Precious Saints,

There has been much that has occurred in this season that could cause our hearts to faint, and fear seems to be on the horizon each day of our lives. However, we must continue to persevere in faith, knowing that God is in complete control at all times. Though lawlessness appears to prevail at times, we are given grace to persist and develop our faith in God.

Our Lord is the God of Light and He will light our pathway which continually leads to life. Let us recall a few Scriptures that give us hope in this season.

James 1:16-18 reminds us that the Father of heavenly lights gives only good and perfect gifts and that He is the God of truth:

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created" (NIV, with emphasis).

The Accuser

Dear ones, satan is a liar, and he would have us focus on our circumstances and negativity. The accuser of the Brethren will attempt to falsely accuse you, as well as your relationship with God. Satan, the accuser, will cause you to doubt God's grace that empowers you with His faith for safety, protection and provision.

Though we are witnessing difficult times, personally and as a nation, that are challenging our faith, we must remind ourselves that God never changes. The accuser will continually challenge your hope and trust in God. He will falsely accuse God to you and say that God doesn't care about the world circumstances – else why is there lawlessness and tragedy? The accuser will falsely accuse you and cause you to doubt your identity in Christ and your godly authority.

In my recent book, Silencing the Accuser: Eight Lies Satan Uses Against Christians, I have gone to great lengths to teach Believers how to renew the mind concerning false belief systems we have concerning ourselves and God. Understanding that God loves us is very important for us to grasp in this season. I feel such urgency that we must truly silence the voice of satan, the accuser, and renew our minds before we embrace our future. In fact, just a few nights ago, I had an alarming dream that exposed certain plans of satan.

In my dream, satan had written out decrees concerning God's people. I saw words written that negated what God said about each of us. I saw words like "You're a failure;" "You cannot trust God"; "You will never measure up"; and "You will always suffer lack." Satan's demonic forces were given these decrees to speak over us. Many Believers were listening to these destructive words that satan spoke in their lives.

Dear ones, the enemy wants to steal our dreams, our faith and our lives! But, do not give place to His evil words. Determine now to repent for believing His lies. Repentance does not mean that it is needed because God is upset, mad or angry because of our doubt and unbelief. No way! To repent means to simply change the way you think (about God and even yourself). Therefore, if you have believed opposite of what God says about you, change the way you think about yourself.

Also, if you have believed opposite of all God declares concerning His love, provision, protection, etc., simply change the way you think about Him. This will empower you with great faith and hope for your future. In my book, I point out how to dethrone satan's attempts to deceive and destroy, and I clearly explain how to exchange God's truths to defeat satan's lies and false accusations.

The accuser would love for our hearts to be faint during this season. Remember, satan will always bring darkness into our situation. However, godly revelation reveals what is hidden – or what attempts to remain in darkness. As we more fully understand God's goodness and His light of truth, we begin to function and operate in His power to overcome the wicked works and words of the accuser.

Let Your Light Shine!

As I stated earlier, we must guard our hearts so that we do not faint. The enemy is working overtime to cause us to grow weary and have faint hearts. Let's look now at another passage that will encourage you. Notice that God never faints or grows weary (of watching over us) and He gives us power!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. [2 Cor 12:9.]

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. [Heb 12:1-3.] Isaiah 40:28-31 AMP

Interestingly, the word "faint" in this previous passage means fatigued and exhausted, but a further study reveals that it means to be tired as if from a wearisome flight. God says that we are to mount up as eagles, right? But the enemy would love for our powerful mounting up and soaring to become wearisome.

Dear ones, stand in faith on God's promise that He is renewing your strength right now and that also He is giving you power to overcome all adversity. He is also revealing to us, at this time, how to live in joy and peace even in the midst of a storm! In fact, go back and re-read the previous passage and literally see yourself strong and full of faith. You are God's light on the earth, a city on a hill. Let your light shine! In fact, it's important to recall a passage in Isaiah:

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" (Isaiah 60:1-3 ASV, with emphasis).

God's Word is full of promises that will encourage us during this time. James 1:12 encourages each of us to persevere, and if we do, we receive the crown of life. Precious ones, let's stand strong in our faith in the God of Light. James also encourages us to not just read the Word of God, but as He shines light on the revelation of His Word, we are to act upon it – to do it (James 1:22-25)! If we do this, James writes that we will be blessed! It is not a blessing that comes from religious works; it is a blessing that is connected to a simple, childlike faith in God. Knowing that He cares, He loves us and that He is watching over every word He has spoken that brings the blessing into our lives.

Let Us Not Grow Weary

In closing, dear ones, I want to remind you what Galatians 6:9-10 says regarding our appointed time to reap:

"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

"So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the Believers]" AMP (with emphasis).

When observing this passage, we must not misinterpret what James is conveying. Many of us have suffered so long under the bondage of legalism that we read and hear admonitions that are meant to encourage us as hard-to-keep commandments of something we must "do" rather than that our loving Father has given us something to hold to and believe. I realize that this passage in James relays that if we do certain things we will be blessed. But these words "doing right" and "doing good" not only have moral implications but they are connected in the Greek as "worthy."

Dear ones, our worthiness comes that Jesus and His righteousness has already made us worthy of all good things given to us from the Father. We are not to condemn ourselves for our weakness and feeling faint-hearted but rather embrace His grace, mercy and ability to persevere. We persevere due to the finished work on the Cross!

We will reap because in our salvation (sozo) we have healing, deliverance, prosperity and all that is needed to demonstrate the power of God in our lives. All we need is the fresh revelation to believe in His finished work and then we receive in faith the ability to persevere. First Corinthians 1:30-31 tells us to trust in Christ, the One who became wisdom for us, as well as righteousness, sanctification and redemption!

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Precious ones, my heart is burdened for you. It is my desire for you to be free of false accusations from the accuser in 2013. Step into your future with great boldness and confidence knowing certain that Christ has paid the price for complete freedom. As I state in my recent book, Silencing the Accuser, learn to exchange the lies of the enemy with God's Word concerning you and your family, your business or your ministry. Step into 2013 with an understanding of Who God is and with the revelation that He is not a God that lies. All that He says concerning Himself, and you, is true. Allow me to pray for you:

Father, I lift up every person who You have led to read this article. It is not by accident that You have had me write to them. I ask that the Holy Spirit lead us and teach us Your truths and that He would release divine revelation that brings light in times that appear dark. You are the God of Light and I thank You that You have a pathway of light planned for each of us. Lord, I pray for strength, boldness and courage for our seasons ahead. I pray that we continue to rise up with great faith and soar as eagles. Though turbulence may come, as eagles we embrace it to soar higher and higher. We will not grow faint or weary in flight but continue to rise up in greater faith. We let go of legalistic belief systems that put all the pressure on "us" for transformation and place our faith in the finished work of Christ that completely transforms. Thank You for the grace You give to Your children to achieve their destiny and potential. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministry

So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?" 1 Samuel 15:17

The moment King Saul got too big for his britches, God saw a king inside a shepherd boy's heart, named David. He was too insignificant to be called into his father's house when the prophet Samuel arrived to anoint a son to be the next king of Israel. Samuel, at first sight, missed the Lord's choice by outward appearances.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." 1 Samuel 16:6

If it wasn't for God telling Samuel "this is not the one," Samuel may have anointed the wrong son. The Scripture says that, Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" 1 Samuel 16:10-11

In all of the excitement of seeing one of his sons anointed, Jesse forgets the shepherd boy out back tending sheep. Finally David is called into the house smelling like sheep, and a sweet fragrance is released as he is anointed in front of his seven envious older brothers. Later, David's insignificance in the eyes of the bear, the lion and the giant becomes his winning edge in the face of adversity.

David's life reminds me of another boy I met recently.

While speaking on childlike faith in Kansas, I noticed an eleven-year-old boy named Brody listening intently as if he were eating the message off everyone's plate. Two weeks later I received this update on Brody.

Brody went bow hunting with his cousin. While walking to their hunting place, Brody was thinking how difficult it would be to actually kill a deer. It was very windy and a boy of Brody's size doesn't have the strength to pull a powerful bow. He told his mother later that while having these thoughts God told him he would get a deer. His mother asked him what God had said and Brody's reply was that God said, "Brody, I'm going to give you one of My animals today."

Shortly thereafter, Brody saw a doe 30 yards away (a difficult distance for Brody and his bow). He shot and saw that the arrow would miss its mark, but at the last moment a strong wind hit the arrow and sent it into the animal's heart. A perfect shot.

When I heard this testimony I couldn't help but think how many of us are experiencing strong winds of adversity that leave us powerless and insignificant from pursuing our purposes and dreams. But then, in the Spirit, I saw these same strong winds actually blowing many in the direction God intends them to go. These adverse winds had become friends to many, driving them into their God-appointed destination.

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

There are times when I feel so insignificant. Am I making any difference in this world that is falling apart at the seams? I am noticing a pattern that weaves throughout my life. After seasons of living in obscure insignificance, something happens that thrusts me to higher, more noble places. And I discover from this notable place that God had been using me all along, perhaps even more in those seasons when I felt like quitting.

You Are Only Seeing the Tip of the Iceberg of How God is Using You!

I see a tip of the iceberg of the Kingdom of Heaven. Ten percent of an iceberg is seen and ninety percent is under water and invisible to the natural eye. It's the ninety percent that is the most powerful. The ninety percent of God's Kingdom is now moving beneath the dark waters of the earth. You won't hear this by watching or listening to the news. You will see this by focusing on the Lord. Many feel like you are not being the light you should be. But you are only seeing about 10 percent of how God is using you. There is ninety percent of your light shining, touching people's lives in ways you aren't seeing right now. God is using you greatly.

Many are not only seeing the tip of the iceberg of evil in the world but are focusing and being mesmerized by the ninety percent that's underneath it. But evil of Titanic proportion is about to clash into the tip of the iceberg of the Kingdom of Heaven and there will be a crying out from the lost as with the Titanic, causing many to come to you from the ten percent of your light shining. You will discover that God has been using you all along in many people's lives and you just didn't know it.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:3

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries