STAND IN FAITH – open doors ahead
As I sat with the Lord and asked Him to reveal what was on His heart, I heard Him say, “My people are coming into a season of open doors. Tell them to continue to stand in faith.” The Lord showed me a vision of a person standing in a field but I could hardly see the field as I was consumed by the view of the clouds and the wind storm that surrounded the person. The winds were trying to dislodge the person from their position and trying to cause them to lose their balance and lose their focus. The clouds about the person were confusion, discouragement, adversity and opposition. I was taken aback at how steadfast the person was in holding their position, in spite of the swirling storm about them. They were so firmly planted to the ground and to their position. Although they were bending at times with the wind, they remained resolute in holding their stand. I knew this person the Lord was showing me was standing in faith, waiting to see the promises God had spoken over their life manifest; waiting to see the breakthrough come to pass. They were unwavering in their knowledge and faith that God is faithful to see His promises come to pass in His perfect timing. They were grounded in the word of God and were able to take a firm stand because they were standing on the promises of God found in the scriptures and decreeing them over their situations. These decrees were like swords in the atmosphere that caused the clouds to dissipate. I saw the scene change – the sun penetrated the cloud and the storm cleared. It was then that I saw Jesus and I realised He had been standing in the storm alongside the person. The person was leaning on Him and drawing strength from Him. The Lord then showed me another person, a second person, who was also standing in the storm cloud and winds. They were finding it more difficult to stand but they too had remained steadfast in their position. As the cloud dissipated about them, as before I saw Jesus standing with them but I also saw they had their arms locked with other believers who had been standing with them. Having others stand with them had caused them to have more stability and strength to withstand the winds. The others had been standing in the gap with them, building their faith and interceding for them. A door then appeared in front of each person. Jesus beckoned them to step forward and as they did the door opened. As the door opened I saw not only one door but a multitude of doors behind the first one open. These open doors formed a path of open doors all linked together. It was like I was seeing a domino effect of open doors. I knew these doors represented breakthrough, favour and the manifestation of the promises the person had been standing for in faith. The person was in shock at the magnitude of open doors before them as it was so much more than they had even dreamed or imagined. I believe the Lord is saying that many people have come against confusion, discouragement, adversity and opposition as they have stood in faith to see breakthrough of the promises of God in their lives. The enemy has tried to dislodge you from standing in faith. The Lord is wanting to encourage you to continue to stand firm in your faith as open doors of favour and breakthrough are near. In 1 Timothy 6:12 we read we are to ‘fight the good fight of the faith’. We are to rise above our struggles and know we are overcomers in Christ as He has already won the victory for us. God honours faith and great faith honours God and gives glory to Him. Romans 4:20 tell us that Abraham didn’t waver concerning the promise God had given him but was instead strong in faith, giving glory to God. Abraham steadily and firmly believed the promise and God’s faithfulness to fulfil it. The promise was the foundation of his confidence. We are to put our trust in God and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). In Hebrews 10:23 we read that we are to continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. Continue to decree the word of God over your situation and don’t be swayed by the clouds about you as these will clear as you stand in faith and wait on God to see the promises come to pass in His perfect timing. Decreeing scripture releases God’s purposes into our lives and destroys the plans of the enemy. Words spoken in faith bring change. In Job 22:28 we read ‘You will also decree a thing and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.’ The Lord is highlighting the need to lean on Him as your source of strength. Rest in His embrace and allow the Lord to give you strength. Philippians 4:13 says ‘I can do all things through him who strengthens me’. The Lord will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). The Lord will strengthen you, help you and uphold you with his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). ‘Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.’ (Isaiah 40:31) The Lord is also highlighting the importance of standing together in agreement, building each other up in faith and the power of interceding for others. In Ephesians 6:18 says we should ‘keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.’ 1 Timothy 2:1 says ‘I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people.’ We are to pray and intercede for others and persevere in prayer. Be encouraged – keep standing in faith and lean on Jesus as open doors of breakthrough are coming.