Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

One of the most listened to songs of 2020 is “The Blessing” which is based off of the scripture in Numbers 6:24-26,

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”

It is so common for Christians to say, “God bless you.” to a friend or as a salutation and yet somehow we hesitate to ask the Lord to bless us personally (although we do tend to beg a bit during a time of crisis). Many of His children seem to feel bad or guilty about asking for a blessing.

There are few greater joys that I experienced as a parent then when one of my children ask me for a desire that is on their heart. Whether it is a gift, a place they’d like to go or even a spiritual blessing— what a joy it is for me to fulfill that desire.

Yet, somehow we have come to believe that our Heavenly Father merely wants to take from us and not give to us! We know that is not true because He gave His Son! Who would do that but God? Recently I heard someone say, “It’s not about us, it’s all about Him!” And though I understand this statement, the Holy Spirit spoke to me immediately after hearing it and said, “I made it all about you when I sent My Son to die for you!” Possibly— it is all about “Him and us!”

This morning as I woke up to wait upon the Lord I was surprised to hear something that I didn’t expect. I had just asked Him what was on His heart and what He wanted me to pray into but His response was, “You are on my heart. I merely want to bless you with your hearts desire.” Wow!

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Psalm 20:41

Religion says that we aren’t to ask for blessings— only sacrifice, but the Father wants to give you your hearts desire and make all of our plans succeed! The greatest desire on my heart is for my husband and my children to see their heart’s desires fulfilled and to succeed in all of their plans. Why would God desire anything less for His children?

On August 29th I was praying with a friend on a phone call and as I prayed I saw a “door of hope” before us and Jesus was the key to open the door. In the spirit I unlocked the door and it opened. What stood ahead of me was a land that was so prosperous, beautiful and bountiful that it took my breath away. I asked Him, “Where is this?” And He replied, “This is Jeremiah 29:11.” Just then I looked down at my phone and the time counter on my phone call was at minute 29:11 and the date was the 29th (of August— the 8th month which represents new beginnings).

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

What if you began to ask the Lord to bless you with abundance and success? What if you began, in faith, to pour out your heart’s desires to Him and actually believed that He wanted to grant you those blessings? There is a door of hope standing before you to invite you into the future and hope that prospers you in every way. Have you ever truly considered that He deeply desires to give you success? Sometimes we are more comfortable with putting our faith out for struggles, disappointments and warfare then we are for blessings and success. We expect them and then aren’t surprised when we receive what we put our faith toward. Redirect your faith today! Direct it toward what His Word says and begin to expect it.

Of course we “seek first God and His Kingdom”, we ask for clean hands and pure hearts, we desire to be holy even as He is holy and we always offer a sacrifice of praise— but let’s not forget His benefits and His blessings! He loves to bless His children!!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

Taste and see His goodness. If we ask for a fish will He give us a stone? Never! Throw every stone that the enemy has given you (and called it God’s answer) back and keep asking for your blessing! A mighty catch is coming! I heard the Holy Spirit speak the word, “Stonewalled!” I knew immediately that the enemy has tried to “stonewall” your requests! This is the definition of stonewall,

“To delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies.”

God is not stonewalling you but the enemy surely has been trying to. He is trying to delay you and block you from moving forward into receiving your blessing of Jeremiah 29:11 through deceptions and replies that cause you to stop short of all that God has for you.

For weeks now I keep seeing the well-known cartoon of a man pickaxing a tunnel and he gives up right before his breakthrough—when one more strike would have broken through to the other side. The enemy fears the “strikes” that are happening in 2020. God’s people are striking the ground again and again with relentless determination and we are about to break through. Do not give up! Do not give up on your personal breakthrough or the breakthrough for revival in nations. Keep striking the ground.

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” Psalm31:19

You who take refuge in Him…hear this, “The Lord has good things in abundance stored up for you!” Believe again. The Lord bless you and keep you— and May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you!

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