves above Him and disregard His precepts, His will, and His ways. They have set their faces against His church. They spew hate and lies against those He anoints for positions of leadership. They need to look at the writing in the wall—their days are numbered. Their eternity is at risk. Their party is coming to an end and they will come up short—total defeat!
There is also a word for us today in this passage.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon them. He instructed them to do just a few things:
Show up to the battlefield.
Stand still.
Watch God battle for them.
SING AND PRAISE God!
I believe that God is calling His bride to pull apart and prepare to fight like HIS VIRTUOUS WARRIOR!
His church IS a virtuous warrior!
Her days of silence are over!
Her days of slumber are over!
She has not been faithful to fight the good fight. She has conformed to the world. She has come back battered and abused. However, I hear a cry that it’s time for the church to make herself ready!
Redemption is hers!
Reconciliation is hers!
Restoration is hers!
She knows her identity.
She knows her position.
She knows what she possesses.
She knows her power.
She knows her protection.
She knows the One Who fights FOR HER!
It’s time for her to arise!
It’s time for her to fight the good fight!
It’s time for an awakening that will be an unprecedented and unconventional outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Church is to be the vessels carrying Him forth!
I see her going into the enemy’s camps setting captives free and empowering them to take their position in the army of God.
I see her blowing forth a revival fire! The revival that has been moving across this country has lit little fires compared to what is coming! I see those fires growing into wild fires! Uncontrollable and never ending wild fires! These fires will cover this country. Every person has a choice—become the fire or be burned by the fire. The church is being activated to carry forth revival fires.
I see the wounded arising. Their wounds will become weapons against the enemy. They will step out of their victim identity into beloved identity and rebuild the streets and desolations of generations.
Now is not the time for weariness. It is the time to rest.
We rest not because we are tired or not enough. We rest because our God has a different way He does things than our world. He commands rest so we have a full assurance that HE is enough for whatever we face.
My friend, rest.
Pull aside.
Fast from what is filling you full of fear, doubt, unbelief—fasting breaks it’s hold so you can get above it.
Seek His presence.
Seek to hear His heart.
Press in to hear a his strategies.
Let Him fill you back up with His Word and in worship.
Then….
Show up to the battlefield.
Stand still.
SING
PRAISE God!
Watch God battle!
What a fun day we had today. We hosted Day Two for our new series Stepping up to the Call? Who are You? Our topic today was: Perfect Preservation, Preparation, and Positioning For Imperfect People.
The replay is now available. Here it is:
Our NEW live study series kicked off today. And, with it, we just launched my NEW YouTube Channel!
Wooohoooo! Check it out and subscribe. It will feature live broadcasts, our upcoming podcasts as a video version, and our online events. I am sooo jazzed today to launch it.
Need a shot of encouragement? Tune in to our first broadcast:
by CindyRushton
Tired? Battle-weary? Broken? Wounded?
Beloved…I have very good news for you!
This is not your position!
This is not your identity!
Soak that in…
You are a mighty warrior! You are a victor! Your wounds are your weapons. What the enemy intended for your harm is actually the very thing the Lord uses for your good. Those very “hits” are not your identity but weapons you will use to set captives free!
Those heartaches, losses, disappointments, struggles, messes are all turning today. They are turning into beautiful weapons–like arrows in your quiver. That pain is turning into wisdom that can be shot forth to bring hope and healing. That lack is turning today into a testimony of God’s faithfulness and miraculous provision that can zone in to the soul in deep need of “a way”. The dryness, parch-ness, burn-out, brokenness, and weariness are turning today into wells that never run dry and a river that flows out in overflow, bringing an arrow of refreshing into the longing heart. That emptiness, loneliness, and betrayal are becoming beautiful and powerful arrows shooting forth great love and satisfying relationship with God, self, and others. Those lies, accusations, doubts, fears that were hurled your way are transforming before your very eyes to become weapons sending forth truth, wisdom, and prophesy. Even the momentary death of your dreams is turning into an arrow sending forth abundant, full, lavish, intentional, and purposeful life. Everything… EVERYTHING
… every single weapon used against you is turning today into your arsenal of weapons.
Felt a heaviness from all of the hits?
Feel like you are standing in the midst of a huge pile of arrows that have been fired into your life??
Today is the day to gather those arrows and lay them at the feet of Jesus. You are not intended to carry around all of that heaviness. You are destined for so much more!!
It’s time to “yoke up” with Jesus and turn all of those into your weapons and arrows! It’s time to let Him transform those arrows and fill your quiver full of weapons of defense and offense–you are made for battle! You are a might warrior! You cannot lose!! No weapon formed against you can prosper! Every single hit from your childhood is before you and beckoning you to step up as a mighty warrior and pick up those arrows as your own weapon so you can fight the good fight! Your arrows will set the captives free! Your arrows will protect you from the enemy–they are your weapons for protection! Those arrows are in your quiver to assist you in taking back the captives for the Kingdom of God and setting them free!!
Today, gather those arrows! Offer them up. Let them all go. Refuse today to be a victim. Refuse to stay in captivity! Refuse to be a prisoner of war. Today, get back up!!
I declare that you are a mighty warrior! I declare that these weapons are now your arrows that you will use to bring Jehovah’s freedom to the culture. These arrows intended for your harm are now your testimonies of healing, sustenance, provision, wisdom, love, comfort, transformation, relationship, freedom, purpose, and calling. Be aware of the schemes of the enemy but don’t miss the greatest truth–he is under your feet! He is defeated! You ARE a victor! You ARE an overcomer!! This is your position! It is not one day or someday. It is your position and your identity TODAY!
Rise up mighty warrior!!
Are you moving strong…or, still stuck?
Are you ready…or, are you a bit reluctant?
Busting at the seams to kick off your New Year…or, are you just sick at the thought of yet another year?
Reaching your resolutions…or…are they already a bust?
Are there things that you would really like to see changed by January 2013? TODAY is the day to make that commitment! If you sincerely want to see change, you have to begin today!
Sunday was a MILESTONE. Did you miss it? It is not too late! Pull away for a bit today. Set your resolutions. Set reachable resolutions.
1. Start with an honest evaluation!
Where are you?
Are you where you want to be?
What do you want?
What do you need?
What is it going to take to get where you want to be?
Are there things that you want to see changed?
Don’t get locked into the same old, same old repetive behaviours. Don’t get stuck in the same old rut. If we are not moving forward, reaching for resolutions, goals, and dreams, we are not living the life that Christ died to give us. Where are you now?
Today, set a goal! It is your NEXT STEP. You may not be able to get where you want to go TODAY…or this week…or this month…or even this year. However, don’t let that keep you stuck in a rut!
Today, look at where you want to go. Get a vision! Can you reach it? Do you believe that you can? Well, set goals, steps, to get there. Don’t think it is possible? Well, ask yourself–what IS possible? What do you think you CAN DO? Let’s set goals to get moving toward that! Don’t let yourself get stuck! Set goals that will make your proud!
Test your goals all along the way– is it….
So many people never even try to reach for their resolutions, goals and dreams.
I have been asking God to show me when I am not moving forward in an area, to help me know that first step, and to give me the power to get moving. That first step is the key! In fact, my preacher said this weekend that the hardest part of working out is “to tie your tennis shoes.” Why? It is that FIRST STEP!
My dear friend, what is that FIRST STEP?
I know it can be scary. I know it can be intimidating. But, today, ask God to show you those areas where you have not been moving forward–building a godly marriage, quiet times, ministering to the hearts of your children, getting out of debt, building a business of your own, getting fit and healthy, getting your home decluttered, etc. Ask Him to show you what He wants for you to do and to show you that first step so you can get up and get moving–He will! Ask him to empower you and give you everything you need as you step out. My sweet friend, HE WILL! Just get started with that first step! GET MOVING!
My dear friend, you have a NEW year ahead of you! It is time for a NEW BEGINNING! Dare to set your resolutions this year. Don’t let this year slip by. You CAN do it! Set those resolutions. Set goals to take you step-by-step toward your resolutions. Keep them before you. MOVE OUT! Celebrate your victories all along the way! You will reach your resolutions one step at a time–what is your step today?
We just got back from a fabulous trip to Italy. Ok, soak this in…VENICE! Oh! YEAH!
On this trip, I was able to check off three, yes three, of my biggies on “My Bucket List.” It was a spectacular trip! And, it was more than just the trip or the place, God was speaking to my heart the whole way. In fact, He is still teaching me lessons from Italy and we have been home a week! 🙂 Just today, He taught me another lesson as I opened my laptop! REALLY! Well, stick with me….
Before I left for Italy, I was on stress overload. I was hoping that Italy would be my “catch-up” time. Well, OBVIOUSLY I had never travelled abroad, much less to Italy. Ha! Italy was perfect for my stress overload. I was forced to getaway, refresh, renew, unplug, and make sweet memories. It was incredible. In fact, I am forever changed from my trip to Italy–more on that in a bit. [Read more…] about Unplug! by Cindy Rushton
How is your Saturday going? It is STUNNING here in North Alabama. Elisabeth and I got away for a breakfast out this morning. Matthew called to let me know that he had finished his 10K first place in his age division. And, my hubby just called to let me know how well he did shooting with his buddies today. Now, I am covered up with napping puppies and snagging a few moments on the computer. I like it! [Read more…] about Reach for Your Dreams THIS YEAR!
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