Stepping into Your Destiny – Karen Austin

I was recently meditating on the scriptures in Exodus when the Lord was inviting Moses to step into his destiny. During his day-to-day tasks, tending his father-in-law’s flock, he saw a burning bush which was not consumed by the fire. Scripture says that Moses turned aside to look at this strange sight. It was out of this burning bush, which was aflame with the fire of God, which Moses was told to take off his sandals because it was holy ground. Taking off his sandals could be viewed as taking off the residue of his natural walk. As he was stepping onto this holy ground in the presence of the Lord, he was also stepping into his holy assignment. God was now calling him to walk in a place of spiritual authority which would cause the people of Israel to be set free from their four hundred years of bondage in Egypt. God said he was sending Moses to bring His people out from the control of Pharaoh and into the land that He promised them years ago.

Moses had all sorts of excuses as to why he could not fulfill this enormous call. He asked God, “Who am I that I am to go to Pharaoh?” In response to Moses’ doubt that the Israelites would believe and follow him, the Lord said to tell them, “The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ Exodus 3:15. Moses then attempted to reason with God that the people still wouldn’t believe him. It was then the Lord asked him to throw down the staff that was in his hand. “Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it [emphasis mine]. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.” Exodus 4:4-5. There were other signs that God gave Moses to answer his objections and his fears. These signs would assure Moses of these two things: 1) this was his destiny 2) the Lord would be with him. The Father had full confidence in Moses to fulfill his assignment. All He needed was Moses’ obedience.

Moses did exactly what I would have done…RAN!!!! If you know me very well at all, you know that I hate snakes! It was here that Moses had to confront his fear. Can you imagine being afraid of snakes and being told to pick it up by its tail??? Moses first ran in fear, but then in obedience to the word of the Lord, he overcame his fear and picked up the snake. This was not only a test for Moses to conquer his fear, but was also a lesson on the faithfulness of God to supernaturally protect him when he followed His instructions. He saw that God would back up what He told him to do.

You see, the safest place that you can be is in the will of the Lord. It doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. It does mean that the Father will protect you and lead you to a place of victory as you follow the leading of Holy Spirit. Psalm 91 is a Holy Spirit safe zone that we can live from if we are obedient to these two verses: 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”and91:2 “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” It is in the dwelling and in the saying what we believe (what is in alignment with His word) that we are protected. I encourage you to read Psalm 91, especially in the Passion Translation.

So I ask you today, what is it that the Lord is asking you to do? You may have been in the secret place with Him or in the midst of your daily obligations that you heard His voice and prompting you of an assignment He has for you. It may be that you know what you are called to do, but ran as Moses did. It may not be to deliver a nation. It may not even be to deliver a city. But whatever He is asking you to do, it is for the expansion of the Kingdom of God!

As I have said previously, you were chosen to live in these exciting final days. We have entered the time of His determined end-time events that are taking place rapidly. I encourage you to take your fears, insecurities or whatever else you envision standing in the way of your destiny to the Father. He will encourage you and bring you truth. When He calls you to fulfill a particular thing in the earth, which He has every one of us, He will be faithful as He was Moses. He will give you everything we need and will empower you beyond your own abilities and talents to complete the divine assignment. He wants to set you aflame with the fire of God. He has full confidence that you can fulfill your destiny. All He needs is your obedience.

It’s Time!! Are You Ready?? – Gary Florence

The other day as I was walking my dog this militant attitude rose up inside of me. I thought of the story of David and Goliath and how day after day Goliath would come out to the children of Israel and mock, taunt and make fun of them and their God until a shepherd boy believed in his heart “It’s Time” for this giant to fall and that is what took place a giant fell. 

Paul and his companion was walking through a city and every day this girl would follow them shouting, “these men are from the Most High God showing us the way to salvation” till one day Paul had enough of her taunting and he turned to her and commanded the spirit inside of her to come out and at that moment it left her.

I think of Elijah who was hiding out in a cave and God came to him, many think God was angry with Elijah and yelled at him “ELIJAH HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO HIDE OUT IN THIS CAVE?” I believe God came to him tenderhearted and said with a gentle voice “Elijah how long are you going to hide out in this cave?” The Lord was encouraging him to come out of the cave and partner with him and finish what was before him. I know many of us have been in our cave of intimacy. We have had our dreams, visions and prophetic downloads. We see them all over social media, but I believe with all my heart “It’s Time” for this giant (virus) to come down. There are those asking when will God intervene? The earth is not asking that question. The earth is asking when will the sons and daughters of God manifest and set it free from the bondage it is in.

Our God is far above every name that can be named and that includes a virus. I know that there are many opinions about this situation that we are in and I am not going to give my opinion at this time, but I think we can all agree that this virus has killed enough, stolen enough and destroyed enough and “It’s Time” to come out of the cave and declare and degree that enough is enough. We are tired of the mocking and taunting of this thing and wield our swords of authority. We are under the new covenant where Jesus’ blood speaks a better word. It says in the word “where two or more agree on anything on earth it shall be done in heaven.”

“It’s Time” to bind this virus and everything that has piggy backed on it, the spirit of death, fear, poverty etc. and “It’s Time” to loose healing, deliverance, restoration and people becoming whole again and show this thing (virus) who our God truly is and that is “Our God is mighty to save.”

Are we not watchmen on the wall? Together we can stand in the gap and declare to the world “Not On My Watch” “It’s Time!!! Are You Ready???”

Becoming a Move of God – Karen Austin

As we await a tearing down of evil laws and unrighteous influencers in our nation, many believe as we sit and wait, it will all just happen. I speak of both Republicans and Democratic political parties. Many believe if we get the right people in office things will change, and they will to a certain degree. But dare I say, this is what got our nation where it is today. Now, we are to absolutely vote for political leaders who share our Biblical worldview. It takes not only righteous leaders, but it takes us, the church, to pray and be a beacon of light to our nations. We are not to be a light-filled city hidden under a basket. It takes us, His representatives, to be His voice of righteousness. God paid a great price for His church to carry and release His governmental authority in our nations. Political leaders can only do so much. We, the people of His Kingdom, have the responsibility to regulate the spiritual temperature of our nation.

While this is true of our nation, my focus is on the church. Our nation will change when the church changes. All of us are praying and desiring a great spiritual awakening. I do know it is going to happen! But I also believe to accomplish all the Father desires to release, we must change our focus from waiting and depending on our spiritual leaders to be the only catalyst. Absolutely, they carry great weight in the spirit and are vital! To fulfill the magnitude of what God desires to release around the world, it will be impossible for our Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelist to do it all. It must also be, we the people, just as for our nations.

It is a time for a “Let My People Go” movement. Each one of us have gifts and talents that the Lord has given us to use as we represent Him in the earth. We must stop seeing ourselves as “less than” when it comes to being used by God. Every one of you were chosen by our Father in Heaven. He looked down through eternity to this day and He chose you to be alive and to be a part of the end-time generation. I believe those who have gone on before us, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and others longed to see this day that we have been given the privileged to not only see, but to be an active participant. Just imagine, many of them prophesied about this very day that you are living in!

This will take us departing from our spiritual cruise ships of comfort and spiritual apathy to step out into the deep with Jesus. Anything achieved, which has resulted in a lasting value, had a price. It is time for us to count the cost and rise up to obtain our inheritance and give Him the reward of His suffering!

It is time we took hold of the scepter the King is extending to His Bride and accept our God given destinies. We will accomplish much together as we wield our Sword of the Spirit – the Word. As each of you step into your position, whether as an executive, a worshiper, a child care worker, a janitor or if you are called to the five-fold ministry, we ALL have a place as a dispenser of His Kingdom authority.

Every one of your prayers can shake nations. Every song of the Lord you sing releases His frequency to shift atmospheres. You are a light being and when you enter places of darkness, you are to release your light and darkness must flee!

Rise up and ask the Father to allow you to see yourself as He sees you. You are a mighty warrior! You are a Kingdom carrier! You are destined to be an overcomer and to change the world around you! You are a move of God! When we finally come together with this mindset…look out world! We will shift the culture. The biggest wave of His Spirit will flood this earth to rescue and reap a harvest of souls!

“Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-17

The Quest (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

We then moved into the “Charismatic Circles”. We were baptized in Holy Spirit and began to speak to move in the gifts of the Spirit. We had the power and we had arrived! We cast devils out of everything that moved. We were now the “elite”…even though there was a little pride in it all. We now had it all. We got our identity from our gifting’s and we could still have somewhat of worldly life. We had now moved into the Inner Court. But still…if we were honest…something is still missing. Something or Someone was drawing us…there was more.

We began to be uncomfortable with things we always did. It somehow did not seem right. Time came where we had to make the decision…to move on or stay where we were, content, spiritual…just like most around us. We were still hanging onto our own successes as our identities. Still, there was a wooing. A hunger for something more.

The only thing…this required dying. Dying to ourselves, to the way we wanted it, to what was comfortable. It was no longer our choices, but we chose what pleased Him. It was costly. It required us to get out of the boat and walk on the water of the unknown. We were entering territory that was not familiar. We ran the risk of being called “too religious or spiritual”. Still we pressed through because what we found is worth the cost.

We can look at the life of Paul and although he was as scholar and had a pretty good position in life. He surrendered all this to life a life for Christ and to become His bondservant. “I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:8-10

Paul said all he had before he counted a “dung”. I’ll let you look that word up. But because of His total submission and passion for God, he moved in such demonstration of the spirit and of power that no one could say it was man doing these things. It was raw power of God. Paul even was even caught up into the third heaven to hear of heavenly mysteries.

It is at this juncture, that many decide to remain where they are. But to those who dared to answer the call of this drawing of Holy Spirit, it was time to go for all He had for you. You yielded and said, “Yes Lord, I surrender.” Now came the time that He revealed Himself to you in a way that you never imagined. The power of His Holiness caused you to prostrate yourself before Him. His love and acceptance enveloped you and gone were the laws of man you thought you had to adhere to. Here was pure love. That which you have been seeking…you never want to leave. This was it!

You now have entered beyond the veil, into the Holy of Holies. It is a place where you have lost yourself as you once knew yourself, but found yourself in the embrace of your Heavenly Father. It is a place of true contentment and joy. There is nothing in this world that compares to what you have found with your Father. Your creation began and is fulfilled with the love that you have been searching for and will continue on throughout eternity. You are loved more than you can imagine!

I hope while reading this, you have located yourself on your spiritual journey. My prayer is that you don’t stop. In the Father’s heart are things for you that you have yet to discover. He has more of Himself that He desires to reveal. This is the deepest place of fulfillment that you will experience this side of heaven. Even when we enter eternity, we will still be learning the vastness of His love and His power. I encourage you my friends, continue on for He has much that He wants to show you and for you to experience.

The Quest – Karen Austin

From the moment of our birth upon this earth, the quest for acceptance, true unconditional love was already beating in our very being. We came from a place of unconditional love, as we were created and formed by our Father’s loving hands. “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside,
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13.
But how could we be searching for something that we never knew existed?

My belief is that we knew the pure love of our Heavenly Father in the realm of eternity. Then when we were born flesh and blood, we instinctively knew we were missing something that made us whole. We quickly learned though how to make our parents jump and give us what we wanted.

As we grew into a toddler, the closest thing to fulfilling the empty place in our hearts was our family. Some of us were blessed to live in a family that affirmed us, many did not. Still, even the best of families could not fill that which we sought.

We then became of age to leave our secure home, our dependence on our parents and off to school we went. We believed everyone would love and dote on us as our parents. We believed everyone was just like us. We had not been harshly judged, told we looked funny, or didn’t wear the latest fashion. For the most part, we had been happy.

Once again, we looked to be accepted. The games we played with our parents to get what we wanted didn’t work with our teachers. We were just one of many who were a little “princess” or “prince”. We began playing sports or joined clubs – or wished that we did, but maybe we didn’t have the money or talent to be included. We wanted to belong to something so much and be like everyone else, so we would fit in and be affirmed. By this time, we were willing to try anything to be loved and accepted. Some of us studied hard to make perfect grades. Others joined every extracurricular activity they could to be “in the crowd”. Though some of our attempts we stumbled on to some things we were good at. Little did we realize that these were a gift that our Heavenly Father deposited into us for His glory.

All the while, our Father was watching over us…seeing the wrong choices we made, seeing the hurt and rejection we endured. He saw some of us ended up hiding from others, even ourselves. Still, in His love, He was always lovingly reaching out to us…longing for us to turn to Him.

We went on to search for the exact career that would fill that still aching need to be loved as we had experienced by our Heavenly Father. We thought being fulfilled was being successful – making it in the world so we would have the acceptance of our peers and our neighbors. We met Mr. or Miss Perfect, got married and had children. All this is wonderful but still….the longing remained.

Somewhere along the way, we finally heard the call of our Father. We accepted Jesus as our Savior. His Presence enveloped us and the pure love. That which we have been seeking our whole life was now not only revealed. Unfortunately, many of us learned more laws than unconditional love. We then began again looking for acceptance from our Pastors and those we deemed “spiritual”. We volunteered for everything there was to do. We worked in the nursery, parked cars, cleaned and did lawn work. We fed the poor, joined the choir and went to nursing homes. Still…we knew there was more. We accepted Him as Savior, but had yet to allow Him to be Lord. Still, all of this is just the Outer Court.

Abundant Life is Revealed in the Spirit – Karen Austin

When Jesus walked the earth, we read in Scripture there was such division among the people over Him. “So the crowd was divided over Jesus,” Luke 7:43.Some believe He was the Messiah. Otherswere offended by His teaching. They said “How can He say this?” The religious leaders even went so far as to say about ones who followed Him, “They are all cursed”. The people had an understanding of the Bible, but still missed who Jesus was and what He was saying. Unbelievable…but is it really?

Unfortunately, this will be so in our day. There are scriptural truths about to be revealed that some will again say “How can this be true? I believe the Scripture means this…” There will be things that take place that some will cry out, “How can God let his happen?” But what many fail to understand, and honestly have not been taught, is the foundation of His throne is righteousness and justice [Psalm 89:14]. All throughout history, time and time again, God does what He does because of love. He hates evil. We know that the enemy’s goal is to steal, kill and destroy. God is very, very longsuffering giving mankind much time to repent. We, too, are told to hate evil [Psalm 97:10].

Jesus came so that we may have life and life abundantly [John 10:10]. Abundant life does not mean that we have the coolest car on the block. It does not mean that we have a lavish home. Life abundant means life free from the law of sin and death. It means we have eternal life. It means we have our needs met, not our wants. It means walking in wholeness; spirit, soul and body. It means walking in the light as He is in the light. It means hearing and being obedient to His voice. It means being led by His Spirit. We must understand that this life of freedom Jesus paid the price for does not come just because we go to church once a week. It comes because we choose to live a life of obedience and holiness. This is a season where we are seeing the dividing of the wheat and tares and of sheep and goat nations.

Just because our nation was founded upon Christian values established by our founding fathers, does not mean we automatically live in the liberties that were intended. No, we must fight to maintain those freedoms in our nation. So it is spiritually. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

My brothers and my sisters, we are about to find out who we really are and what God created us to do. We, who yield to the dealing of Holy Spirit, are soon to find out what a major part we are to play in this culmination of history as we know it. The curtain of this new season is being pulled back, ever so slightly. We are getting a glimpse into this new era. Again, some will not understand. Some will be offended. His light of revelation is uncovering hidden truths in His Word, which will reveal not only His majesty, but also our assignment destined from the beginning of time.

As we receive what He is offering us to walk in such as liberty and authority, as we follow Holy Spirit’s leading, we will walk in the powers of the age to come. We will walk upon the road less traveled. We will say to the mountain before us, “Be removed”, and it will move! We will not be ones who will follow Jesus just because of His miracles. But because of our love and passion for Jesus, we will follow Him. Out of that place of being hidden in Him, we will work the greater miracles that Jesus spoke of.

These are days of great darkness, but for us who are willing and obedient, we will walk in days of great light!

Walk as Children of the Light (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

Approximately fifteen years ago while in prayer, I got a deep sense that something regarding “light” was going to be significant in the days to come. I had no further revelation, just a knowing. I am now just beginning to receive a bit of revelation on the subject and am seeing others begin to teach on the subject of light.

In the natural sense, light therapy is beginning to be used as a healing therapy, which I find very interesting! They even have created “Happy Lights” that “mimic sunlight to enhance mood, energy, sleep and focus”. This is a created light, but the light I want to focus on is our Creator’s light.

The first thing that God did in creation was to release light. “…Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.…” Genesis 1:2-4

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His light was released to us. “…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18

His light is continually being shed upon us as we read His Word and spend time in prayer. His light reveals darkness in us just as when Isaiah saw the glory of God. Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5. When His light shines, revelation comes.

I truly believe in answer to our many times of intercession and tears, He is answering our prayers. It may not look like we thought it would, but He is doing just what we have been crying out for. We may wish we didn’t have to see the things that are being exposed, but they have existed for a long time, even if we didn’t want to acknowledge them. His light is shining exposing corruption in nations. His light is exposing the plans of evil to destroy and to silence the church. His light is also exposing wrong motives, jealousy, selfishness, pride and other works of the flesh in the church. The church is to be building His Kingdom, not our own Kingdoms. He is coming back for a spotless Bride and will have no less!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:8-13

His brilliant light has been shining in our hearts, especially during this time of being shut-in, to expose bondage in our lives and reveal things we didn’t know even existed in our hearts. My prayer is that His Bride is allowing Him to expose darkness in us so we will shine even more brightly for Him. He promises to give us light. If we make a determined choice to remain in the light, we will become more like Him every day.

If you haven’t noticed, the world has not been running to our doors. Honestly, in many instances, the church has not looked much different from the world. The one thing that will set us apart is holiness. Holiness and purity. Not holiness as an outward adornment, but an inward beauty. Jesus was raised from the dead “with power, according to the spirit of holiness” Romans 1:4. The resurrection power of God is from true holiness. “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).

The world has yet to see this Bride coming out of these times of wilderness shining with the light of Jesus, clothed with the garments of holiness and resurrection power. Now is the time for this mighty army to arise because this is the hour that the world will need us the most. “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:3

Jesus is still saying to us today, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It is time, Bride of Christ, to allow His purifying light to search our hearts to see if there is any evil way that we may be made clean and pure to shine forth His glorious light in the days that lie ahead. I ask, by the power of Holy Spirit, that I do not allow my flesh to dim my light.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” … You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.

Walk as Children of the Light (Part 1) – Karen Austin

What I desire to do today is to give you an overview regarding light. I want to then focus on the light of Jesus and how it relates to what I sense He is doing in this hour.

”And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:13-17 ESV

In this scripture we see the first place Jesus ministered, after being tempted in the wilderness, was in the land of Zebulun. This fulfilled prophecy spoken by the prophet Isaiah many years prior. This was a place that people were dwelling in darkness and there was a shadow of death over them. Sounds familiar also to our days. Zebulun was one of the twelve tribes of Israel who failed to drive out the Canaanites as commanded. Much like us, at times we have chosen to go on our own path rather than the path the Lord set before us. As we see, even in this example, when we turn back because of our love for God and His love for us, He draws us back to His desired path.

What I want to emphasize today was a great light dawned upon them. This is actually what is meant in Isaiah 60:1-2 “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.” Light always overwhelms darkness. A picture of this we have in the natural is daybreak. The sun rises in the East and releases light that dispels the darkness of night.

Matthew 24:27 “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”Some characteristics of lightning is brilliance, speed, cloud. The feature of lightning that stands out the most is its brilliance or brightness. This is a parabolic meaning of light in Scripture and a picture of Jesus’ soon return as His brilliant light will be seen by all.

Life Flow (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

Have you ever come from a delicious meal but still did not feel satisfied? You wanted something else, but wasn’t sure exactly what it was that you still wanted. It is the same with our spirit man. We can come from an eloquent service but not have encountered God. We still feel dissatisfied. Now, our soul may be satisfied because we did what we are supposed to do, but our spirit man will still be hungry. The Father created us to come to Him for our life source, our sustenance.

Isaiah 28:11,12 “He will speak to His people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing.”

REST – place of stillness; peace; a quiet place.

Psalm 23:2,3 “He leads me beside the still waters, the waters of quietness. He restores my soul.”

Acts 3:19 “. . . . times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

God’s heart is to bring restoration to our life and to those in the world. When we come into His Presence, allow Him to speak to you, heal you and give you direction. Don’t just give Him our list of needs, but listen to what He would say. There is nothing that the world has to offer that will give us the confidence, peace and refreshment as sitting in His Presence. The world is looking for peace, security and rest. They are choosing substitutes, but they know they are not truly satisfied. Only our Creator can truly satisfy and give us true rest.

There is a place, especially in spirit and truth worship, where we experience a tangible heavenly atmosphere. This is the place where the life flow of God will bring life to the very cells of our body. It will refresh our soul. In this place we will experience this God life flow….where discouragement, oppression, sickness begin to fall away. We must go to the source of life – our Father in Heaven. Rev. 22:1 “And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

His invitation is “Come unto Me, all you who labor and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.” Take My yoke upon you and you will find rest, relief and ease, and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiteness for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-29. Yoke up with the One who created you instead of yoking up with your problems and what the enemy is telling you.

In His Presence, we breathe in His strength, His life. We must take the time to sit at His feet and enter into His life source. The Word says “If He be lifted up then He will draw all men unto Him”.

I sensed the Lord saying: “I have a high road that I have prepared for My people. A way, that to the human reasoning, does not appear to be profitable. But I say, I know all things. All things are in the power of My hand for My people. Just as I led My people out of the bondage of the Egyptians; as I led Lot out Sodom before the destruction of the land, I too, will lead you out of bondage of the world’s system. I will lead you out before the end of all things. Trust Me, My children in the hour of turmoil. Know that these things I have said in My Word will come upon the earth. All the earth is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. As you stay connected to your life source, My very Presence, you will hear in stillness My spirit speaking to you, you will hear My will and My desire for you. Know that I love you with a love that you cannot even comprehend. But oh, you may come, taste of My love. I have called you and chosen you to stand out from the world. You who hear My voice, listen to what the spirit says. Do not forsake your daily time in My Presence. My Word to you is life to you and health to all your flesh.”

Life Flow (Part 1) – Karen Austin

How many of you have come into a church service tired, discouraged and just beat down by life? Then as you worshiped, the heaviness began to lift. You connected with heaven and were revived.

Once the Lord asked me, “Why do you think that you feel so good, so strengthened, after being in My Presence?” I know the Word says in His Presence is fullness of joy, but what I was feeling went beyond joy. He then answered His question. “There is a life flow in My Presence.” “For whoever finds Me, finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 8:35. We may read this scripture and think it means whoever finds Him finds salvation, eternal life. While this is true, the word “life” here means alive, live prosperously, be quickened, and revived from sickness, discouragement or even death! It means refreshment. Life to the Hebrews was associated with health, prosperity and vitality. They view man as a whole being – spirit, soul and body. So whoever finds Him, finds healing, hope and prosperity.

Psalm 36:9 says “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”God is the source of life. The book of Genesis tells us that God took the dust of the earth and formed a man and then He breathed into man’s nostrils and man became a living being. Intimacy with man began in one breath – when His breath became ours.

One thing I believe Holy Spirit is doing right now is inviting us to allow His Kingdom rule to grow, mature and consume us. It is then His Kingdom will reach beyond us to touch other people. The Presence of God should radiate from within us to touch those in whom we come in contact with. We are to release the fragrance of Heaven where ever we go. Remember Moses who spent much time with the Father, and when he left that place, his appearance was changed…His face shone, reflecting the glory of God.

David is one of my favorite Bible characters. He was a man of one thing. Even though he became king, had political authority and power, met with important people from other nations, his heart was still to worship God. It was during the time that he spent out on a hillside in worship, he found his life source.

“They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house. and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.” PSALMS 36:8, 9.

I invite you to drink from the river of His pleasures where I have discovered peace and rest…where I have found answers when I didn’t know where to turn. Drink from His river of life, for in His Presence is light and His light brings revelation which we need so desperately in these days and the days that lie ahead.

~~to be continued