A few months ago I had a dream that I accidentally let my baby niece’s head slip out of my hands while I was bathing her in the tub. I thought I drowned her because she would not open her eyes as I tried to resuscitate her. In panic I woke up from the dream before knowing what happened and needless to say I walked around horrified at the thought of giving my baby niece a bath for the next few weeks. After speaking with a friend about the dream while we were studying the word together, I came to the realization that the dream had so much more meaning to it. It wasn’t meant to make me fearful about actually drowning my niece in the tub, but it was a prophesy.
I believe that this month God wanted me to let every reader know that 2017 will be your birthing season. What you are about to birth this year is going to be so big and elaborate that people who you’d least expect will begin to take notice in you and what you have birthed. Due to the massive size of what God is about to birth through you, you have to be careful to not allow your baby to slip or fall out of your hands. This year, I believe God wants you to be wise in understanding how to operate once He allows you to give birth so you may continuously be blessed and not have to worry about trying to revive your baby later.
I believe that this month God wanted me to let every reader know that 2017 will be your birthing season. What you are about to birth this year is going to be so big and elaborate that people who you’d least expect will begin to take notice in you and what you have birthed. Due to the massive size of what God is about to birth through you, you have to be careful to not allow your baby to slip or fall out of your hands. This year, I believe God wants you to be wise in understanding how to operate once He allows you to give birth so you may continuously be blessed and not have to worry about trying to revive your baby later.
In a sermon I heard on periscope a few months ago by Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III. He explained tests thoroughly: “A test is designed to prove the retention of information and a test often comes at the conclusion of a body of information that’s necessary for you to graduate to another level. For those who are being tested, we are being tested because we are being dressed for a level that we cannot see yet.”
This year, there are going to be 3 areas that you will be tested in after you have given birth:
1) Your speech - You will have a responsibility to monitor what you say and how you say it.
- “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6 NIV).
- “...Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22 ESV).
- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).
It is going to be important for you to remember that every test you will face this year, is meant to help you protect what God has allowed you to birth and to “dress you for another level that you cannot see yet”. Consider this blog the “retention of information” that you will need to know in order to pass your tests.
When I turned to my bible to find a way to connect this message from God to His word, I was directed to 1 Kings 10:1-10 NIV. A story about the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon after hearing about his fame.
"1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 6 She said to the king, ‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.’ 10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."
When I turned to my bible to find a way to connect this message from God to His word, I was directed to 1 Kings 10:1-10 NIV. A story about the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon after hearing about his fame.
"1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 6 She said to the king, ‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.’ 10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."
Just as the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon and test him (see 1 Kings 10:1 NIV) after God allowed him to give birth to something massive (see 1 Kings 10:4-5 NIV), this year there will be people and things of this world who come to test you. None of the tests that you will come across will be too hard for you; however, like Solomon you must know how to properly respond and conduct yourself when you are tested (1 Kings 10:3 NIV). Remember that your tests are designed to protect what you have birthed and to keep elevating you to higher levels that you cannot foresee yet. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 ESV). When you pass your tests this year, it will be the very things and people who tested you, that will bless and expose you to new dimensions of favor that go beyond your imagination (see 1 Kings 10:9-10 NIV). This year, be ready for your tests because you cannot afford to let what God allows you to birth, slip from your hands.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are incredible. You are matchless. You are merciful. You are faithful. You are wonderful. We glorify and honor your Holy name today because you are worthy to be praised. It is an honor to be blessed with another year and we are thankful. Thank you for providing for us. Thank you for covering and protecting us. Thank you for keeping us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for never deserting us. Thank you for our trials which have helped build character and strengthen us. Thank you for the things you do that we never see. We love you. We adore you. We reverence you. We honor you. We place no one and nothing above you. We worship you. We trust you. We depend on you. We have faith in you. You are our Jehova Jireh (provider). You are our father. You are the one who always makes a way. You are our savior. You are our healer. You are our miracle worker. You are our King. You are ruler over everything. We give you praise God! Hallelujah! We exalt your mighty name God! Hallelujah! We shout glory God! Hallelujah!
We humbly bow before you asking that you purify us from the inside out Lord. Forgive us for our past sins and bless us with a renewed mind, heart and spirit. Provide us with an abundance of wisdom, grace and direction. Take control of what we say Lord and keep guard over our lips (Psalm 141:3 NLT). Filter out any derogatory speech or conduct that does not align with who you have called us to be. As we are tested throughout this year, ensure that our thoughts, behaviors and hearts have been thoroughly examined so that we may reflect you (Psalm 26:2 NIV). Provide us with strength to withstand the battles that we will encounter throughout the year and ignite an everlasting fire within us to always seek a genuine relationship with you.
We thank you in advance for the opportunity to birth our hearts desires, visions, and dreams this year and pray that you wrap your full armor of protection around us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
You are incredible. You are matchless. You are merciful. You are faithful. You are wonderful. We glorify and honor your Holy name today because you are worthy to be praised. It is an honor to be blessed with another year and we are thankful. Thank you for providing for us. Thank you for covering and protecting us. Thank you for keeping us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for never deserting us. Thank you for our trials which have helped build character and strengthen us. Thank you for the things you do that we never see. We love you. We adore you. We reverence you. We honor you. We place no one and nothing above you. We worship you. We trust you. We depend on you. We have faith in you. You are our Jehova Jireh (provider). You are our father. You are the one who always makes a way. You are our savior. You are our healer. You are our miracle worker. You are our King. You are ruler over everything. We give you praise God! Hallelujah! We exalt your mighty name God! Hallelujah! We shout glory God! Hallelujah!
We humbly bow before you asking that you purify us from the inside out Lord. Forgive us for our past sins and bless us with a renewed mind, heart and spirit. Provide us with an abundance of wisdom, grace and direction. Take control of what we say Lord and keep guard over our lips (Psalm 141:3 NLT). Filter out any derogatory speech or conduct that does not align with who you have called us to be. As we are tested throughout this year, ensure that our thoughts, behaviors and hearts have been thoroughly examined so that we may reflect you (Psalm 26:2 NIV). Provide us with strength to withstand the battles that we will encounter throughout the year and ignite an everlasting fire within us to always seek a genuine relationship with you.
We thank you in advance for the opportunity to birth our hearts desires, visions, and dreams this year and pray that you wrap your full armor of protection around us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.