God is the God of RESTORATION!

God is the God of RESTORATION!

Last night I had a dream, and though I only remember a few seconds, I believe it is a message of Hope from God.   In the dream I was talking to my friend Jeannine about her marriage to Ian, which is the opening testimony of this blog, click here to read it again.  Regarding the marriage, I said to Jeannine, 

“This (marriage) is God’s RESTORATION!”  

Today is the 8th, and I love the number 8 because it is the number of NEW BEGINNINGS!  God gives us hope for new beginnings.   

After pouring a lovely, warm cup of coffee this morning, I looked up the word “restoration” in my bible, and in The Spirit Filled Life Bible, there are several pages about restoration!  One note by James Robison is worth repeating:

“According to the dictionary, ‘to restore’ means to ‘bring back to a former or original condition.’  When something is restored in the Scriptures, however, it is always increased, multiplied or improved so that its latter state is significantly better than its original state (see Joe 2:21-26).”

“Fear not!
Be glad and rejoice! 
For the LORD has done great and marvelous things...
Do not be afraid...
Be glad...
Rejoice in the LORD your God; 
The vats will overflow with new wine and oil.  

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten....   
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied
And praise the name of the LORD your God
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.”   (Joel 2:21-27 NKJV)

“God multiplies when He restores.” 

In the bible, when there is restoration or renewal, marriage is always a sign of the shift.  In another one of my favorite books, God is a Match-Maker, Derek Prince says, 

“Restoration of a culture will be marked by restoration of marriage as a source of joy and a cause for celebration.  In Jeremiah 33:10-11 God promises the end-time restoration of Judah and Israel: 

‘This is what the Lord says:  “... there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord... for I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,”  says the Lord.’”  

“Today, around the earth, God is visiting and renewing His Church by the Holy Spirit.  This renewal must be heralded, as divine renewal has always been, by ‘the voices of the bride and bridegroom.’  The Church cannot experience a full or valid renewal unless it once again embraces the biblical pattern of marriage.”  

Declarations:  

Thank You LORD for infusing us with Hope today!  Thank You that You are the God of Restoration!  Thank You LORD that despite what we see in the world around us, or in our circumstances, You remind us again not to fear, but to expect the promise of Your Restoration!  

We declare that our God is the God of Restoration!  

• We declare that we do not have a spirit of fear, but of love power and a sound mind!

• We declare that we are glad, and we rejoice in the hope of the coming restoration in our lives.  

• For the Lord says, and we declare, that He will restore the years of destruction, discouragement and hope deferred!

• We thank You Lord for the overflowing new wine, which was the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding!

• We declare that we will never be put to shame.

• We declare that God multiplies when He restores, and we wait with the expectation that we will see “exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!”

• We declare that this is a day of restoration, and we will hear an increase of the voices of brides and bridegrooms, which includes our voices as brides and bridegrooms!  

• Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers and declarations, and for Your promise of the restoration of Kingdom marriages!  

AMEN!!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

 

You are WORTHY!

You are WORTHY!   O Woman and Man of Valor!

Do you ever struggle with feeling worthy of the love of a fine man or woman of God?  I do.  Feeling that I am worthy of the great things God has for my life has been one of my greatest struggles.  Rejection takes a hit on our sense of worthiness and value, like a beautiful gold crown that has been kicked to the curb and forgotten.  

Rejection will come; through romantic relationships, friendships work or church relationships.  As my mother has often said, “all people will let you down at some point, only God will never leave you or forsake you.”   

I experienced a friendship “situation” this past weekend.  She was sharply critical of me, and for two nights the enemy taunted me with that criticism to the point where I was analyzing all of my relationships, seeing all the things I do wrong.  I was feeling unworthy of love, coming into agreement with the accuser, and believing the lies. 

BUT GOD!   

Making declarations is so important because we have an enemy “that comes to kill, steal, and destroy.”   The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) enjoys whispering lies to our hearts and minds, and then is delighted as we spiral down into unworthiness.  

The Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword, it is a powerful weapon of our warfare.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God spoken by our own voices. Declaring the truth over the lies, will bring the victory.  

The truth is that you are a child of the King of kings, and YOU ARE WORTHY of a great Love!   

Last summer a group of women joined me in “40 Days of Declarations”, and this blog is a repost of those 40 days.  One of the women had a dream about a woman named Amanda Book.  The dream was a confirmation of the appointment we were (and are) to have with the Lord, to be reminded of His Truth, and to speak them.   

The name Amanda means, “Worthy of Love.”  The other word associated with the name is "virtuous" and the scripture refernce with the name Amanda is Ephesians 5:25,   "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church."  

I visited with my friend, Strong’s Concordance, about the word “Virtuous”, and this is what I learned:  

Hebrew, Strongs #2428, Chayil:  a force, whether of men ( or WOMEN), means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength, able, activity, army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, valiant (-ly) valor, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).  

The last word:  WORTHY!  

The title I gave the group of praying women in the very beginning was “Women of Valor”, because YOU are a woman of Valor!   My vision is a God appointed group, an army, who will usher in His Kingdom will for our lives, and for marriages, from heaven to earth, through these declarations.  I love His confirmations!  

In the King James bible, this word Chayil is used 3 times to describe a “virtuous” woman, therefore we will be using those verses for our declarations today.  Ruth 3:11, Proverbs 12:4, and Proverbs 31:10. (Amplified Version) 

Today we are going to declare as individuals because it is so important that we hear, and believe in our value and worth.  I don’t know about you, but though I understand that I am worthy of God’s love, I struggle with knowing in the depth of my heart that I am worthy of the love of a GREAT man!  The dings of rejection bruise our sense of worthiness.   Some of the words might seem repetitive, but it will be good for your spirit and heart to hear these words of Truth!     

Declarations  -  (Men - you will need to adapt these declarations.)

Thank you Father God for Your Love for me, and today I stand and declare in agreement with Your Word, and Your opinion of me, because You have created me for greatness!   Marriage is Your design. 

• I declare that I AM WORTHY to be loved by God’s BEST man!  A man of valor, and a man after God’s own heart.  

• I declare that I am virtuous; a woman of strength, worth, bravery and capability!  (Ruth 3:11 Amp.)  

• I declare that I am a capable, intelligent, and a virtuous wife; and the man You have chosen as my husband will find me!  

• I declare that I am more precious than jewels, and my value is far above rubies, pearls or diamonds.  (Proverbs 31:10 Amp.)

• The heart of my husband will trust in me confidently, and he will rely on and believe in me securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain.  (Proverbs 31:11 Amp.)

• I declare that I am an excellent wife; a wife of valor, and the crown of my husband!  (Proverbs 12:4 NKJV)

• Thank you Lord that where I [the crown] have been tarnished and bruised, YOU are the God who restores, and You have restored me to worth and value above that of a royal crown.  

AMEN!  

YOU, my friend, are WORTHY of LOVE!  You are worthy of God’s Best!  God is a God of excellence, so He will not skimp, and He has not forgotten you!! 

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Repairer of the Breach

Repairer of the Breach

"You will also DECLARE a thing, 

and it WILL BE established for you'

So light will shine on your ways." 

Job 22:27 NKJ

With an extremely high divorce rate, many of you have been through the agonies of divorce or you will meet someone just recovering from the battle.  Others of you have been widowed and lost a great love. We have all experienced rejection, BUT GOD is bringing restoration.  

Doug Addison in his booklet, “Divine Alliances” has a few encouraging words:  

“A divine realignment will occur that brings couples together for the strategic purpose of God’s Kingdom.  Suddenly many people who were divorced or widowed will begin to remarry at an accelerated rate.  Though divorce and death are not God’s will, God will redeem them.”

“God will bring great surprises as He repays people for the years of suffering they have experienced.” 

“Those who focus on God will not miss His new purposes.” 

“A word about divorce:The Divine Alliances that God showed me were between people who had gone through a lot of difficult times before they met each other.  Some had battled to stay married, then had gone through divorce and God had brought a new spouse; still others were widowed, having lost their spouse through death.  I saw God begin to bring together these types of people as couples who would have a single focus and a purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom.”

“I want to clarify that God is the one who is orchestrating Divine Alliances.”  

When thinking about divorce, the words I kept hearing in my mind are, “Repairer of the Breach.”  

11 The LORD will guide you continually, 

      And satisfy your soul in drought,
      And strengthen your bones;
      You shall be like a watered garden,
      And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
      
       12 Those from among you
      Shall build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.         Isaiah 58:11-12 NKJ

      

Declarations:  

Thank you Father God that you are a God of Restoration!  Thank you for speaking through Doug Addison, and we come into agreement with his revelations today.

• We agree and declare that God is orchestrating Divine Alliances, and bringing couples together for the strategic purpose of God’s Kingdom.  

• We declare the “Suddenlies” of God - that many people who were divorced or widowed will begin to remarry at an accelerated rate.

• Thank you Lord for your surprises, and we declare that You are repaying and restoring us for the years of suffering, and what we perceive as the loss of time. 

• The Lord is redeeming the time!  

• We choose to focus on God, and we will not miss His new purposes!  

And from Isaiah 58:

• The LORD is guiding us and the men continually,
        And He is satisfying our souls,
        And strengthening our bones;
        We are like a watered garden,
        And like springs of water, whose waters do not fail.

• We will build the old waste places;
        You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
        And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
        The Restorer of Streets [paths] to Dwell In.

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Delight to Desire

Delight to Desire

 “You will also DECLARE a thing, and it WILL BE established for you’

So light will shine on your ways.” Job 22:27 NKJ 

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart!” (Psalm 37:4 Amplified)

 “...when Desire comes, it is the tree of life.”  (Proverbs 13:12)

When you hear “delight yourself in the Lord”, what does that mean to you?   I've had a narrow idea of what that looks like, and I must admit, I don’t always feel like “delighting” myself in the Lord, especially when I am in a place of hope deferred.  

After looking up the word “Delight”, I learned that the word in Proverbs 13 means to be soft and pliable!  WOW!  

Strongs 6026: DELIGHT - `anag aw-nag' a primitive root; to be soft or pliable, i.e. (figuratively) effeminate or luxurious:--delicate(-ness), (have) delight (self), sport self.

In Job 22, the Word says that as we acquaint ourselves with the Lord, return to Him, receive instruction from Him - THEN we will have our delight in the Almighty; He will hear our prayers, and when we declare a thing, it WILL BE ESTABLISHED!  

Returning to God and receiving His instruction requires a soft and pliable heart - a circumcised heart or a new heart!   

  

Job 22:21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace;      Thereby good will come to you. 

 22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, 

And lay up His words in your heart. 

 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; 

You will remove iniquity far from your tents. 

 24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust,  

And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 

 25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold 

And your precious silver; 

 26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, 

And lift up your face to God. 

 27 You will make your prayer to Him, 

He will hear you,  

And you will pay your vows. 

28 You will also declare a thing, 

And it will be established for you; 

So light will shine on your ways. 

 29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!" 

Then He will save the humble person. 

 30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; 

Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.” 

Amplified:

30He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.

Declarations:  

Thank you Almighty God for Your Word today!  Thank you for reassuring us that as we DECLARE Your Word, it will be established for Your purposes, in Your perfect time.   Thank you for Your promise, that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, You will give us the desires and secret petitions of our hearts!  

• We declare a “re-set” of the desires in the hearts of the men and women longing for the best marriages. 

• We close the door to the old good desires, and OPEN the double doors, to desire only Your BEST! 

• We declare our heart’s desire is to be acquainted with You, our Lord; that we will be at peace, and GOOD will come to us!  (Job 22:21)

• We declare that we are open to receive Your instruction, and we lay up Your words in our hearts.  (Job 22:22)

• Impart to us the will to return to You, God Almighty, for Your restoration, and shine Your light on anything hidden in our lives, and the strength to release it all to You for your cleansing and healing. (Job 22:23)

• We declare that You Lord, are our Gold, our treasure!  (Job 22:25)

• We have delight in You, the Almighty, and we lift our faces to You, God. (Job 22:26)

• We declare Your Word, that You are delivering those who have not been “innocent”, because of our intercession, through the cleanness of our hands!  (Job 22:30)

• Thank you Lord that You are faithful to hear our deep desires, and fulfill the secret petitions of our hearts, because we are soft and pliable, focused on Your beautiful face.

AMEN!

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Barbie and Ken

Who wants to be like Barbie and Ken?!  

Just a few years ago when I was in college, for one sorority party I invited a very handsome young man named Ken.  I was so excited at the thought that we would be, could be, Barbie and Ken!   Of course before we had our one date, I envisioned us walking down the aisle, Barbie and Ken!   sigh... swoon 

Have you ever known an attractive, powerful man of God, and said, “He’s the kind of man I want to marry!”   I have.  Many times.  It is good to have high standards when it comes to marriage, and know that all things are possible with God.  

The tricky thing is being open for God’s very best, and while waiting, not idealizing or idolizing specific people as the “ideal” (much like creating a Golden Calf.)  While praying with a friend this morning, she prayed for me that if I had idealized any men by saying, “He is my ideal man for marriage”, that the power of my words would be broken.   We are not to set our sights on “Ken or Barbie”, we are to look to Jesus as our ideal, and wait for His best.  

Arthur Burke of Plumbline ministries (now Sapphire Leadership Group) did a series called “Releasing Singles”.    He teaches that one of the things we need to pray about in preparation for marriage (and even if you are married, this is important), are the labels that others have put on us, or the labels we have placed on other people.  Labels are really spoken words or declarations that we have made over ourselves, or that other people have spoken over us.  

There may be a lot to pray through regarding labels in your life, but some of the common labels that need to be removed for those preparing to be married are “Unavailable”, “Already Taken” or “Invisible”.  

Unavailable or Already Taken:  

If someone you have known in your past has thought you would be the person they would marry, that person may have casually made a “claim” over you.  Arthur Burke believes that when those words have been spoken, your spirit receives the words and sends a message that you are already taken & unavailable.  He says that even if you have repented or received ministry over something that contributed to a label, the label still needs to be removed, and the truth must be spoken over the lies.  

Who have you “made claim” over in your life?  Is there any person who may have spoken a “claim” over you, leaving you unavailable.  I pray that this is revealed to you now.  The men revealed to me this morning as men I may have idealized as the perfect husband are married friends, and I admired their marriages, so do not discount a married friend in this process.  

Invisible

According to Arthur Burke, there are times when a child may desire to be invisible and makes an inner vow.  If there is abuse or strife in the home, or if you have been sexually abused then you may have made a vow, or had the desire to be invisible.  This can cause your spirit to be invisible to the spirit of the man or woman God has for you.  

Declarations: 

Father God, thank you for bringing to light Your Truth that will set us free.  I pray that each person reading and making these declarations, will be surrounded by the Comforter, Your Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth.  Give us eyes to see, and ears to hear Your voice regarding any remaining labels that need to be removed.  Thank You Lord for your grace and power, and the authority You have given each one of us who calls you Lord.  

A Guide for your personal prayer:  

• Father God, please forgive me for making claim over any person in my past, as my husband or wife, or as THE Ideal husband or wife.     

• I declare that the label of my claim over the following people _________ is removed now in the name of Jesus Christ.  

• I declare that those people are available only for Your best spouse for them, and I bless their current or future marriages.  

• I declare that any and all labels that I am “Unavailable or Taken”  that have been placed on my spirit, either by me or someone else, are removed now in the name and power of Jesus Christ.  

• I declare that I am AVAILABLE to meet and receive God’s best spouse for me, in the perfect, suddenly timing of God.   

• I sever and break any, and all inner vows that I may have made at any time in my life that I am invisible.

• I declare that I am VISIBLE!  and I declare that I have the Favor of God as a shield around my life.  

• I know and declare that I am free to walk in the fullness of my destiny, and I am visible and seen by God’s best for me.  

• I am worthy of God’s best!  I am worthy of the fine people who are successful spiritually and in all areas of their lives.  I AM WORTHY!  

• We pray and declare that the labels of “unavailable”, “Taken”, or “Invisible” placed on our future spouses are removed now in the name of Jesus!  

• Thank you Lord!    We celebrate the freedom!  We thank You Lord that the mantle of invisibility, or unavailability has been lifted!  AMEN!  WOO HOO!!  

Now for a little Barbie and Ken fun.   I pray and declare that the ONE person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with, will recognize you just as Ken recognizes Barbie in this clip:  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Dry Bones will have life!

Dry Bones will have life!

Peter Young, the pastor of my church, preached a powerful message at the beginning of 2011.  Eleven is the number of transition, and 10 is the number representing trials.  Peter said that since 9/11 our country has been in 10 years of trials, and now we are passing through this year of transition 2011, and we are coming out of the wilderness years.  We sang a new song about the dry bones coming to life, and I knew that we would be making that declaration.    

Take a look at Ezekiel 37:1-14.   The notes of my bible say, 

“contextually, this is designed to be a message of hope to a despondent people.”  and, “the dry bones represent the “exiles” who, according to v 11, have given up all hope...”  because they had been in Babylon for 10 years!   That would be 10 years of trials. 

It may not have been 10 years for you, but if you are reading this blog, and making declarations, then you probably been in a season of dryness and trials too.  The men I have spoken to have experienced the same challenges, which has caused a  loss of hope.  Hope deferred.  

Today we are going to prophecy, and make declarations to the “dry bones”, where hope has been stolen.  We are called, as men and women, to rise up to be “an exceedingly great army”, established in the land (relationships) God has destined for us, because it is time for divine alignment.  We are called “for such a time as this.”  

Declarations - Ezekiel 37:1-14 (add your own prayer/declarations as you are led by the Lord):

Thank You Lord for Your Word of hope for us today.  We know that You have given us the assignment to declare Your Word, which is the power to create.  Today we declare life, and the end of the dry seasons.  

• As the Lord has said, we, “Prophesy to these bones [the areas of lost hope in our lives and the lives of the men called to step into Kingdom marriages], and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!' 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath [The Spirit of God] to enter into you, and you shall LIVE!'"

• “Prophesy to the breath [the Spirit of God], prophesy, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’ 

• "So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army." 

• "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again.'”

• We declare the doors of captivity to open, that no one can shut, and the doors to the past season to close, that on one can open!  

• And the Lord says to us, “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”

• We receive the refreshing rain of the Holy Spirit today.  Fill us afresh, Lord, with Your empowering Spirit.  Surround, encompass and fill the men of God called to marriage.  Refresh them with Your Now Hope!  

“You will also declare a thing,       And it will be established for you;
      So light will shine on your ways.”  Job 22:27

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011

Wednesday’s Wisdom and the Tree of Life

Wednesday’s Wisdom and the Tree of Life

You know this verse better than you would like:  

“Hope Deferred makes the heart sick.....”  Proverbs (13:12)

The Message puts it this way:  “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick...” 

The word for “sick” in Hebrew is:

Chalah (Strongs #2470) - and it means “to be rubbed worn, hence to be weak, sick afflicted or to grieve.”  

With each disappointment, or day of waiting, it is like your heart is being worn down, and the fabric gets weaker.   

“...But when desire comes, [when your dreams comes true] it is the Tree of Life!”  (Proverbs 13:12 continued)

 “Wisdom is a Tree of Life to those who embrace her;

      happy are those who hold her tightly.”  (Proverbs 3:18 NLV)

While we wait for the Desire to come, let’s ask the Lord for Wisdom, a Tree of Life.  As we turn to Jesus, and seek the hidden treasures of wisdom, our weakened hearts will become happy and strong!   

Declarations:  

Thank you Father God that with You ALL things are possible.  With You, there is always a “BUT”!   Thank You for giving us hope, healing, restoration, happiness, and for Your faithfulness to fulfill Your promises.  

For all of the men and women we declare Colossians 2:2-3 (NKJ): 

• that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Selah - Meditate and say it again.)

• We declare that our Desire is coming into our lives. 

• We declare that when we ask for Wisdom, You give Your divine Wisdom to us liberally, without holding back.

• Wisdom is the Tree of Life to those who embrace her, and we are happy because we embrace Wisdom tightly.  

• We seek You Jesus, and thank You for strengthening us, and the men with Your impartation of Wisdom today.  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2011