- Don Swanger  http://wmprayer.net

 

Many of us have been experiencing “wilderness” over the last year or more.  Things have been heating up since December of last year.  Frustration has been high and we have found ourselves wondering just what God is up to.  Incredible prophetic words have been spoken, but we almost don’t want to hear them anymore because when we do, the warfare just seems to intensify and the fulfillment seems further off.  It has been a time of waiting, and that is the “word” we have been hearing for the day to day…wait.  Wait. 

 

Is God late?

Has He moved His favor to another?

 

There are some key things we need to understand about this present “season”. 

 

Wilderness is not bondage.  When the people had been delivered from bondage, they began their season in the wilderness.  It was the only path to the promised land…to their inheritance.  They had to go through. 

 

For some, like Joshua and Caleb, their extended time in the wilderness was not due to their own failure, or God’s disfavor personally.  They spent forty years in the wilderness because a people, an entire community, failed to recognize their day of visitation and deliverance and turned away in fear.  The forty years was for preparation of a PEOPLE, and Joshua and Caleb were prepared during that long wait to be fathers and generals for the next generation. 

 

The Presence of God was close, and Joshua in particular was addicted to time in that Presence.  Forty years of preparation in intimacy with God.

 

Battles were fought and amazing things experienced in the wilderness. By the time they reached Jericho, word of God’s favor and power had preceded them, and set their enemies trembling, preparing the way before them for their entry into the Land and the Promise.

 

For Caleb, forty years of waiting only honed his warrior anointing.  When given the opportunity to pick his inheritance, he said “I’m only 85 years old.  Remember what we saw when we first looked into the land?  That’s what I want.  The people were afraid back then, but I still want it.  Give me the giants!  When they’re defeated, I’ll take that land!  Give me the giants!”

 

John the Baptist was called to the wilderness.  It was the place, the setting of his ministry as forerunner.  A voice crying IN THE WILDERNESS prepare the way of the Lord.  He wasn’t waiting to get out before beginning His ministry.  That is where his ministry took place.

 

And according to Mark's account, immediately after  Father spoke so certainly and tenderly, "This is my Son, my beloved, and I am delighted in Him", the Spirit then seized and drove Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days.

A season of testing. And warfare.  And angelic ministry.

 

The wilderness is not obscurity.  It is just outside the city.  It is just outside the land.  The call to enter in may come at any moment, and the waiting will be over in an instant.

 

It is in the wilderness that the Kingdom is proclaimed.

It is in the wilderness that the declarations are made.

Let the mountains be made low.

Let the valleys be raised up.

Let the paths be made straight for the Lord.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

 

Word # 1

 

Your days in the wilderness are fulfilled.  But your War has just begun.  I am even now giving you new focus.  New clarity.  I have been training you to respond in instant obedience for when My Word comes to move, there will not be time to hesitate.

 

Word # 2

 

The prophecies you have received are not dead.  War for them.  Fight for your inheritance.  I am causing you to rise up from your frustration with new energy, faith, and hope.  This winter will not be like the last.  You will be renewed in intimacy and passion with me, and in the early spring will move into the next phase of your ministry and destiny.  The new season’s beginning will be the new season’s beginning.

 

~ Don   http://wmprayer.net

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Obsessed with His Presence