I woke up one morning with the words "You are my strong tower" reverberating in my spirit. As I sat down to journal, I could see an image of a tall tower. As I asked the Lord about it, this is what He showed me: "Run to the tower of testimony!"
Functions of Towers
Scripture speaks of the Lord as a tower, a fortress, or a refuge. The Biblical Greek word (purgos) for tower lists many functions, according to Strong's concordance:
• Towers helped repel attacks.
• Towers allowed watchmen to see in all directions.
• Towers served as shelters for seasonal workers.
• Towers could be used to store tools and produce.
The Tower of Testimony
The interesting bit was that the Lord called it the "tower of testimony." Testimonies, both ours and others, are stacked together strongly to hold the shape of who the Lord is and what He does.
In times of hardship, what is under attack is the image of the Lord and His character of goodness. Hard times are, first and foremost, an attack on the memory. They attack both the memories of all the Lord has done for us and others, but also the memories of the words we have received about what the Lord has said He will do.
When we run to the tower of testimony, we intentionally keep our testimonies, truths, and prophetic words at the forefront, reviewing them regularly. Doing this helps keep us in the shelter of the Lord.
God reminded me that He invites us into His safe place, His stronghold, but He isn't a prison. He doesn't hold us against our will. We are free to wander out and come out from under the protection it offers. We can keep our minds and hearts fixed on His goodness, or we cannot. (Photo via Pexels)
When We Fix Our Minds on Who He Is
When we do fix our minds and hearts on who He is—His testimonies, His presence, His words—here are the effects it has:
• It repels attacks. It doesn't prevent them from happening, but it removes their power or duration.
• It allows us VISION. Without vision, we perish (Proverbs 29:18). When we can accurately see all directions—not just what the enemy is doing but where the Lord is working, where He has brought us from, and where He says He is taking us to—we gain clarity.
• We gain shelter for the seasonal work. We are His workers in His fields! Sometimes those fields are brutal. He is our strong tower that shelters us, refreshes us, and gives us the respite we need to continue the work He has planned with us for this season. Every season is significant. If we can be convinced that there is no part for us to serve this season or that our giving up is insignificant, then we lose valuable opportunities for the Kingdom.
• We gain access to a storehouse of tools and produce. God never leaves us unequipped. Though He doesn't always equip us in the way we expect, He equips us lavishly. Running to Him (lingering in the fortress of testimony) as hard times come gives us access to tools and fruit that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Run to His Tower!
Whatever we are walking through, let us not forget to run to His tower by accessing our testimonies and His words.
"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; You save me from violence." (2 Samuel 22:2–3 ESV) (Photo via Pexels)
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 ESV)
"He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken." (Psalm 62:2 ESV)
"You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7 NIV)
Encounter Questions:
1. Father, help expand my vision to see in all directions. What hope do You want me to see ahead of me? What testimonies do You want me to remember behind me?
2. Holy Spirit, remind me of Your vision for this season. What are You doing in me? What are You doing with me? How can I refresh myself in You for this work?
3. Jesus, what tools or fruit are You giving me access to as I fix my focus on You?
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Sara Whitten
Arrows of Zion
Email:Â sara@arrowsofzion.com
Website:Â www.arrowsofzion.com
Sara Whitten is an author, speaker, and founder of Arrows of Zion Ministries which has been offering resources to equip to the body of believers since 2017. This ministry focuses on creating space to regularly encounter God's voice and live lives that are fertile soil for the kingdom of God. Her writings are featured in many publications, including the Elijah List and Charisma. She also hosts "Hear God Every Day," a podcast with tools to help amplify the voice of God amidst the noise of everyday life. She and her husband currently reside in Kerrville, Texas with their three children.
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