May The Month To Move With His Grace
Welcome to the month of May. 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 5th month, prophetically represents a month of grace. Grace is the power of God that give us the ability to overcome. Be encouraged, help has come in the form of His 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 period of changing from one state or condition to another (www.dictionary.com). Transformation takes place in the transition.
As I was praying into March, the Lord told me 2023 is a transitional year. This year will position you for 2024, 2025, and 2026. He also reminded me of the word He gave me in the beginning of the year. He told me 2023 would be a year of multiplied grace. Grace upon grace (Zechariah 4:6). The Lord is multiplying His grace to us so we can slay those giants that have been guarding our promises. In this Psalm 23 year, the good shepherd is leading you beside the still waters and through the valley of the shadow of death.
The valley of the shadow of death represents that 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 a hold 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.
God reminded me of the story of David in 1 Samuel 17:40 when he’s getting ready to fight Goliath, “40 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 learned how to pick out the stones (The Word of God)? In his quiet time when the Good Shepherd was leading him with His staff by the still waters. David was only doing what he saw the Spirit of God doing in his quiet time out in the fields. What has God been showing you in the secret place? He’s been training and preparing you more than you realize. 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.”
Three Keys To Successful Warfare
1.He trains
God uses seasons opposition to instruct, train, and equip
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 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
You must learn how to fight and grab a hold of the plan and destiny God has for you because no else can do it for you
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 you learn to overcome and master the daily battles, you’ll be able to be victorious with battle at large
Never go into a battle that God has not led you into. If He leads you, victory is guaranteed.
Moving from Weakness To Strength
The Lord has been training and equipping you this first half of the year so you can slay the second of half of this year. Psalm108:13NIV declares, “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” The oil comes after the wilderness. Psalm 23:5, “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. 6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 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’re coming out with blessing, refreshing, and strength if you don’t stop.
Bacca is a dry desert valley where there are weeping trees that release sap. They guide you along its path as you pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Some believe this is the valley of Rephiam were David got one of his victories over the Philistines. Some believe this is the valley of Achor in Joshua 7:24 where the Israelites got 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 against AI. The valley of weeping 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 Bacca, I declare what was once a place of sorrow and hardship, is 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 in verse 5 is the Hebrew is chayil. Chayil means the might of God. Chayil represents someone who is in God’s army who is a valiant warrior, strong, powerful, courageous that has the ability to obtain wealth and victory. I declare and decree you’re increasing not decreasing. In this season and the month of May you’re going from strength to strength. There’s grace to move in May.
Prophet Madeline James
