I was in worship one day recently at home when I heard an almighty war-cry and I looked to see where this cry came from and saw a valley filled with smoke and ash.
As I looked in closer I saw that it was coming from people who were broken and had been counted as dead and spiritually asleep.
This was those who had been taken out in 2020 and 2021 and were in the throes and cycles of grief that they were unable to shake and break out from.
It looked as if they had been dismantled, deconstructed, and demolished like a building.
They were laying in the ash and the smoke from the battle was still in the air around them yet something had MAJORLY shifted inside of them.
By all appearances they were out of the game and finished but this war-cry began to erupt from them almost involuntarily which would have shocked them and took them by surprise and also to all those around them.
I knew in that moment that even hell itself would have been bewildered at this sight because they had been well and truly sent to the grave, but God had other plans.
THE CRY OF GRIEF BROKEN
Then I heard words begin to form in this war-cry.. “IT’S BROKEN, IT’S OVER, IT’S ENDED!”
“What has broken?” I thought. Then I discerned the spirit of grief in the air. It was anguish at the absolute deepest levels from a season of extreme loss.
Then I began to hear the silent pain and doubts and fears of those who were on the ground like whispers of torment and inescapable sorrow like I was being shown the condition of those who died in this season.
Hope-deferred. Hopeless. Defeated. Severely disappointed and faithless. But I witnessed it - the turning. The turning of the silent screams of pain cast into the wind suddenly turn into a war-cry of prophetic decrees and fresh hope.
And in the place of severe loss the most unimaginable thing started taking place- bitter waters became rivers and grief became a laughter that started small then couldn’t be stopped.
It was like a tap had been turned on the Inside of these people that hadn’t been turned in a very long time. Joy flooded out of them and eclipsed and overtook every single place of pain.
THE CRY OF JUSTICE
I felt it deeply - this was a cry of OVERDUE JUSTICE for every single place where prayers were intercepted and promises were delayed.
This was the cry initiated by heaven to settle the score.
This was mourning being turned into "dancing upon injustice"
This was the impossible comeback and the unfathomable restoration like it says in Isaiah 42:22;
“But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, “Restore!”
But right these ones are rising up and in their war-cry is a shout that can not be shut down, of a people who are standing up and commanding that restitution and restoration must take place!
This war-cry is right shaking earthly systems and worldly empires that have sided with the enemy. It has looked like they have won but they have forgotten who reigns on the highest throne and who gets the last laugh.
And even right now I hear the Lord say “scales and balances are mine and there is nothing I will overlook and there is nothing I will not repay in both evil and in good!”
This war-cry was the marker of the beginning of seeing things shift in unexpected places as the once fallen people of God stand up and raise their voices declaring JUSTICE & RESTORATION.
THIS IS THE NEW SOUND
When I heard this sound I instantly wanted to get on my face in the Lords presence because I felt Him so near.
It felt holy and wrapped in the fear of the Lord and my heart felt instantly like it was being purged of apathy, defeat, failure, shame, and hope-deferred.
I got on my knees in my kitchen knowing this was a holy moment I was witnessing but couldn’t understand what was going on or why it felt this way.
Then i saw the same vision I saw earlier again of the people covered in ashes in the valley and I saw Jesus walk through the field with the train of His robe behind Him. As He walked through these fallen ones were being made complete and whole.
This wrecked me and I understood - this was a fresh sound that came from encountering Jesus. The worst of situations and the bleakest of circumstances were no match for Him.
This is the new sound. It’s the sound of YAH in our lungs. It’s the sound of intercession. It’s the deep pent up cry of the lovers of God seeing Him face to face. It’s the sound of personal revival. It’s the deep heart change, stones becoming flesh, and bones coming back to life. It’s the sound of an army standing to her feet after a season of utter defeat.
It’s the sound of our victorious King making Himself known to His people and then through them to the world.
THE CRY OF BIRTH
So let me end this by speaking to those who have been in the valley of defeat - the King is here and now comes a fresh cry that is about to burst forth from the inside of you.
To those lost their voices in this season - your wells are being uncapped again.
For the ones who lost their sound and their laughter, their shout, and their victory-roar - you are coming back with a fresh cry and a fresh song.
This will be your re-birthing because just as a baby endures the pressing and movement before it’s first breath and the mother walks through 9 months of uncomfortable preparation before the miracle, so too will this moment be after all you have walked through.
The fresh cry is the sound of LIFE entering where you have only seen barrenness and unending sorrow.
The fresh cry will be your sign that morning has come and mourning is leaving you.
You will feel the shift and it will come out in your song.
LIFE is about to come out of your mouth to counteract the noise.
So let the new battle cry come forth from you now and let the season of victory and payback begin in Jesus name!
