MELISSA—Where do rules of engagement fit into awakening? I looked up a definition and here’s what I found: “a directive issued by a military authority controlling the use and degree of force, especially specifying circumstances and limitations for engaging in combat.” This makes sense in military terms, but how does this fit in everyday life? I began to think about what we went through in 2020, and are currently dealing with in 2022 and rules of engagement took on a whole new meaning. Rules of engagement for us is how we handle the war we are in and how we see the outcome of said war.
Melissa—How do we navigate the rest of this year? With a perspective shift. It’s time to realize that our Holy Father has been doing what He intended to do all along and we can be a part of it if we stop believing lies that say otherwise. That’s literally all it is. It’s time to shift from an American Christian view of what’s happening to His view. This happens by seeking Him daily. Now, this does not mean get up at 4:30 in the morning and spend an hour reading a devotional and praying. However, that’s not a wrong thing, but seeking Him is an all day thing. It’s about being aware that the Holy Spirit is here in this moment and will teach you and guide all day, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13-14) This perspective shift is really a lifestyle shift. The Holy Spirit is leading us away from living as victims to a life of victory. Leave the past right here and be transformed into your next role as you seek Him.
This is big. This is going to be phenomenal. It’s showtime! Are you in?
As the people of God assemble today, may they encourage one another totake hope and determine to take courage in the Lord of Lords. Joshua didn’t have all the information nor all the answers for the challenges that he faced coming at him from the future but the word of the Lord to him was to go forward anyway. Josh.1:9—“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”Ps.31:24—Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.
When David spoke of the valley of the shadow of death he didn’t say, “I took two dozen of my best friends and two dozen of my best intercessors and we had a great time right down there in the middle of the bottom of that thing”. No, he didn’t say that because he was all by himself. But when he was walking through the valley of the shadow of death nothing changed with Yahweh, nothing changed with God Almighty sitting on the throne of heaven. Nothing changed, no plans changed. Nothing changed with God. David messed himself up for a while but nothing changed with God. God didn’t send for a scribing angel to come and bring extra ink and quill pens and scratch out a bunch of stuff on the record of David’s life. David didn’t mess up God, he didn’t mess up God‘s plan. Jehovah didn’t push back in some stops that he had already pulled out. God did not get messed up. God did not get discouraged nor did God get confused. God did not send back some angel armies that he had already called for, angels that were already on the line and ready to go. They were still on the line ready to go. David said, “Yea though I WALK THROUGH”. There is nothing in that passage that says he paused or that he stopped or that he missed a step or that he missed a beat but he kept walking through. There is nothing going on in this nation, there is nothing going on in Russia, there’s nothing going on in China, there’s nothing going on in any part of this world that says to you and I that Yahweh has throttled back and there’s a little bit of hesitation going on in the universe. There is no hesitation going on on the part of God. The only thing going on right now is people becoming fearful while they are dealing with that dark entity in the valley. BUT…. “I will fear NO evil for THOU art with me” (Ps.23:4).
Melissa—What God has intended, been building, releasing, putting in place, and establishing is about to be revealed over the remainder of this decade. It’s far, FAR greater than what we have been seeing unleashed over our nation. It’s also far greater than the waves we’ve seen in the past! His Kingdom is going to be seen at a measure we have not seen to this point. This. Is. Exciting.
God is doing such awesome things in this season in spite of the negative narrative. The Lord gave me a word last May toward the end of the month that we would be having to press through the summer. People have told me don’t ever give any more words like that! Yet, we pressed through the summer holding dearly to the Word of the Lord. But when the Lord gives a word like that it’s not like, “Oh no, how terrible, how negative. We’re going to have to go through some very unpleasant stuff that’s negative. I don’t know if we’re gonna make it.” No, that’s not what the word is about. The word is about going ahead and pressing on through because you have the power, you have the strength, you have the grace (the enablement) to press through and when you have pressed through you are pressing through unto… We press through unto… We press through to what God has for us and those whom He has for us to strengthen, encourage, equip and comfort.
Kathy—Seeing clearly with our natural eyes is called 20/20 vision.I believe as we head further into the new year that we are in a God-planned time in history to see more clearly than ever before.I declare that understanding and clarity are coming to both physical eyes and the eyes of our soul and spirit.I truly expect keener vision and perceptivity in the months ahead that will equip us for successful and effectual days of walking out the purposes of God in our lives.
Melissa—The prophetic lifestyle opens opportunities, timing, and connections. Opportunities: having the ears to hear to be at the right place at the right time for yourself and others. Timing: none of us understand the timing of God because He is working on so many levels. It takes a prophetic lifestyle to see beyond the limited vision of our normal dimensions. It can keep you sane where timing is concerned. Connection: Brings lives together for God team-ups, projects, events, etc. We were never meant to do life alone (1 Corinthians 12:20-21).
Occasionally someone says something or posts something disparaging toward prophets and the prophetic that had its origin in disappointment or eschatological misbelief. Does that preclude any ability of God Jehovah Almighty to turn this thing around? Except for Egyptian royalty adopting the Israelite deliverer, devoured conjured snakes, numerous plagues, a split sea and a drowned army, Israel would not have been delivered from Egypt. Those must-be factors were not listed in the original prophecy about the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. When God commissioned Moses at the burning bush (Ex.3), He warned Moses that opposition to his prophetic assignment would be powerfully opposed (v.22). So, any who may have been presuming the whole Egyptian deliverance to look like Moses would just walk in with a request and walk out after everyone had a day to pack with all the grateful, affectionate Israelites in tow were VERY upset and likely to call for an organized stoning. We don’t know all of God’s plans and workings behind the scenes as He works in people, circumstances and time. By the time He gets through, the events and the people may look far different from what we had imagined when we originally heard His word/plan. It ain’t over until God says it is over, no matter whose sensitivities are chafed. Isa.14:24,TPT—“The Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies, makes this solemn decree:“Be sure of this: Just as I have planned, so it will be. Every purpose of my heart will surely come to pass.”
Melissa—Now, what is our part in this next season? Awareness. We must remember, at all times: the Kingdom of God is invading this nation. Each one of us has a piece of the Kingdom that penetrates and affects the region around us. We are going to WIN this fight. Hey, it’s not going to be pretty in the months ahead, but no matter what you see, hear, or face, it has no effect on what God has set in motion. After all, He has the last word! If you feel worried, afraid, or uneasy that’s your clue you are plugged into the wrong advisors. You may need to turn the TV off during this season in order to stay plugged into God’s agenda. Make sure you keep the air cleared in your vicinity. One great way of doing that is upping your prayer in tongues. Talk about an air purifier! Speaking in tongues is a beautiful weapon from Heaven for such a time as this.
“Sanctify” means “separate yourself.” Get rid of the things that are extra, added weight. Get rid of the things that are not the image of Christ. Let go of attitudes that don’t fit Kingdom thinking. Elders, deacons, bishops and presbyters won’t be able to help you on this one because none of us have been this way before. (Cf. Josh 10:14 and there was no day like that before it or after it.) I heard a speaker say, “The Lord of life leaves enough mystery to be intrusive, disruptive and surprising in order that He might shatter our tendencies to predictability; and yes even boredom. Saints die of many things but to die of boredom is an insult to the God of an ever-expanding glory.” Though some of us desperately long for the routine of our lives to be radically changed, long for the condition of our nation to be totally changed, we are disturbed and consequently resistant when confronted with the acts of God’s power which are required to change them. (According to Jesus, Lazarus had to be in the tomb for four days for the purposes of God before he could be resurrected. Jn.11:4-7) In order for God to radically change the present state of our lives, we must allow Him to forcefully break in upon us. (Nahum 1:3) “…the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind”. That means that we will not escape the Whirlwind.
Kathy—Coming into the new year we would be wise to make decisions based in the Word of God, the wisdom of God. If we go to God for a deposit of His peace and wisdom, we can make a choice that contradicts our feelings.That doesn’t mean you are giving up strategy and resolve, it means you’re just choosing not to stay upset while it comes.To stay upset is to choose death because your body will suffer, relationships will suffer and “emotional reactions” will become king in the house and set an atmosphere that draws more upset.
Kathy—If you are battle-weary, I believe the new year will bring welcomed changes. I’m not implying battles will stop suddenly and everybody goes on vacation. I’m saying many long-term battles will end because you finally win. “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around” (MSG, Prov. 13:12). I expect some sudden good breaks in the year to come.
Kathy — Soul-conflicts cause ulcers rather than faith. An “ulcer of the soul” is inflammation like agitation, offense, irritation, anger, fear, etc. A wound of the soul is from our history or experience. Neither of those is the starting place for effectual prayer because “ulcers” and wounds can keep us from seeing from God’s perspective. A timely example is that it cripples our faith to pray for our nation if we think God will not interrupt hell’s assignments against our nation. Since 2021 is part of our watch, we can anticipate God’s intervention in our nation this year as we pray and neutralize contradictions that influence daily.
Melissa Gabler — A reminder for 2021: don’t forget that a lot of what you are dealing with personally, whether it be physically or emotionally, may be the war in the atmosphere. We have the authority to say “peace” because we are His agents. When our Lord told the storm to “be still” the atmosphere listened. We carry that same authority and it is our job to change the atmosphere during our lifetime. So, the next time you are dealing with something personally let your first reaction be to remember there is so much more going on around you than your eyes can see. Ask, “where is this coming from and how do I need to deal with it?” You may simply need to say, “Peace, be still.” (Come to Kingdom Congress Mar.3-5,2021 and worship with Melissa and the Grace Worship Team. She will also be speaking Mar.4 at 10:00am. No Fee. All info for KC2021 is at martygabler.com/kc2021/)
Chaos represents utmost impossibility to man and covers him with hopeless despair where he is willing to lay down his beliefs and former commitments so that he may gain some semblance of comfort in spite of the dreaded disorder (“Chaos”: a disorderly, confused, condition or state). Throughout history there have been perpetrators of confusion who have, for the purpose of control, attempted to throw the populace into confusion in order to coerce them into turning over their freedom for relief. Many to the south and east of the USA have already done that and are praying for the USA to wake up and realize that we must speak out and act now to preserve our constitution and nation. Chaos and its bold, inclusive threats will not prevail if God’s people will humble themselves and pray (2Chron.7:14) and take a stand in spite of brash attempts of darkness to limit and/ or remove freedoms. If God could create the worlds out of nothing, surely we can see and take tremendous hope of His creating righteous order out of the chaos of self-focused, power-hungry people. (Marty will be leading and speaking at Kingdom Congress March 3-5, 2021. No Fee to attend. For all information: martygabler.com/kc2021/)
Kathy — Apostle Paul put the issue in these descriptive terms: “we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere” (Eph.6:12, AMPC). Discerning works or workers of darkness may not always be as obvious as in the showdown between Moses and the Egyptian magicians. It will not always be their acts and abilities that expose workers of darkness, but being confronted with truth and light will always reveal their motive and their source of power. The showdown between Moses and the magicians exposed everything.
2021 Declaration #3. Evil entities will overplay their hand and THAT will expose them. (Kid’s Version: We declare that bad guys in disguise will unmask themselves.) And the overplayed attempt will lose its effect and it will bring their downfall. They will overplay their hand because of their arrogant confidence where they believe they are beyond the law or that they can buy or manipulate the law through threats and public sentiment. When they overplay their hand, they will expose themselves and their true intent will come out on display. The overplay will also expose those to whom they have links in government both domestically and abroad. Entities that have covered and hid them, finance that has enabled them to hide, connections that have stood between them and justice will fail them and they will be left exposed. Prov.19:5, Amp — “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape.” “Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth”. The power that hates truth, the power that tried to put Truth in a tomb and keep it in the tomb, but could not keep it in a tomb, that power is broken against sons and daughters of God Most High.
Kathy — Workers of darkness are counterfeiters, but counterfeit shouldn’t be mistaken to mean “NOT REAL.” Counterfeit money is real and even spendable, but it is not authorized, NOT LEGAL! Some workers of darkness are frauds practicing trickery to deceive people into believing they have supernatural powers at their disposal, like magicians who learn quick hand tricks or slip through panels to disappear. Others can actually produce supernatural displays because they have tapped into the spirit realm and (knowingly or not) have agreed and connected their lives to spirit forces of wickedness. So, like Moses, we are not here to deny the power of darkness, we are here to de-fang it and defeat it. We are alive in 2021 to DISCERN the enemy, be convinced our God is ALMIGHTY and not be afraid to war incrementally and strategically to pull down strongholds and turn history. Moses took ground each time he went to Pharaoh’s court in Israel’s behalf. He did supernatural acts by the authority of God. The Egyptian magicians (unsubmitted and unauthorized) did supernatural acts that matched those of Moses. They were instruments or puppets of powers of darkness, and they eventually suffered the long-range consequences of covenanting with darkness. (Kathy will be speaking at Kingdom Congress 2021 which is March 3-5.)
As the people of God assemble today may all impression and/or delusion of sameness and changelessness dissipate like a mist in the face of the truths and reality of the Word of God—that Word which changes not but changes people and circumstances. “I want a walk in the country, I want a cabin in the woods. I’m desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.” (Ps.55:8, Msg)
Kathy—If you are battle-weary, I believe the new year will bring welcomed changes. I’m not implying battles will stop suddenly and everybody goes on vacation. I’m saying many long-term battles will end because you finally win. “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around” (MSG, Prov. 13:12). I expect some sudden good breaks in the year to come.
Melissa Gabler — A reminder for 2021: don’t forget that a lot of what you are dealing with personally, whether it be physically or emotionally, may be the war in the atmosphere. We have the authority to say “peace” because we are His agents. When our Lord told the storm to “be still” the atmosphere listened. We carry that same authority and it is our job to change the atmosphere during our lifetime. So, the next time you are dealing with something personally let your first reaction be to remember there is so much more going on around you than your eyes can see. Ask, “where is this coming from and how do I need to deal with it?” You may simply need to say, “Peace, be still.” (Come to Kingdom Congress Mar.3-5,2021 and worship with Melissa and the Grace Worship Team. She will also be speaking Mar.4 at 10:00am. No Fee. All info for KC2021 is at martygabler.com/kc2021/)
purpose of control, attempted to throw the populace into confusion in order to coerce them into turning over their freedom for relief. Many to the south and east of the USA have already done that and are praying for the USA to wake up and realize that we must speak out and act now to preserve our constitution and nation. Chaos and its bold, inclusive threats will not prevail if God’s people will humble themselves and pray (2Chron.7:14) and take a stand in spite of brash attempts of darkness to limit and/ or remove freedoms. If God could create the worlds out of nothing, surely we can see and take tremendous hope of His creating righteous order out of the chaos of self-focused, power-hungry people. 
martygabler 