Recognise the War of Distraction

The enemy always draws attention to himself. He creates chaos and uproars trying to divert attention away from what God is doing, hoping that the course of events will be altered in his favour. This is his ancient tactic and we see it throughout the Word of God.

I had a vivid dream this week where I was standing next to a very high wall of water, mesmerised and thinking, ‘Wow, this is what it must have looked like when the Red Sea opened’. When I awoke, I knew that God was saying, ‘The waters are parted, my people are walking through on dry land. I am setting the nations free.’

The Lord showed me a picture of Cane and Abel, and I heard Him say, ‘The traitors of the nations have turned on their own. They have been slaying their brothers, right before My eyes. Their blood is crying out to Me from the ground for mercy and justice.

I have had enough of their wicked ways. They will be marked by Me as I marked Cane, unable to escape My judgment and wrath in this hour. I am going to mock them in front of the nations so that people will never forget the horror of their doings. I am removing My glory from them – that which is upon every human being, made in My image. Their fallen nature will be made visible and they will appear as the walking dead upon the earth. Both their behaviour and appearances will prove that My hand has cut them off from the land of the living.’

This morning the Lord showed me a picture of wicked men, wildly swinging flails around and around, not caring who it hits and what carnage it causes. The Lord said, ‘The enemy is so out of control from things not going as planned. He has reached such desperate measures, that he is willing to risk it all in order to win this battle.’

On this battlefield, I saw people dodging these swinging flails as they moved strategically at ground-level. We have to be both strategic and move under the radar where the enemy is not looking. He can only operate in the place of chaos, where he controls through distraction. We operate in the place of peace, rest, and clarity, where we lean into our Saviour in our time of need, knowing that He is in control of everything, and He fights on our behalf.

While the enemy’s men are fighting so wildly, they are not realising that the earth has changed. The people have woken up! The old tactics of war, overlooked before, is now exposed. We are looking on – the inhabitants of the earth are witnessing the enemy’s blind rage for what it is. With eyes wide open, we are seeing the enemy destroy itself as their flails wildly swing around, hitting their own.

The Lord wants to encourage you right now. Don’t be afraid by the chaos on the earth, nor be intimidated by the messiness of it all. We can’t make head-or-tail of what’s going on because the enemy is out of control and using chaos to bring confusion and distraction. Keep your eyes on Jesus alone, put your ears to His chest and listen.

He is saying, ‘I am setting the nations free! This week of double two’s is your week of double breaking through as I open up the path to your victory! I am luring the enemy to My mountain upon which I will crush him! Stay in the place of worship and prayer, especially in the coming weeks leading up to Passover. For this Passover will be one of remembrance forever. You are being led on dry land right now, keep walking! The enemy might be advancing behind you, but I am standing between you and him, protecting you. Trust Me, for I will cut him off from the earth and set you free. That which he intended for evil, I will turn around for good. I am the God of the turn-around, and just as I delivered My people before, so I will deliver you again. Joyful celebrations will fill the streets as people rejoice in the God of their salvation – the One who fought for them against their enemy.’

Genesis 4:8-16

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Psalm 34

God’s Goodness

A song by King David composed after his escape from the king when he pretended to be insane

Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me!My lips are full of perpetual praise. I’m boasting of you and all your works, so let all who are discouraged take heart. Join me, everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together. Let’s make him famous! Let’s make his name glorious to all.

Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears! Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come. Your faces will glisten with glory. You’ll never wear that shame-face again. When I had nothing, desperate and defeated,I cried out to the Lord and he heard me, bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most. The angel of Yahweh stooped down to listen as I prayed, encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape. He will do this for everyone who fears God.

Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God. Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives to all who turn to hide themselves in him. Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy! For all who fear him will feast with plenty. Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry, but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.

Come, children of God, and listen to me. I’ll share the lesson I’ve learned of fearing the Lord: Do you want to live a long, good life, enjoying the beauty that fills each day? Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words to come from your mouth. Keep turning your back on every sin, and make “peace” your life motto. Practice being at peace with everyone. The Lord sees all we do; he watches over his friends day and night. His godly ones receive the answers they seek whenever they cry out to him.

But the Lord has made up his mind to oppose evildoers and to wipe out even the memory of them from the face of the earth. Yet when holy lovers of God cry out to him with all their hearts, the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one. Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face. God will be your bodyguard to protect you when trouble is near. Not one bone will be broken.

Evil will cause the death of the wicked, for they hate and persecute the devoted lovers of God. Make no mistake about it:God will hold them guilty and punish them; they will pay the penalty! But the Lord has paid for the freedom of his servants, and he will freely pardon those who love him. He will declare them free and innocent when they turn to hide themselves in him.

Isaiah 24:16-23

From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, “I waste away,I waste away. Woe is me! For the traitors have betrayed, with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.” Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth! He who flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again. On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.