2016 is gone. Whether the year was good to you or incredibly unkind, it is gone and the new has come. It’s time to move ahead into a fresh year with a fresh anointing.
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
As I was praying this morning for friends who have experienced a season of unjust circumstances, the Lord spoke a word to me that I feel is for many. It is found in His Word. As you read it let it remind you of Who He is and that He never changes and always acts from His nature. This is what He is delivering for 2017.
Psalm 105:37-43
“He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them. He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy;”
He said:
I AM a God who restores that which was stolen.
When Pharaoh finally released the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, they left laden down with gold and silver. Those that had oppressed them for over 400 years were now finally repaying them for those years of injustice. They left with payment for the years of slavery…plus interest. God didn’t just deliver them. He also provided for their needs in the new land by restoring what had been stolen. Know that God is restoring to you that which has been stolen from you WITH INTEREST.
I AM your Protector.
As the Israelites traveled, He spread a cloud for their covering by day and a fire to illumine their night. They were traveling by a way in which they had never been and frankly they did not know their destination. They had to follow His lead. And God gave them a cloud by day and fire by night that would guide them along the way. These elements also served as protections to cover them and be a shield for them. Know that God will not leave you unprotected as you walk in these new realms. He is both your shield and your guide. Do not fear or dread because of the past season. Leave it behind as you walk in His Protection.
I AM Your Provider.
The children of Israel asked Him (rather complained to Him) about their steady diet of manna and so He delivered quail—an abundance of quail. He also satisfied them with the bread of heaven and caused water to flow out of a rock. He provided for their every need. But this is important, not only did He provide for their needs, but He satisfied their desires.
Quail wasn’t a need, it was a desire. He provided it simply because they asked Him (albeit in a complaining way). How unfortunate that even as God continued to provide in every way for them, the Israelites were often ungrateful and complained. They stifled their own blessing and prolonged their time in the wilderness because of it. It is important that we learn a lesson from their story and keep a thankful heart so that we stay in His flow of blessing staying willing and obedient to Him. We must recognize that it is His very desire and nature to bless us. Know that as you keep your heart in a thankful place that God wants to bless you and provide for not only your needs but the deep desires of your heart. Ask Him. Your blessing is on its way.
I AM Restoring Your Joy.
When He brought them out of the land of slavery, He brought them out with joy. He deposited back into them an emotion that had been missing in their lives for some time.
When we experience slavery (a place where we are held captive) and abuse, when things have been stolen and when value has been withheld, it is hard to have joy. The Israelites had forgotten that emotion. And so not only did God deliver them out of Egypt and slavery, but He restored joy to their hearts.
This is a bigger aspect than some may realize, for when there is an absence of joy many things follow. Sickness and depression are illnesses that stem from the absence of joy. Scripture says, “A joyful heart does good like a medicine.” Joy actually begins to restore health to our bodies. If that is so, then it can be reverse engineered to see that the absence of joy can open the door to sickness. Depression is the absence of joy. It is an oppression that has descended upon a heart and mind. But God said in this year He is RESTORING joy.
Take hold of this promise that as God is moving you out of the land of slavery and whatever has held you and challenged you in this past year. You will walk OUT, just like the Israelites walked out of Egypt. But remember they had to take steps to walk out once they were released. And as you walk out and leave the oppression and fear behind, He will restore your joy. Take hold of the joy that He is restoring in this new season. You have forgotten how to be joyful, but God is restoring to you the ability to have joy and to rejoice. However, there are two stipulations. It requires that you must receive it and then cast off like a cloak the oppression and fear of the past. You cannot walk in joy and hold onto fear. It doesn’t work. Cast it off as you walk out of the past.
As you look to 2017, may you do so with joyful expectation. God is taking you out of a place of slavery to a new land. The word He spoke was that He is restoring, protecting, providing, and instilling joy. Remember Who He is for He does not change. He delights in you and He delights in blessing you. Leave the past in the past and take hold of the present for it is His present to you for 2017.
If you sense this word is for you, please let me know by leaving a comment below.
Great article! Karen please add me to your email/Facebook list
Hi Sue, I can’t add you because it’s an “opt-in” and so it requires you to do it with your email. But it’s an easy process if you don’t mind clicking here on this link https://lightandremnant.com/
and then where I believe it says, “To Follow this blog click here” it requires for you to send in your email address. Then it will email you when there is a new post. I wish I could do it, but it won’t let me. Thanks for signing up!
Karen, this is a wonderful message! It has really touched me today! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I am having several health for quite q long time. I feel and know that God is ready for me to heal! He has sent me to the right Drs and they are working with me to find the cause and the root of the problem! They believe that they will give me a correct diagnosis and will know the very best treatment or surgery for me. Thank you again and God bless you greatly.
I’m in agreement with you Sandi for complete restoration of your health! Continue to speak out and prophesy out the scriptural promises over your own life for the Word will not return void. Blessings!
Hi Karen, I am from the Bethel community group. Thank you for this Word, it is definitely for me. It also maps onto a dream I had last night about my desires…for too many years I have not allowed myself to consider and pursue the desires of my heart. In my dream, I got to choose the colors I prefer. I know it is about the next season of my life and that God is giving me the desires of my heart and He is telling me that my desires matter. I have also been praying for joy to be restored in my life and to be able to leave the past in the past. I know that this next season is a time of restoration of finances, health, relationships, and fullness of joy in the Lord….not just for me, but for my whole family. Hallelujah for 2017 and all of God’s promises!
Thank you Karen. It resonated with me as in the past couple weeks I have especially been thinking about joy and praying for joy, I prayed for joy for 2017, as I have been through a lot of difficult situations this past couple years.
Thanks, Karen. This speaks to me.
Definatly a word in due season for me and others that I know of. I am being led out of abuse and control and into the will of God on my life in Jesus Holy Name. I believe something good is going to happen to me this year. And I will not fear the difficult medical issues of 2016. Thank you Jesus. And thank you Karen for this post. I am ready to move forward with double blessings that the enemy stole from me! God Bless you
I chose the word JOY to be my focus for 2017…thank you for confirming His Word concerning me!
Awsome!!!very powerful Truth..much needed word for me going in to this New Year.
thank you for that encouraging word, 2016 has been tough, have lost our joy and hope.
sure spoke to my heart.
So sorry that 2016 was a hard year. I know it was for MANY people. I know that 2017 is going to be different….but don’t let him steal your hope. Don’t be afraid to believe that THIS year is going to be different than last year and then press in!
I received your word via Spirit Fuel this morning. It was layered on top of Lana Vawsers’ daily blog where she says “you will be marked with Joy in 2017”. In the mouth of two or three witnesses let it be confirmed. I appreciate your gracious gift, thanks for delivering what my spirit was hungry for…hope and life!
Amen! That really made me smile. Lana is one of my favs and love that our words went hand in hand. Hope is the anchor to our faith. We can’t rise in faith, until we have a secure foundation of hope. Hope is the joyful expectation of good and I believe He has deposited that in you with this! May this be a breakthrough year for you!
The enemy has stolen my peace and joy I need restoration in this year Thank you for sharing
This is a time of restoration of joy. Receive it and walk in it Stephanie. Throw off that dark blanket of oppression that has tried to stay on you and declare that this is a new season and fresh outlook!
This is a beautiful confirmation of what the Lord IS DOING in this [still] new year of 2017 !! THANK you so much… gong right now to sign up for your email ‘words’. May the Lord grant you much fruit and many blessings for your lovely obedience in sharing these words!!
Thank you, Ivy! Many blessings to you.
oops – typo! meant GOING !!
🙂
I was so blessed reading your words .. I found this one as I just read your blog about Passover! I am so believing for His Promises to come to pass right now! I know He is leading me and guiding me every step of the way!! Many blessings to you Karen! xx
Wow! I definitely can tell you I have the joy and dancing restored in my life! It’s been a loooooooong road. Last year I battled fear depression anxiety slavery. But God is faithful!! Just 2 weeks ago I was restored to joy , a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.and I’m looking forward to all He has for me in this year of restoration especially in my finances. I have also battled allergies and asthma which I. Still believing for healing!!!!
I feel like this is speaking directly to me. Many things have oppressed me in my childhood that has left me hopeless, depressed, and with no self confidence. I pray to God in Jesus name, to help me recover my body, mind, and soul. Thank You
I receive this word, in Jesus Mighty name! I have been praying for restoration of my relationship with my 9 year old son. I need joy in this season of waiting. Thank you for this. May God richly bless you! ❤