“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,” John 5:2-9 NIV

FAVOR IS HERE!

This is a time of great change, where many things will unexpectedly and “suddenly” shift from the old to the new. In this time, even our perception of how things will change will come about in ways not previously dreamed of. Just like the paralyzed man at the pool, his breakthrough was perceived to only come in one way– to be lowered into the pool when the waters were disturbed. Yet his breakthrough came to him, not by his efforts, but by the favor of the Son of God, who chose to heal the paralytic man with just the words of a simple command, “Take up your mat and walk!”

We are entering a time of great change. In this time, let us look to the Father for our daily words of insight and direction, for striving to calculate our answers in the flesh will produce results like the man at the pool. Be encouraged today as the Father is with us in all things and He is actively moving creating the environment of change needed in this hour!

MY LIGHT IS BREAKING FORTH!

I hear the Lord saying today, “I see the heaviness, discouragement, and disillusionment that has sought to grip the hearts of My children,” says the Lord. “Delay has further wearied them,” but I say to you, “I am breaking these things and the wind of refreshment and acceleration is blowing now! Look not to what you presently see! Do not look to how others reach ‘the pool when the waters are disturbed’ before you! Rather, lift your eyes! I come to stand before you and to speak directly to your situation! Though the darkness has attempted to close in around you, My light is now breaking forth! I am moving, even now,” says the Lord.

“You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.” Psalm 18:28 NLT

“What has been stuck will begin to move with supernatural and rapid acceleration! This will not be by your own strength. Just as it was for the paralyzed man at the pool, it will simply be by My spirit,” says the Lord. “Shake off the discouragement and do not give in to despair! Truly, nothing is impossible for Me! I can change things in a moment!”

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

“As you lay your deepest desires on My altar in full surrender, I will meet you there. Allow Me to wash you and to cleanse you of all the heartaches and regrets! My cleansing rains are falling in this hour! Receive My cleansing and receive My renewal! Though you have felt stuck, though you have felt immobilized, and though you have felt chained and paralyzed, My winds of acceleration are blowing on you and I am propelling you forward! Catch the wind,” says the Lord! “Do not look to the former! Look ahead and be filled with My hope, for I can bring dead things back to life! I am your anchor! When things shake around you, look to Me, for I am your firm foundation! Truly, all other ground is sinking sand! Receive My peace and strength and take heart! Surely, delay, discouragement and disillusionment are breaking now,” says the Lord!

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3 NLT