Madeline James: "A Time of Transition and Multiplied Grace"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

Many of you really, and we mean really, need to read this word and be reminded of what God has available to you right now, in this is very month and season.

It's already May...and we're nearly half way through the year already!

Madeline James writes an excellent word for this very month and season, including revelation for the next few years, as she says:

As I was praying, the Lord told me that 2023 would be a transitional year. This year will position you for 2024, 2025 and 2026. He also reminded me of the word He gave me at the beginning of the year. He told me that 2023 would be a year of multiplied grace – grace upon grace (see Zechariah 4:6). The Lord is multiplying His grace to us so we can slay those giants that have been attempting to keep us from our promises...

The Lord has been training and equipping you this first half of the year so that you can slay the second half of this year. Psalm 108:13 (NIV) declares, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies."

As we transition through the next half of the year...let this encourage you that you are moving from strength to strength and glory to glory...in Him! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Enjoy!

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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May is a month of power and strength to overcome what you've been facing. The word "may" derives from an old English word that means "to be able," "to be strong" and "to have power." May, being the fifth month, prophetically represents a month of grace. Grace is the power of God that gives us the ability to overcome. Be encouraged, help has come in the form of His grace.

2023 – The Year of Transition and Multiplied Grace

Many of you have been in a time and season of transition, or a wilderness season. Wilderness seasons strip us from our last season and equip us for our next season. Transition is "the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another" (Oxford Learner's Dictionaries). Transformation takes place in the transition.

As I was praying, the Lord told me that 2023 would be a transitional year. This year will position you for 2024, 2025 and 2026. He also reminded me of the word He gave me at the beginning of the year. He told me that 2023 would be a year of multiplied grace – grace upon grace (see Zechariah 4:6). The Lord is multiplying His grace to us so we can slay those giants that have been attempting to keep us from our promises.

Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

In this Psalm 23 year, the Good Shepherd is leading you beside the still waters and through the valley of the shadow of death.

I believe that the valley of the shadow of death represents a place of transition. Psalm 23:4 (AMP) says, "Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me." The valley can feel like death, because everything about you from the last season has to die so you can grab ahold of the new. The valley of death can feel dark because the glory has moved. You must learn to follow and trace where His presence moves too. Don't fear the dark seasons; He will comfort you and guide you through to the other side as you trust His leadership. (Photo via Pxhere)

God reminded me of the story of David in 1 Samuel 17:40 (AMP), when he's getting ready to fight Goliath: "Then he took his [shepherd's] staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the stream bed, and put them in his shepherd's bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd's pouch. With his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine."

Where do you think David was trained, learning to put all his trust in God? In his quiet time, when the Good Shepherd was leading him with His staff by the still waters. David was only doing what the Spirit of God was showing him to do. What has God been showing you in the secret place? He's been training and preparing you more than you realize.

Three Keys to Successful Warfare

Transition brings training. David said in Psalm 144:1, "...Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my great strength, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle."

Within this verse, we find three keys for successful warfare:

1. He Trains

God uses seasons of opposition to instruct, train and equip us. As He trains us, we grow in knowledge and wisdom and stature. As we apply what we learn by listening to His voice, we mature.

2. The Hands

The hands represent our action in the overall plan that God has for us. We must learn to take a hold of what God has for us, because God has already given us the victory over our enemy. We don't fight for victory; we fight from victory. We must learn how to fight and grab a hold of the plan and destiny God has for us, because no else can do it for us.

3. The Fingers

The fingers represent the day-to-day battles that we face. For our daily battles, we need to rely on God for the wisdom and solutions to overcome them. When we learn to overcome and master the daily battles, we'll be able to be victorious in the war at large. We must never go into a battle that God has not led us into. If He leads us, victory is guaranteed.

Moving from Weakness to Strength

The Lord has been training and equipping you this first half of the year so that you can slay the second half of this year. Psalm 108:13 (NIV) declares, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." (Photo via Pixnio)

The oil comes after the wilderness. Psalm 23:5 (AMP): "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; my cup overflows."

It may not feel like it, but you're moving from weaknesses to strength.

As I close, I want to look at Psalm 84:5-7 (AMP): "Blessed and greatly favored is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

"Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with blessings.

"They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion."

The Lord told me that many of you have been in a valley of weeping, but you will come out with blessing, refreshment and strength, if you don't stop.

The word "baca" comes from a Hebrew root word which means "to weep." Some believe that the valley of Baca was the valley of Rephaim, where David won one of his victories over the Philistines. Some believe this was the valley of Achor in Joshua 7, where the Israelites won the victory over Jericho, but sin was found in the camp because of Achan. This caused the Lord to lift His hand from the Israelites, causing them to be defeated by Ai, until they consecrated themselves and repented. The valley of weeping is a hard and dry place. It's a place of sorrow, a place of repentance and a place reflection.

As you keep moving through your "Baca," I declare that what was once a place of sorrow and hardship is now turning into a place of blessing and refreshing.

Don't stop. Keep going! As you keep walking, you will step into the strength of God. The word "strength," mentioned twice in Psalm 84:7, is the Hebrew word "chayil," which means "might." It describes someone who is in God's army, who is a valiant warrior – strong, powerful, courageous – and who has the ability to obtain wealth and victory. I declare and decree that you're increasing, not decreasing. In this season and the month of May, you will go from strength to strength. There's grace to move in May.

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Madeline James
Madeline James Ministry
Email: nabispen@gmail.com
Website: www.prophetmj.com

Madeline James is an emerging prophetic writer and voice who desires to release the heart of the Father, and be a tuning fork for the Body of Christ. She operates in the seer and revelatory realm. Her heart is to release revelation and wisdom that will help propel and push the Body of Christ forward. Madeline is the author of Rooted In Love, Declaring Your Morning, co-author of Emerge, and the blogger of the prophetic blog Nabi's Pen. She resides in Lexington, KY with her husband Richie and their two daughters.

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