Three strategies for delivery

By Christy Johnston

Are you feeling a sudden and intense pressure in the spirit and don’t know why? Are you wondering why it feels as though you have been placed in a pressure cooker of sorts? Are you feeling worn out and ready to give up, wondering if you heard rightly from God for this season? And if so, why does it seem as though everything is upside down? If any of this relates to you, then be encouraged. You are not going crazy and you have not missed God. You have in fact gone into labor to birth a new gift that God has prepared for you and you are not alone. Many are in this time of birthing right now. I saw a vision of multitudes across the body of Christ who were heavily pregnant (I saw both men and women – as odd as that may sound). They were pregnant with new mantles, new visions, strategies, and destiny.
I then saw a picture of an ultrasound of these ‘babies’ that they were carrying. Just as an ultrasound details the babies' bone structures and physical traits, I saw that these ‘supernatural’ babies of the hour were filled with the DNA of heaven with specific answers that the individuals and the earth alike are in desperate need of. Each ‘baby’ had a unique fingerprint, a unique imprint of answers from God’s heart for individuals, families, and nations. I saw these heavily pregnant individuals being ushered by angels into supernatural delivery rooms. I saw that many had reached their due dates, and some were well and truly overdue. Some were prepared for the births and intensely focussed, while others felt confused and scared. I then heard the Father’s gentle and reassuring voice speaking to those who were in fear. He spoke the words of Joshua 1:9; “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” He is with you, you are not alone, do not be afraid. I felt the Holy Spirit impart some strategies to my own life for this season of birthing that I wanted to share with you.

Strategies for delivery.

1. BE STRATEGIC ABOUT WHO YOU ALLOW TO SEE YOU IN LABOUR

The Holy Spirit recently reminded me of my own physical labor with my second daughter Sophie and how there are some valuable lessons that can be applied spiritually from the experience (don’t worry – I won’t get graphic). From start to finish, my labor with her lasted three days. You read that right - THREE DAYS. Looking back, I realize I played into some distractions that essentially caused my labor to last longer than it should have. During my earliest contractions, I allowed people into my home thinking it would help with the process. How wrong I was. While I lay on my bed in agony, I had a steady stream of individuals – people who I thought would be of help - came through my home laughing and pointing at my distress whilst helping themselves to my fridge, rather than encouraging me through it. At the time though, I thought they were just trying to help me get my mind off it, but looking back, I now know it was the worst possible thing for labor. It elevated my stress, prolonging the birth.
If you are in spiritual labor right now and you can relate to the intensity of pressure in the spirit, you need to be VERY strategic and intentional about who you allow to come in close at this moment. Labour and birthing – even in the spirit – are both an intimate time and a vulnerable time. If you have a crowd of people that have all access to your life, you are going to need to close the door to all but one or two strategic cheerleaders at this moment. You cannot have people degrading you and laughing at you as you go through the contractions of birth. You need cheerleaders in the delivery room, not fear-mongers, mockers and distractors. There will even be those who may appear good, but want to ride on your delivery. I’m not suggesting to be critical about every person, but I am saying – be strategic, you cannot have people draining your time and resources as you labor. You are going to need very strong boundaries and locks on the doors if needed, to keep anyone out who would try and distract you with all of their own drama. If not, you may end up with a prolonged and delayed delivery, just as I experienced. This will allow you to focus intently on the contractions and deliver what God has assigned to you rather than face delay or worse, still-birth.

2. BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE!

For the past number of days, I have heard a particular word on repeat in my spirit and that word is ‘focus’. The Holy Spirit is saying to you today, “FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!” In a time of birthing, intense focus is required. After two days, I was finally admitted to the hospital, but when I got there, the newly built hospital was under-staffed and they were unable to admit me into a birthing suite. Instead, I was placed in a side-corridor alongside other women who were birthing, just like me, with only curtain partitions to separate us. Just when I thought I could finally focus; I was more distracted than ever by the sounds of other women in labor filling the entire corridors. It was then that Nate gave me headphones with gentle worship playing so I could tune out the distractions I was hearing and focus intently on my breathing. There is a reason you always hear people in movies coaching a woman through labor by saying, ‘breathe, breathe, breathe.’ It’s not just a saying, it is a direction of focus. No sooner did I begin focussing properly on my breathing, than my labor progressed rapidly and a door for a birthing suite was opened up to us and it was not long after that I gave birth – in the peaceful surroundings of a beautiful suite.
It’s likely that you are surrounded by other people in labor right now. You’ve probably noticed that you are surrounded by the intensity of their problems as others push through their own barriers and deliver the promises ordained for their own lives. But know this, you cannot labor for them, so again, you are going to need to ‘tune out’ the noise and focus in on what the Holy Spirit is breathing over you right now. What has He spoken? What are the promises God has declared over you for this season? Don’t lose sight of them in this pivotal moment. You are going to need to rehearse them, breathe them in deeply, and breathe them out. Speak them, fix your eyes on them and declare them. You are about to give birth to what has been promised, don’t get distracted by the intense needs of those around you. God will carry them just as He will carry you – but you NEED to FOCUS. Focus is FAITH in action. This is what Hebrews 11:1 directs us to do;
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]
Interestingly, a definition for the word ‘focus’ says, ‘adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly.’ Isn’t that amazing? Adapt your focus to what God is speaking – not everything else that is surrounding and distracting you. Take your eyes off the problems and fix your eyes on THE light and you will see clearly what is before you and OBTAIN what has been divinely GUARANTEED to you. As you focus, you will deliver the baby quicker than expected.

3. PROTECT THE PROMISE!

In the dreamlike hours following Sophie's birth, we were visited – uninvited I might add - by a very boisterous person (evidently, Nate and I had no idea about the concept of boundaries in those days). He came into our hospital room yelling, screaming and shouting and picked my toddler up in the air and was throwing her about in the room. I remember feeling as though I was about to pass out from the noise, following three days of delivery, it trigged me into a near-panic attack. Thankfully, my midwife happened to be in the room and immediately saw the pale look on my face and ordered him out of the room abruptly. So much so, he became offended. But she looked at Nate and I and said, “It’s fine for the family to come to see the baby, but Mum is just as important as the newborn. If you don’t protect this space, you’ll fall into depression.” I didn’t listen. In the days and weeks following her birth, we had yet another steady stream of people visiting, and I felt the intense pressures to be ‘up and about’ like normal, going to church on Sunday immediately following her birth, making coffees for all of our visitors – giving the impression I was a ‘do it all’ Mother who was all put together. But in reality, I was crumbling inside.
I feel this lesson is imperative for those of you in labor and delivery of your promises right now. Just as western cultures have depicted a narrative that modern mothers should be back on their feet in no time, there is also a subtle belief within the western church – that has a similar storyline, ‘the more you do, the better and the more effectual you are for the Kingdom.’ Whereas, I believe the Holy Spirit is speaking, just like the midwife – ‘PROTECT THE PROMISE! PROTECT YOUR TIME!’ You are important to God, and He doesn’t want you burning out in depression because you felt you needed to rush into the assignment once it was birthed or say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. I believe that now more than ever, we need to be intently focussed on what we are specifically called to do – we need to be nursing the ‘assignment’ and allow recovery and time. This is an era where the enemy is attempting to trap the body of Christ, first into immense amounts of distraction to both prolong the births of mantles and assignments, and even to cause stillbirths of promise. However, if he doesn’t succeed there, he will attempt to draw you into burnout. I believe God is protecting you in this season by preventing either to happen, but we also need to vigilant just as 1 Peter 5:8 states; ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’
Notice the enemy is ‘like’ a lion – which gives us keen insight into his strategies. Many lions hunt on their prey when the prey is giving birth. A time of birthing is a vulnerable time, so be vigilant to protect it. Breathe on the promises of God. Shut the door to all distractions… and protect the promise once it has been birthed. Allow yourself time to adjust and for the promise to grow. Don’t rush it. This is not a season to rush. For what you are about to birth will grow in the months and years to come into the weighty call and assignment upon your life. You are birthing destiny for the years to come.

Congratulations on the birthing of your promise 🥰

Sow a Seed

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MY WARNING FROM THE LORD ON THIS NEXT MOVE OF GOD

By Nate Johnston • 22 Oct, 2024

Last week, I had a peculiar, yet powerful dream. It was one of those dreams where I immediately knew God was speaking. If God could put a dream in bold, caps-lock, this would be it. The urgency and clarity of the dream made it impossible to ignore. I knew that every detail mattered. In the dream, I walked into a conference setting. The location wasn’t grand or large, but it had a massive river flowing beside it. As I entered through the front door, I was immediately confronted by a person. This person began to criticize me, telling me I didn’t know what I was talking about, listing their ministry statistics and achievements. They boasted about how God had chosen them for a mighty move of His Spirit, but not me. Right away, I discerned that this person was operating out of an orphan spirit, striving to manufacture something that wasn’t from God. Their charisma, their appearance, and even the way they spoke were familiar—a formula the Church has used for far too long. I stood quietly as they slandered me. Then this person challenged me. “If you’re truly anointed by God,” they said, “I want to challenge you to a competition by the river in three days.” Normally, I don’t feel the need to prove myself, but something in my spirit told me to agree. “What’s the challenge?” I asked. They explained, “There’s a hummingbird that sits by the river, and it’s very hard to allure. The person who can get this hummingbird to sit on their shoulder is the one God has anointed in this hour.” I agreed and went on my way. In the next part of the dream, I watched this person striving for days, practicing how to capture the hummingbird. They had all sorts of tools—fishing rods, hooks, cages, nets, and various contraptions to try and catch the bird. They even dressed in camouflage and imitated hummingbird noises to try to lure it. But I did nothing. I simply observed. The day of the competition came, and it was their turn. They spent what felt like an hour striving, yet again, to capture the hummingbird. Sweat dripped down their face, frustration etched into their every movement, but they failed. Now it was my turn. I approached the river with nothing in my hands. I stood still, made a “tsk” sound and the hummingbird flew straight to me, landing gently on my shoulder. Then I woke up. I immediately asked the Lord, “What are you trying to tell me?” And the Lord spoke to me clearly: “My Church has been trying for too long to manufacture revival. They have been chasing after past revivals, attempting to recreate and monopolize what I once did. They use their own methods, striving to capture My presence, striving to control My Spirit for their gain and reputation. But I will not place the next move of My Spirit in the hands of those who seek it for themselves. I am looking for a people who will simply be a landing place for My Spirit.” He continued, “Tell them to stop striving and be a landing place for Me again. I will come without measure. I will pour out My Spirit without measure. My signs and wonders will come again, and My glory will shine in the darkest places of the earth. Those who welcome My presence without agenda will see Me move mightily.” I was overwhelmed. I began to weep and even repent, searching my own heart. “Lord,” I prayed, “I just want to be a landing pad for You.” Then the scripture came to mind: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Who will build a house for Me? Where will My resting place be?” (Isaiah 66:1). In that moment, I cried out, “Lord, let me be a dwelling place for You. Let me create spaces where Your Spirit is welcome, where there is no agenda but You.” THE PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HUMMINGBIRD As I reflected on the dream, I felt it was significant that the Holy Spirit was represented by a hummingbird. This wasn’t random but something the Lord was trying to show me through this. Here are a few thoughts that came to me; Hummingbirds are delicate and sensitive: RT Kendall once said “The Holy Spirit is like a dove—He is easily grieved and easily offended. If He does not feel at home, He will take His flight.” Hummingbirds are incredibly sensitive creatures, easily startled and hard to capture. This speaks to the nature of the Holy Spirit—He is not to be manipulated or coerced. He is drawn to places of peace, rest, and stillness, not striving. The next move of God will not be caught through our efforts but through our ability to be a still, welcoming vessel. Hummingbirds are small but mighty: Though hummingbirds are small, they are known for their incredible strength, endurance, and agility. They can fly great distances despite their size. The Holy Spirit is often underestimated, but His power far exceeds anything we can imagine. This next move of God may come in small, unexpected ways, but its impact will be mighty and far-reaching. Hummingbirds eat nectar; Hummingbirds are drawn to the sweetness of nectar. This represents the sweetness of our intimacy with God. The next move of God will be drawn to places of genuine intimacy, where His people are drinking deeply from the sweetness of His presence, not from the bitterness of striving or self-promotion. Hummingbirds are in continuous motion: Hummingbirds are always in motion, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s continuous work. He never stops moving, even when we can’t see it. The next move of God will be constant and unceasing, flowing through those who are aligned with Him. Hummingbirds are vibrant and beautiful: Hummingbirds are known for their vibrant colors. This speaks of the beauty and diversity of the Holy Spirit’s work in this next season. The move of God will not be confined to one look, one formula, or one method. It will be vibrant, full of life, and expressed in many different ways. THE WARNING & THE CLARION CALL The warning is clear: We must stop striving. The Church cannot manufacture what God is about to do. The formulas and strategies of the past will not capture the Spirit’s movement in this new season. Those who seek to control or profit from this move will be left striving in vain. The Lord is looking for people who will simply be a landing place for His Spirit. The clarion call is just as clear: Be a landing place. Prepare your heart to be a dwelling place for His presence. Create environments where there is no agenda but to welcome Him. As we do this, the Holy Spirit will come and rest upon us, not through our efforts, but through our surrender. This next move of God will be marked by His Spirit moving without measure, in places and through people who are yielded and open. Let us heed this warning and prepare ourselves for what is to come.

TO THE PIONEERS FEELING DEPLETED IN SOUL

By Nate Johnston • 22 Oct, 2024

I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, “Pioneers, it is time to recover from depletion and be whole in soul!” You have labored faithfully, but many have continued to pull the cart instead of the horse (The strength of the Holy Spirit). But in this season, many of you have continued to dance on the brink of burnout. You have been digging deeper into exhaustion, while the call of 2024 was to enter rest. You’ve tried to push through, thinking you could will your way forward. But the Lord is reminding us all again right now, “Go up the mountain. Ascend the hill of the Lord and find My rest again.” (Psalm 24) Instead of laying down your heavy burdens, you’ve picked up more. Instead of surrendering at the altar, you’ve been striving from a state of brokenness. But I hear the Father’s heart crying out over you, “Recover!” You are not called to burn out in this season—you are called to prosper in your soul. THE CALL TO REST & RECOVER The Lord is giving you permission to stop, to lay down the weight of your assignments, and to focus on recovering your soul. He says, “Your first calling is not to the work of ministry; it is to Me. Your first priority is not your assignment; it is to live for Jesus and to be whole.” How can you save others or lead others if you are killing yourself in the process? How does it benefit you—or the next generation—if you die early, physically or spiritually, or lose your faith under the weight of people’s expectations or trying to uphold your reputation? The Lord says, “It’s time to get your strength back.” The new assignment is awaiting you, but do not jump into it while running on empty. It is not noble of you to sacrifice your well-being for the sake of the ministry machine. Burn the golden calf and recover! This is the time to prosper in your soul and to realign with the Father’s heart for you. Many of you have been barely functioning, surviving on old revelations, on past seasons of manna, but the Lord is inviting you to feast on the fresh Word of Heaven again. You’ve been trying to hold it all together on limited or expired intel, but I hear the Lord say, “It’s time to thrive, not just survive, and it’s time to step into a whole new understanding and revelation of who I am and who you are!” Yes! It’s time to starve anxiety by finding your feet again in Jesus! Anxiety has drained you, but as you press into the presence again, you will find security again. Some of you have lost your language. WE have lost our language! The battle has worn us down and caused us to lose the dialogue. But it’s coming back! Under the weight of busyness and fatigue, you have seen it fall from your grip, but the Lord is saying, “It’s time to reignite the flame of intimacy with me! And it’s time to prophesy from a fresh place. From peace! Not fear. Not pain. But CLARITY again! And it will just WHOOOOOSH out of you like a fresh spring of water in the desert. Dealing with Soul Depletion and Health Issues Many pioneers have not only experienced burnout but also physical health struggles that are tied to this deep soul depletion. Chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional strain have manifested in various physical ailments, leaving many feeling weak in both body and spirit. The connection between the soul and body is undeniable, and the Lord is addressing these underlying issues. The Lord says, “I see the toll this journey has taken on your body. I see how exhaustion has made you vulnerable to illness and fatigue. “But I am the restorer of your soul and your health. As you rest in Me, I will bring healing not only to your spirit but also to your body!” This is not just a season of spiritual recovery but it is a time for physical renewal as well. This depletion has often led to feelings of deep isolation and despair, with many believing they are alone in their struggles. The Lord is calling you out of this isolation simultaneously with depletion where people burned you out and drove you further into hiddenness. Many of you have believed the lie that your anointing is gone, that the battles and mental warfare you’ve faced have somehow stripped away the calling on your life. But the Lord says the opposite is true. Your anointing has not faded—it has only increased in this season of struggle and warfare. But how can you wield a sword when your soul is murky? The battles you’ve been fighting are not to diminish you but to refine and sharpen you. The Lord says, “I am increasing your anointing, even in the midst of the turmoil. I am refining your gifting and your calling. But to operate in the fullness of this anointing, your soul must be clear, your heart at peace” “Come to Me, and let Me clear the murkiness. Let Me bring clarity and rest so that you can wield your sword with strength, precision, and power.” Pioneers, you’ve been pouring out from an empty cup, and the Lord says, “This must change.” He wants you to pour out from the overflow of His presence, from a place of wholeness, not depletion. How? Sit at His feet, pause, and make that your food and sustenance. Lay down the pressure of the masses and the constant noise of the world. Fill your cup first. Then fill up the cups that are nearest to you before you can pour into others.” Family is your first ministry. Let healing and restoration flow through your home before you step out to the nations. The Lord is calling you to recover your soul so that you can fully step into the new assignments He has for you. Do not rush ahead, do not strive—wait on the Lord and let Him restore you. The next phase of your calling will not be accomplished through your own strength, but through His Spirit flowing through you. The Lord says, “Pioneers, stop and recover. You have permission to rest. You have permission to heal. You have permission to refuel for the journey ahead.” The harvest is plentiful, but you must prosper in your soul to carry the weight of the coming outpouring. This is not the time to push ahead without strength. Go up the mountain, find rest, and prosper in the presence of the Lord. From this place of rest, you will build with ease, you will prophesy with clarity, and you will lead with strength. “He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ( Matthew 11:28) “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

MY WARNING FROM THE LORD ON THIS NEXT MOVE OF GOD

By Nate Johnston • 22 Oct, 2024

TO THE PIONEERS FEELING DEPLETED IN SOUL

By Nate Johnston • 22 Oct, 2024

I HEARD THE LORD SAY: “I AM RESTORING THE PIONEERS IN PTSD”

By Nate Johnston • 16 Oct, 2024

“My pioneers have been living under the pain and soul sickness of PTSD, but right now I am bringing them back to life” Right now many pioneers feel like David and his men at Ziklag—returning to find everything you fought for burned to the ground, and everything you loved stolen. You’ve been through endless battles, only to arrive at this breaking point, crushed under the pressure of situations you don’t understand and outcomes you didn’t expect. The warfare has been relentless, and the seeming loss overwhelming and you have wept until there is nothing left. You gave all you had to obey the call, and now you’re standing in the ashes, wondering if it was all in vain, doubting whether you even heard God correctly. I know what you are feeling. The exhaustion is not just physical; it is spiritual, emotional, and mental. The dark night of your soul has stretched on, and you’ve wondered if you will ever see light again. You’ve carried the wounds of betrayal, disappointment, and abandonment. You fought hard for others, but now you feel soul-sick and too weary to move forward. But I hear the Lord say, “This is not the end— and you aren’t crushed beyond my rescue, because while it may not look like it, I have been pulling you out of the soul crushing defeat and emotional baggage of your last season and mission” “Yes, and like you draw snake poison from a wound I have been drawing out the poison of slander, witchcraft, and personal disappointment to the surface to free you once and for all” “This is why you have felt the way you do, because it’s all manifesting around you, but not for the reason you thought it was” “This is actually your restoration. Just as David strengthened himself in Me after Ziklag, I am releasing supernatural strength to you right now” “What feels like the end is actually a threshold. The enemy thought the fire would destroy you, but this is where the tide turns. Just as I told David, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and recover all,’ I am speaking this word over you now: You will recover everything. What was stolen is not lost forever. What the enemy burned, I will restore” “You did not hear Me wrong. Every word I spoke still stands. The dream is not dead—it’s about to be resurrected” “The enemy whispered lies to make you believe you failed, but you are not defeated—you are in transition. The fire that tried to destroy you will now become the fuel for your next assignment” “The soul sickness and trauma will no longer rule over you like it has in the past and it will not determine your steps or how you see anymore. I am right now lifting the weight off your heart and clearing the fog from your mind” The Lord says, “Now look for the second wind that is coming on the other side of this extraction, for I am re-commissioning you.” “This time, you will not run exhausted ; you will run with a renewed fire and unstoppable clarity” “You will not only rebuild what was lost—you will build beyond what you ever imagined. This Ziklag moment is not your grave—it is the launching pad for the next chapter.

THE COMMISSIONING OF WILD HORSES

By Nate Johnston • 15 Oct, 2024

This past weekend, I was walking down the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during the Million Women event, when I heard the sound of hooves—galloping, fast, and almost deafening. It was so loud in my spirit that it stopped me in my tracks. As I stood there, I heard the phrase: “Heaven’s gates opened, and the horses were released.” Just a few days earlier, in a meeting with Lou Engle, he shared about how the Lord had woven all the threads of his life together for this event. Lou said, “This one is different—it’s a mass commissioning service for God’s daughters.” As he spoke, I saw seeds flying out from D.C., scattering across the earth and becoming wildfires. I knew this moment was significant—one of release, calling, and awakening. This wasn’t my first prophetic encounter in D.C. Years ago, on a trip to Washington, the Lord gave me a dream saying, “Go to the eastern gate of D.C. and pray.” From that moment on, I’ve always seen Washington, D.C., not just as a place of governmental authority, but as a spiritual gateway—a place of intercession, heavenly legislation, and divine release. Psalm 24 says, “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” But what if these ancient gates are not just places for the King to enter? What if they are also the gates releasing the horses of heaven—wild, unrestrained, and sent on divine assignment? And now, I say to you—God’s daughters, and the Mordecais standing with them—RUN. Christy and I were sent to D.C. years ago as God’s Lighthorsemen from Australia, joining the fight at America’s doorstep. But now, the time has come for you to rise as the wild horses commissioned for this moment in history. We must rise as God’s wild ones, unrelenting and unstoppable. God’s horses are wild, uncontainable, and bold, and that is exactly what you were made to be. The gates of heaven have swung open, and you have been commissioned to run. Don’t hold back. Run with abandon, knowing that the fire of the Spirit burns within you. Run, carrying seeds of awakening that will spread across nations. The time is now. The gates are open. The King of Glory is riding with you. It’s time to chase out Goliath’s brothers, to break the strongholds, and to take back what the enemy has tried to steal. You were born for this moment in history—wild, free, and unstoppable. So I say to you once more: Run, wild horses. Run. The race ahead is not for the faint of heart, but the King is with you, and the victory is already assured. This is your commissioning. This is your moment. Now is the time—run.

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