A Year to Redeem

Tempus fugit (time flies) as my scholarly father used to say! Another year is upon us. 2007, what does it hold in store? Hopes rise at the beginning of a new year, maybe this will be better than the last; maybe this year I will keep my resolutions; maybe this year I will lose weight, quit smoking; fast more. There is no end to the things we resolve to do and at the end of the year when we take stock so many of those things have been unfulfilled. As I have traveled with a group across the country in the last month meeting with intercessors one thing has become clear last year for many was a year of hope deferred, but the message for this year is that we will see many hopes fulfilled; many prophetic words come to pass; many long standing prayers answered.

(Pro 13:12) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Several things I hear for 2007 and one of those is the word ‘redeem” this is a year to take or win back what has been stolen from us.

“Redeem” means
1 a : to buy back : repurchase; b : to get or win back
2 : to free from what distresses or harms: as a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental c : to release from blame or debt : d : to free from the consequences of sin.

This is the year to see family salvation, time to add the substance of our faith to our hopes. Jesus told us to pray ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” His will is already established in heaven, He has the blueprint for all our hopes and dreams, it is time to see those heavenly plans established on the earth. By faith we need to take hold of them and call them forth.

(Heb 11:1) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Too often we walk by sight and not by faith, what we see in the natural is often not the true picture of what is happening in the spirit. I believe the Lord is calling us this year to walk after the spirit and not after the flesh. To see each other according to the spirit and not judge by the outward appearance or circumstances. Zechariah 4:6 has always been a favourite scripture of mine .

(Zec 4:6) Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, this is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts.

We cannot accomplish kingdom purposes unless we are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. How do we put aside our fleshly desires and walk in this way? We need to cast down all imaginations and thoughts that exalt themselves against the will and purpose of God and renew our mind in God’s way of doing things. We need to develop listening ears so we can clearly hear His voice. We need to then ask the Lord to give us a greater understanding of His ways so that we may know how to respond to the direction He gives us.

The second thing I heard when I asked the Lord for something ‘profound” was the words to an old Bing Crosby song “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, don’t mess with Mr. In-between”!! When I thought about those words I realized they really were ‘profound’ !

Accentuate the positive - Scripture tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue; we can bless or curse; encourage or discourage; put down or lift up. I know there are people whom I love to be around because they are always so positive in their outlook and others who are a ‘challenge’ because they always see the negative. My grandmother was one of the former, I never heard her say a negative word about anyone, and she would always find the best in someone even if she really had to dig. She was a blessing to be around and I loved to visit her.

Eliminate the negative – this doesn’t mean that we don’t see the reality of things, but we need to look at things through the redemptive eyes of the Lord. What does He say? What are His promises? When we are in the pit He will lift us out when we call.

(Ps 40:2) He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and gave sureness to my steps.

When we walk through a dark valley he is with us to comfort and protect us.

(Ps 23:4) Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

When there is chaos around us, lawlessness, terror, wars, His promise is that we will be watched over. Psalm 91 is full of promises for those who say He is their Lord.

Latch on to the affirmative - (2Co 1:20) For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

God’s word is true and Isaiah 55:11 says that His word will accomplish what is was sent out to do. When we stand on the promises of God we know that they will come to pass even though it seems to take a while for the answer to come. The answer is not always what we expect, but the more we renew our minds, learn to live from our spirit and not our flesh; we will know what and how to pray, because our requests will come from God’s heart and not from our soulish desires.

Don’t mess with Mr. In-between - we cannot waver or doubt in our belief that the Lord has our best interests at heart. We cannot give up because we don’t see the answer straight away. We cannot doubt the truth of the promises of God. We must ask in faith and believe. We cannot compromise on truth because people are offended. We must walk in love no matter our circumstances or situation, to tolerate sin because it is easier is not an option and is not walking in love. (Ps 119:104) Through Your Commandments I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Sometimes we try to hang on to the status quo because it is comfortable. Sometimes God wants us to lay our Isaac on the altar and He will provide a way. His ways are not our ways - “Lord help us to line ourselves up with Your will and purpose, show us Your ways Lord”

(Jam 1:5-8) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, not dependable in all his ways.

This is the year to see desires fulfilled, a year to take down our dreams, visions and prophetic words off the shelf and revive our hope in the fact that these are not just pipe dreams, but things that the Lord has spoken for us and put in our heart. This is a year to delight in Him as never before and He will fulfill the desires of our hearts.

(1Ti 4:14) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy, accompanied by the laying on of the elders' hands.

God speaks through His word, through His prophets, in dreams and visions - He has spoken to you, take that word and call it to life and you will see hopes and desires fulfilled this year that seemed impossible to the natural mind. It is time to redeem that which seemed to be lost.

The Lord is preparing His people for the times ahead. He is shifting, positioning and aligning His people, we are ready for take off, fasten your seat belts we are in for the ride of our life!!

This is the year to root our faith deeper in Him and His promises. He wants us to know that this year we can do all things through and in Him as He continually strengthens us. Think big, expand your imagination and He tells us that He can do infinitely more than we can ask or even imagine.

(Col 2:7) Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

Jane Jones is ARM's National Prayer Co-ordinator.