2023: This is the “year” that God has called us to sit with Him at the table He has prepared for us right in the middle of our enemies so He can prove Himself strong on our behalf (see Psalm 23 and 2 Chronicles 16:9). It will be a year of fresh anointing that will destroy any yokes that we have (see Psalm 92:10-15 and Isaiah 10:27). As we fellowship, at the table with Him, we will be nourished, anointed, clothed with favor, and strengthened by Him. Job 36:16; Psalms 23:5; Revelation 3:20; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 36:7.
I believe Holy Spirit is calling us all to a greater awakening and consecration. With our hearts and minds fixed on Jesus, we will pray and praise at a higher level, with an urgency to have a hunger and thirst in our souls and to develop a strong, loyal heart for His perfect will for our lives…with the promise of Hebrews 11:6 – “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
2023 is the year, the time to “consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things for you” (Joshua 3:5 NKJV*). He is going to do exceedingly abundantly above what we could even imagine, according to the power that is at work in us (see Ephesians 3:20). It will be of utmost importance that we do NOT allow anything to interfere with our consecration, that DAILY we “put on” the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust (see Romans 13:11-14).
It is time that our whole life displays and testifies the fact that “we are His workmanship created for His purposes” (Ephesians 2:10). For we were chosen before the foundation of the world, called and set apart from our mother’s womb, and now we are all being built up together as a dwelling place for God.
I would also hear; 2023 will be the season that the “eyes of God” will search for loyal hearts to prove Himself strong too (see 2 Chronicles 16:9). I would see in Amos 7:7-8 and Zechariah 4:10, that God’s eyes were the plumb line that He used to build according to His standards. And we are being built together as a dwelling place for His glory.
As we see in Amos, Israel had been built ‘true’ to God’s standard. What this is telling us is that, as we are His temple, we must allow the godliness found in scriptures to be our life standard – consecration. We can ask Him to show us any place(s) in our lives that deviate from His standard. By His grace, we submit those areas to the Lord and ask Him to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3). “My eyes are on the faithful of the land” (Psalm 101:6).
As we enter this new year, new season, let us fast and pray together, in unity, with one mind and one accord, setting ourselves apart and unto Him. I want to really encourage you to please read every scripture reference in this prayer focus. I cannot express the importance and spiritual benefits that come from fasting food and delicacies while feeding your spirit with the scriptures and praying over each one of them as you go.
DAY 1
“Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5).
Consecration: By definition, it is: 1) The act of dedicating yourself to the service and worship of God, 2) To make holy or dedicate to a higher purpose, 3) Time set aside for a special and often higher purpose – an investment. As we set aside the first 21 days of this new year, seeking Him in prayers and fasting; we want to consecrate our lives afresh and new to Him, starting with the basics of our Christian walk (see Romans 12:1-2). Let us not be conformed to the world’s standard, but instead to the word of God’s holy standard.
SEPARATION … ISOLATION … CONSECRATION
Decades ago, I would hear those 3 words for my own personal life. In that season, Holy Spirit taught me to separate myself, to come aside and get alone with Him, which in turn, caused isolation from things and people. Being alone with Him until…until I was not alone anymore. This aloneness brought forth the “CONSECRATION” that He was desiring for my Life. “Who is willing to consecrate himself to the Lord, this day?” (1 Chronicles 29:5)
Readings:
Joshua 3:5; Romans 12:1-2; Joel 2:15; Micah 4:2; 1 Kings 9:3; Luke 10:27
Declarations/Prayers:
I will love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. He has heard my prayers and supplications, that I have made to Him, and now He has consecrated my life (house), to put His name over, forever and His eyes and heart will be there perpetually.
DAY 2
I AM NOT MY OWN
Whose ‘temple’ are you? Do you not know that you are the temple of Holy Spirit? Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are? (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
He does not dwell in temples made with hands. But Solomon built Him a house. “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, or what is the place of My rest? (Acts 7:47-49).
We’ve been bought by the precious blood of Jesus and are being built into a glorious temple, a dwelling place for God. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are not our own, and we must keep our temple holy. To keep our temple holy requires a daily washing with the water of His word; an inner searching by Holy Spirit so He can present us faultless. Paul referred to it as living a crucified life. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). This will require determination on our part. Even as Solomon determined in his heart to build a temple for the Lord, so must we (see 2 Chronicles 2).
Readings:
1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, Ephesians 2:21; Colossians 4:12; Galatians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Declarations/Prayers:
By His saving grace… “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Titus 2:11-14).
DAY 3
A TRANSFORMED MIND
To have the mind of Christ, I must transform and renew my mind, knowing an un-renewed mind is legal grounds for the enemy. We must renew our minds daily. Staying our minds on Christ will bring perfect peace. Perfect peace is not the absence of conflict, but it is HIS wholeness. The wholeness that His presence brings during the conflict and chaos.
Mediating day and night on the Word of God, keeping it at the forefront of your mind. And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do (Deuteronomy 1:18). By faithfully absorbing and applying scriptures, we can learn to deny ungodliness and sinful desires while seeking to live righteously in this evil world. Take time to consume “The Word” until it has consumed you. David said, “I hide His word in my heart, so I won’t sin against Him.”
Paul warns and prays for us; that we will not become deceived from the simplicity that is in Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Chris (2 Corinthians 11:3). If the enemy cannot deceive you, then he seeks to distract you. In distracting you, he is distancing you from Jesus’ presence and His word so that you will become deceived from the simplicity of Christ.
Readings:
Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2-3; Isaiah 26:3; Ephesians 4:23-24; 1 Peter 1:13; Deuteronomy 11:18-25.
Declarations/Prayers:
Father, free my mind of ideas that are not from You. Cleanse my soul from the residue of worldly activities and let nothing impede my ability to hear Your voice, Lord Jesus, as I come to the well of Your presence.
DAY 4
A LOYAL HEART
Again, as we see in 2 Chronicles 16:9, the eyes of God are looking throughout the whole earth to find loyal hearts so that He might prove Himself strong on their behalf. We must love the Lord with all our hearts and be faithful to Him, keeping our hearts pure and keeping Him on the throne of our hearts. What a great promise; the “pure in heart will see Him” (see Matthew 5:8).
We will see God work on our behalf as He is displayed in our lives. Always praying and inviting Father, through Holy Spirit, to search our hearts as David did. We know the scriptures show us that David was a man after God’s own heart, yet we see David falls into sins and then prays the prayers we find in Psalm 51:10-11.
Even though David was after God’s heart, there were still things in David’s heart that he needed to be purified from, which called for a deep searching of David’s own heart. Jeremiah teaches us; the heart is deceptive, and no one can know what is in it, except God tries it. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
We want to always invite the deep searching of Holy Spirit in our hearts and mind. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart (Proverbs 20:27). The greatest revealer of our hearts is life’s tests and pressures, they reveal what is inside. James tells us to “count it all joy” because of what the tests and trials are not only revealing, but producing. Even what our own mouth says can show what is inside our hearts.
Readings:
Matthew 5:8; Psalm 51:10-12, 139, 26:2-3; Proverbs 23:7, 27:19; Jeremiah 17:9
Declarations/Prayers:
You have tested my heart. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.
DAY 5
FREEDOM DAY
Today is a day of receiving freedom from any and all yokes and/or chains that have held you in bondage. First and foremost, we must be set free from the yoke of slavery and the bondage of fear. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). We are asking Holy Spirit to take up residency in us and fill us afresh with His power, knowing where the Spirit of the Lord is – there is freedom! Because whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
Jesus occupies where He is being loved and obeyed. John 14:21,23 says “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
Put your faith in God and believe that He is good! He knows you have put your trust in Him and He is more than able to rescue you, no matter how large the obstacle(s) may seem. Believe that NOTHING is too hard for the Lord and ask Him to deliver you and set you free.
Readings:
Micah 3:8, 4:2,5; Psalm 16:11, 121:7-8; Isaiah 55:12; John 8:36; Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; James 1:25
Declarations/Prayers:
I invite the hovering of Holy Spirit over my life, as You hovered over the face of the earth when it was dark and chaotic, hover now over me so that Father can speak His words, the words that contain spirit and life, to bring order and light to my life. Jesus has made me free! Cast me not from Your presence and never take Your Holy Spirit from me.
DAY 6
A LIFE HIDDEN IN CHRIST
To really live a life hidden in Christ, we must be crucified with Christ, taking up our cross daily and laying down our life so that we can find true life…identifying in His death so we can know His resurrection. Declaring with Paul, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” begins with the crucifixion of our own will…it is Jesus on the cross crucifying His will and saying, “not My will but Yours be done.”
That we may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11).
There can be no resurrection of the glory without the crucifixion of the flesh and all of its desires.
Readings:
Luke 14:27; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3; Romans 6:5; Acts 17:28
Declarations/Prayers:
I will take up my cross to follow Him, not seeking to make my own cross, but allowing the cross to make me, then truly, it will be in Him that I live and move and exist. That is ‘in Him we actually have our being.’
DAY 7
TO WHOLLY FOLLOW THE LORD
To wholly follow Him, I must first love Him with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. Seeking Him first – knowing that everything I need will be added unto me.
I must allow Him to lead. Allow the Lover of my soul to be the Shepherd of my soul; leading, guiding, and making me whole. I will know His voice through the knowledge of His word, and I will not follow a strange voice. As I acknowledge Him, meaning “have fellowship with Him”, He will always direct and show
me His path for me, with His words illuminating each step – casting great light, even upon my future. Whether I turn to the right or to the left, I will hear His voice behind me saying, “this is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
When we follow His commands, He will lead us in paths of righteousness, always assuring us His angels go before us to prepare the way and to be our rear guard. Surely goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. The requirement? That we wholly follow Him! As we do, He will bring us into our inheritance, even as He did Caleb. Numbers 14:24 says, “But My servant Caleb, because he has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”
Readings:
Numbers 32:11-12, 14:6-9,24,30; Deuteronomy 1:36, 11:22-25; Joshua 14:8,9; Isaiah 30:21, 48:17; Psalm 16:11, 23
Declarations/Prayers:
“Lead me, Lord, I will wholly follow You, for You are the Lord my God, and as I wholly follow you, I will be strengthened to inherit all the promises that You have spoken. Every place the soul of my foot treads will be mine and no man shall be able to stand against me.
DAY 8
AWAKENED SOUL
Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion (Isaiah 52:1-2).
It is high time to awaken out of slumber, for our salvation is nearer than we first believed. Be dressed in the full armor of God and clothed with beautiful garments of praise. Put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. A life of living and walking in the Spirit is required to stay alert and awake.
The greatest investment to have an awakened soul is to take time daily to be alone with Father. I have found the most beneficial time is the early morning. Awakening before dawn, so I can awaken the day, rather than have the day awaken me. I learned many decades ago to be alone with Father and to be still in a fast-paced society was the only way to know Him and to stay alert and awake. It is NOT a morning routine, but instead, it is my life dependency! Jesus did it always, just as we see in Mark 1:35 – “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed.” Jesus says to us, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a little while.” He understood the need to recharge in private – especially in times of spiritual labor.
Isaiah said, “He awakens my ear morning by morning to hear as the learned…and I did not turn away.” I pray your ear will be awakened and you will hear what He speaks. ‘Tuning into the right frequency’, so to speak, is to be led by Holy Spirit – empowering you to live victoriously.
Readings:
Ephesians 6:10-18; Romans 13:11-14; Mark 6:31; Isaiah 50:4; Proverbs 6:6-11; Psalm 87:8
Declarations/Prayers: Lord, my voice You shall hear in the morning, in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. I will awaken the dawn and not slumber. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn!
DAY 9
REVEALING OF THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls… (Psalm 42:7).
This is the generation of Jacob, a generation that seeks Him, who seeks His Face. It is time to seek Him with all our hearts where we will be found of Him. There is a cry that borders desperation, that when we cry, He answers and shows us great and mighty things that we did not know – things that were inaccessible before. – Even a cry to know how deep and how wide His Love is – these will be the days that we know the depth and height of His love. David knew, “there is nowhere I can go from His presence.” Paul knew and declared, “nothing can separate me from His love.”
The mystery revealed, “to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge, so I can be filled with the fullness of God.” If we are filled with Holy Spirit, He will teach us all things. To know “what in the world is going on, we must look and see what in the WORD is going on.”
Daniel 2:22 says, “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” And Psalm 25:14 says, “The secret of the Lord will be with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”
Readings:
1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Ephesians 1:18-20: Psalm 24:6,25:15, 139: 7-12; Jeremiah 33:3
Declarations/Prayers:
Christ will dwell in my heart, so I can be rooted and grounded in love, so I will be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the width, length, depth, and height of His love and I will know the love of God which surpasses knowledge.
DAY 10
BEING FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD
We must be filled with the fullness of God, so that “the exceedingly abundantly above all we can imagine according to the power at work in us” becomes reality. The knowing and the infilling empower us so we can do great exploits in His name. Our primary needs are spiritual – a proper relationship with Jesus, through Holy Spirit, is the grounds of assurance that He will provide, both our spiritual and natural needs.
Readings:
Ephesians 1 & 3; Daniel 11:32; John 14, 15 & 16
Declarations/Prayers:
I will be filled with the fullness of God, so He can do exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or even imagine, according to the power that works within me, to Him be all the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen.
DAY 11
ENLARGE YOUR TERRITORY
Enlarging, stretching, and lengthening days are upon us. We must extend to the left and the right; it is time to possess and inherit lands and time to take the mountain! In this season we are going to know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glory, and the surpassing greatness of His power. We will not struggle with our identity, of who He is, or of who He has called and equipped us to be. We will know that the plans He has for us are great, to prosper us, and to give us an expected end.
All the land “2023” is before us, we can go wherever we want. He will even make us fruitful in the place of afflictions – bringing Glory to His Name.
Readings:
Isaiah 54, 40:31; Psalm 31:8,27:14, 29:11, 31:23-24; Jeremiah 29;11-14,40:4
Declarations/Prayers:
Pray the prayer of Jabez found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 – Bless me indeed, enlarge my territory, keep Your hand upon me, and keep me from evil.
DAY 12
EXCHANGE DAY
The time is now; to go from sufferings to glory, darkness to light, groaning to births. What shall we say to these things, ______________? If God is for us, who can be against us? No weapon that is forming will prosper and every tongue that is rising in judgment you must condemn, this is your heritage as a child of God.
Knowing “with the Lord’s instructions comes rest from the days of adversity.” To those who sit in darkness, a great light has dawned! “I am trading my sorrow, my pain, I am laying them down for the joy of the Lord” … (you can list your own exchange). He’s going to lead us into green pastures, beside still waters to restore our souls; He is going to quiet our souls’ infant cries.
Readings:
Romans 8; Psalm 94:12-13; Psalm 23, 130:5-6, 131:1-3; Isaiah 54:17; Philippians 4:6-8
Declarations/Prayers:
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great (countless) matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
DAY 13
THERE’S A LADDER IN THIS PLACE
AND THE HEAVENS ARE OPEN
Are you laying on a stone in a desolate place? Get ready for dreams, angelic encounters, and appearances from the Lord Himself. Just go ahead and call this place in your life Bethel! How awesome is this place! This is the house of God (see Genesis 28:10-12).
It is in this place that you become awakened to the reality of His constant overshadowing presence. Your new song will be “not for a minute was I forsaken the Lord is in this place, come Holy Spirit, dry bones awaken…the Lord is truly in this place and the heavens are open.”
This is the season of an Acts 2 fulfillment … He is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh!
Readings:
Genesis 28:10-22; Psalm 24:6-10; John 1:5, Joel 2, Acts 2
Declarations/Prayers:
I will make this stone ___________ my pillar, and I will be God’s house, and all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.
DAY 14
A GREATER AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE
He promised us “I will never leave you nor forsake you, I will be with you always even till the end.” He said He would not leave us orphans – He has sent us Holy Spirit to witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
As we see, knowing the Lord’s divine presence was the key part in equipping Moses as a leader (see Exodus 3:12). He has also promised to be with us and to equip us for the work He has called us to do.
The great commission, to GO – we can! We can, because we are not alone. Not just to GO “into all the world” but to GO into each day. He says we can GO out with JOY, and we can be led forth in peace because He watches over our coming in and our going out forever more. He has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways.
We must keep ourselves in the present with His presence and not wonder {worry} into the future. God is already there, assuring us He will never leave us and that nothing can separate us from His love, His perfect love, that casts out all fear; so never worry, nor be dismayed, He is holding our hand.
Readings:
Psalm 121; Exodus 3:12; Matthew 28:20; Psalm 130: 1-8; Proverbs 2:20; Isaiah 41:10, 55:12-13; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 4:18
Declarations/Prayers:
I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning — yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
DAY 15
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
PRODUCING THE GLORY OF THE LORD
We will see the fear of the Lord be restored to the church, the reverential awe and wonder as the glory arises. The glory of the Lord will arise upon us so He can be glorified through us. The glory of the latter is going to be far greater than the former. In the days of darkness covering the earth and gross darkness the people, He has assured us His glory is going to cover the earth, just like the waters cover the sea.
Arise and Shine, not run and hide, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. “Let the glory of the Lord rise among us.” The weightiness is coming and is here even now. The Glory (Chabad) not only His honor, renown, and majesty, but His visible splendor, which filled the temple … and these days will fill the earth!
Readings:
Proverbs 1:7, 22:4; Psalm 25:14; Isaiah 60:1-2; Haggai 2:9; 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 Corinthians 10:31
Declarations/Prayers:
Whatever I do, I will do all for His glory. Let us have grace that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence, and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.
DAY 16
SET HIM ALWAYS BEFORE YOUR FACE
I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:8-11).
He is going to instruct, even down to the smallest details of our lives. As we look to Him, our faces will be radiant and our pathways clear. We will walk hand in hand with Father and have no fear! We will hear Him say “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Readings:
Psalm 16; 2 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 30:21, 55:3; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 46:10
Declarations/Prayers:
Because I have set Him before me, I will not be shaken and my flesh will rest in hope; I stay my mind upon Him and I have perfect peace, the Shalom of God – nothing broken nor out of place.
DAY 17
NEVERTHELESS AT YOUR WORD
These last days we must have a “Nevertheless at Your word, faith-filled obedience; knowing where He guides, He provides and equips.” From Isaiah hearing the call, seeing the need, and saying “Send me” … to Mary’s angelic appearance in an impossible situation, and her reply “Let it be to me, accordingly” … to the disciples fishing all night, without results – but now Jesus enters their boat and their reply, “Nevertheless at Your word” which gave them a net breaking load.
Let us receive our own instructions from above. With a full commitment to obey His words and commands, we will be sent into impossible situations and divine appointments, such as we see with Moses (see Exodus 3), Cornelius (see Acts 10), and Phillip (see Acts 8:26-40).
For truly the harvest is ready, we must be ‘the few laborers’ sent forth to birth, declare, and reap.
Readings:
Isaiah 6:1-8; Luke 1:37-38; Exodus 3; Acts 10, 8:26-40; Psalm 94:12
Declarations/Prayers:
“Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Once you see Him, you will be ready to respond to anything He wants you to do, with the assurance, “I AM that I AM has sent me!”
DAY 18
DIVINE RESPONSE
He is ready to release a sound through us that He gives us while in a place of deep communion with Him. This is the season, 2023, that His prayers in John 17 are answered. That we become one with Him so that He can share with us His glory and release the divine responses from Heaven.
Our faithfulness and commitment to Him are going to cause a divine response – a divine intervention in our lives. We see this throughout the book of Daniel, with Daniel and the three Hebrews – their refusal to bow to the gods of the age, to eat of the kings’ delicacies, or drink of their wines, they were divinely increased with knowledge, delivered out of the lion’s den, and the fiery furnace. Watch for the fourth man in your fire – the angels to be sent to rescue you out of ____________; and knowledge of Him to increase resulting in a life of supernatural peace, multiplication of resources, and resurrection power.
“I will give you a mouth and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to contradict or resist” (Luke 21:15).
Readings:
John 17; Daniel 1:8,20,2:20-23, 3:16-25, 6:10-28; Psalm 25:14; Ephesians 2:10
Declarations/Prayers:
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you, on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I am one with Him and the Father, and I only do the things that are pleasing to Him. I died and my life is hidden in Christ.
DAY 19
THE GREAT OUTPOURING
“I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh”
Dreams, visions, and prophecies become the new normal.
Jesus’ words, “you shall do greater than this” is only possible if we are clothed with power from on high. This requires a tarrying and a fresh infilling (see Acts 1:8, 2:1-4).
- Elisha wanted Elijah’s mantle – to do double the miracles that he had done, Elijah replied, “if you’re with me when I go.”
- Jesus commissioned the disciples to “tarry until you are endued” – receiving His mantle to go into all the world, heal the sick, and raise the dead.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. As it is written, “eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of men, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Readings:
Joel 2; 2 Kings 2; John 14:12-14; Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Ephesians 3:20
Declarations/Prayers:
Fears and obscurities get replaced with “the Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me!” Hiding and denying get replaced with boldness and anointing – to evangelize and reap the harvest.
DAY 20
SET YOUR WATCH
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore, the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore, perverse judgment proceeds (Habakkuk 1:2-5).
This chapter begins with the prophet’s question, “How long – why doesn’t God do something?” And then we see God’s answer, “Look and watch what I will do!” Even if it were told to you, you would not believe it.
To set my watch – includes 5 ways to hear His voice (the following notes are taken from my Spirit-filled life bible):
1. Meet with God regularly, a special place of prayer: “I will stand my watch”
2. Look for God to speak to you in dreams and visions: “I will watch to see”
3. Listen for the Word of the Lord: “He will say to me”
4. Keep a journal of things that God says: “Write the Vision”
5. Wait for God to bring it to pass: “It will surely come”
Readings:
John 10:27-28; Acts 2:17,18, 13:41; Revelation 3:20; Psalm 37:1-13
Declarations/Prayers:
“Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I will work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you” (Acts 13:41).
The future does not belong to God haters or God mockers, but it belongs to the righteous remnant, and they are as bold as a lion and as harmless as a dove.
Let God arise and the enemies be scattered!
DAY 21
MOVE FORWARD AND TRUST ME AS YOU GO
Each day of 2023 we will go out with joy and be led forth in peace. He will preserve our going out and coming in, both now and forevermore. He has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways – reinforcements are on the way. We will walk and live by faith, not by sight. He will lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even when we walk through valleys of shadows of death, we will fear no evil! Again, we hear, “Fear not, neither be dismayed, I am your God, I will hold your hand.”
He will guide us by His Holy Spirit, if we go to turn to the left or right, we will hear His voice behind us saying, “this is the way walk in it.” His word will always be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path, keeping us from stumbling in darkness. We will walk through fires and floods, without being overcome … and His peace during our warfare will crush satan under our feet, bringing us out into rich fulfillment. Every place the soul of our foot treads, He has given us. It is time to possess the land. This year we go from gleaning in the fields, to owning the fields we have been faithful to glean from.
2023 is a spiritual journey, taking us from doubts to worship, as we set our sights on Him, keeping elevated vision into heavenly realms, seeing from His perspective rather than man’s and perceiving His angelic strike force working on our behalf. His ministering spirits are being sent forth to minister to the saints who are on the earth. No more controlling anxiety over circumstances because He gives us hinds feet, to leap on our mountains of difficulties, with a shout of grace, grace in our mouths!
We are more than conquerors ~ take the land of 2023!
Readings:
Exodus 5:12; Psalm 68:19, 121; Proverbs 23:12; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Isaiah 41:10, 43:1-2, 55:12; Romans 16:20
Declarations/Prayers:
“Cause me to hear and cause me to know. Deliver me, teach me, lead me, revive me, and cut off my enemies” (see Psalm 143:8-12).
2023, for this reason, I have not stopped praying for you asking specifically that you be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual understanding, with insight into His purposes, and in the understanding of spiritual things, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity; to fully please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God, with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts. We pray that you may be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints, God’s people, in the light.
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Father, make them One with Us.
Paula Sue Thurston,
Arise and Thresh International Ministries
“*All scripture verses are taken from NKJV unless otherwise noted”.
