Let’s explore this title because your words can prevent you from seeing the supernatural and walking in it. Isaiah 58:6-9 reveals truths about fasting;

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will  break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.’”

This is the fast I believe the Lord is calling the Body of Christ to today: the fast from words of death, of criticism, and of gossip. I know this is to be more than a fast from food. The fasting from food – have you ever done it? You decide to fast for seven days because you want to get revelation. Here we go…

Day one arrives and by lunchtime we start to smell food… and it smells good. We declare, “I am fasting for revelation. Now thank You, Lord, and help me.” By day three, you start to say to yourself, “When I’m done I’m going to have a healthy meal of bread and steaks.” Then by day seven you are praying, “Lord, please release me, release me; I promise I will just try again later! Just give me something, for I am hungry!” I don’t think that is the fast He is calling us to. I believe it is a fasting from words: words of destruction and words that can have curses on them.

The example that I am using at this point can be found in Joshua 6. It is the story of Jericho. The Commander of the Host, who is Jesus Christ, appears to Joshua and starts to give him commands about marching around the city and the protocol of heaven that is to be done by the people.

We all know that the people were not allowed to speak during that seven days, but have you ever researched who told the people not to speak? Many teachers say, even from pulpits, that the Lord told Joshua to tell the people not to speak. And yet, it was not the Lord at all. We read in Joshua 6:10, “Joshua commanded the people; you shall not shout or make your voice heard; neither shall any word go out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout, and then you shall shout.” In the Hebrew it means he told them they could not even sigh, because he knew what kind of people He was leading. He had over forty years of watching them love Moses one day and wanting to kill him the next. He saw for over forty years how they complained to Moses and even what his sister Miriam said. So he told them they could not even make a sound with their mouth

I have seen in the supernatural realm,  where black smoke literally comes out of the mouth of a person, covers their head, and goes down, finally resting at their feet. The more criticalness there is—the more black smoke comes out of them and covers them. When it starts to go away, it starts at the feet and works its way up to the thought life, but by then they have probably spent the day mumbling and complaining so much, and saying critical things, that any evidence of the “joy of the Lord” is gone. It’s the same with gossip, which defiles you and the others around so much, that any opportunity for Holy Ghost anointing in you to manifest and be seen by others is nil. That is because Holy Ghost will not invade your free will and make you be silent. So now you have some idea of why we must guard the words that come from our mouths.

But I have also seen where people speak a word of joy or love, real passion, and compassion, and gold flakes and diamond chips come out and cover people with gold dust.

This is what we should always be doing, not gossiping or complaining.

Joshua knew what kind of people he was leading, and I firmly believe the Hebrew people were also aware of  the supernatural realm because of the their many experiences with God in Egypt.  Remember, the Eastern culture is much  different than our Greco-Roman thinking, which has a foundation from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle of separating the natural and supernatural worlds. As you look into the Word of God in the Old Testament, the only time you see the Hebrew people not seeing the supernatural was when they became involved in a lifestyle of the world (such as Egypt and Rome). As we look at Isaiah, Samuel, Elisha, and other senior prophets, we see how they could look and walk in the supernatural all the time. It is all about their upbringing and knowing that to walk with God is to walk in a spiritual realm at all times.

So Joshua told the Hebrew people they could not talk for seven days, but they still had a thought life. Their thought life was active in the brain, but because they were forbidden to enunciate their words, they could not defile the plan of the Lord. No black smoke, no grey smoke, no evil. Six days they could not speak , only think.

The seventh day it says that they woke up earlier in the morning, before the sun came up, and started walking with their whole attitude changed from having words of destruction to freedom from their negative effects and its fruit. Then the trumpet blew and Joshua gave the command to shout. As you study the written Word, you will discover that God put His sound to their sound and the ground opened up and the walls of Jericho went under the ground and it closed over it all. That is why they ran unopposed to the middle of the city; because there were no outer city walls left standing.

I would also like to point out another spiritual principle that can be learned from the history of Jericho. When you are free from the defiling smoke of negative communication, the gift of discernment that is given to us by Holy Ghost will strengthen and mature. This is perhaps the greatest incentive that we must have. If we change our vocabulary immediately to that of life, we will succeed at all that our Heavenly Father has for us to accomplish.

This fast that God is directing us to is to speak life and not death; to speak the Word and continually see the supernatural instead of just speaking idle words. The number one detriment to our success in our destinies is not a lack of faith; it is a lack of life-giving words. The lack of life- giving words can deter your faith and make unbelief or disbelief, which are curses, come into your life.

The remedy for faith is so easy. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When you start your day, don’t initiate it by first reading emails or listening to the news. Place a time of establishing the Lord in all that you want to do that day. And ask Holy Ghost to lead you in all truth and help you to always stand in the supernatural.

Stop using words that hinder your vision of the supernatural. What would happen if you really became part of an army of seers? The curses in the land would no longer be tolerated, but demolished and abolished. Even the spiritual enemies on our territories would run as they would discover that we have discovered the strategies of heaven for walking in the blessings and not the curses. Let’s live out the fast that gives us eternal eyes and tongues that speak life—not death. Guard your words. Keep your mouth shut unless you have life from the Lord Jesus Christ to speak into and over others.

THEN JOB said to the Lord… I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.  AMP Job 42:1-5

Job said that he saw God with his spiritual eyes.  Each one of us have been given spiritual senses to understand and know the things of God’s Kingdom.  Like Job, we tend to discount these abilities that have been given to us by Holy Spirit.   This discounting of our spiritual senses has been perpetuated by church tradition.  Our spiritual eyes, for example,  have been shut down by those whose own spiritual eyes were previously shut down.   A small child who sees something in the Spirit is told that it is only his or her imagination, or that what they describe is not real, does not exist, or simply is just not there.  Result… shut down of our spiritual senses.

The consequence of this shut down is that we begin relying on our natural senses which are more readily confirmed by those around us.  At this point, a default truth or lie about ourselves is created in which our ability to use our spiritual senses is greatly diminished.   As this lie becomes part of our belief system, we find ourselves saying, “I cannot see in the Spirit” as if it were a fact.  If we truly realized the ability God has given us in the gift of spiritual senses, we would see that this statement is not grounded in God’s truth, but rather on the lie which requires us to rely on our natural senses to understand the world around us.

As believers, we have overcome this incorrect belief  system in the area of hearing God.  Most of us have no problem believing we can all hear God’s voice.  We now need to realize that the same is true of our other senses, including seeing in the Spirit.

To improve our ability to utilize our supernatural senses, we first need to realize with confidence that God created each of us with spiritual senses to be used for His glory and for our victory in both the natural and spiritual realms.  Confidence can be gained by paying attention to accounts in the Word where supernatural experiences of hearing and sight are recorded.  For example, in 2 Kings 6:15-17, Elisha prayed and God opened the servant’s eyes to see the spiritual realities around him:

15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. NASV

Studying the scripture with an eye to supernatural realities will focus us on using our spiritual senses and eliminate the power of the lie that says we can trust only our natural senses.  In addition, as we meditate on God’s Word , we should request Holy Spirit’s help in increasing our sensitivity to the spiritual realm.

Fasting is also an effective way of increasing our spiritual senses and eyesight.  Fasting on a regular basis suppresses our flesh or natural senses, so that our spiritual senses can come to the forefront.  I remember that when I had a discipline of fasting weekly and spending additional time abiding in the presence of the Lord, my spiritual senses became much more acute.  I began to see angels and demons, and to perceive more clearly the things of God.

We should look for opportunities to practice using our spiritual senses.  One afternoon at the mall, I had such an opportunity.  I was supposed to find a friend’s car in the parking lot and drop something off for her.  Instead of calling her to find out exactly where she parked, I decided to stretch myself spiritually and locate the car using my spiritual senses.  After all, Holy Spirit knew exactly where the car was, right?  I began driving around the 20-acre site looking for the car.  I used my spiritual hearing and eyesight; listening to Holy Spirit, looking in the Spirit and sensing when I was approaching the correct location.  Sure enough, it did not take long to find the car.  I drove up behind the car and then after examining it with my natural eyes I decided it wasn’t the right car.  I knew my friend did not have that particular bumper sticker on her car.  I felt discouraged and resorted  to the “lie” and to my cell phone, only to find out it was the right car… with a new bumper sticker.  I had found the car using my spiritual senses, but how quickly my natural senses had talked me out of being correct!  I had put more emphasis on my ability to know what kind of bumper sticker someone would have than on my God-given spiritual ability!

Spending time with seasoned seers who can mentor us is another way to increase our ability to utilize our spiritual senses.   As I was beginning to see in the Spirit, I would describe what I was seeing to a mentor or mature believer.  As we began to dialogue about the images I saw, the spiritual realities I was witnessing began to be confirmed.  I was encouraged in my abilities and learned to focus more clearly and to describe more accurately what I was experiencing.  I became more comfortable and confident in relying on my spiritual eyesight.

I think that, like many parts of relationship with Christ, we have made seeing in the Spirit more complicated that it really is.  It seems to be something that only certain people can achieve.  It seems to be something out of reach for many of us.  This is absolutely not true.  When my wife was newly baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 16, she had never heard of seeing in the Spirit.  No one had told her she could or she couldn’t, and it had never really crossed her mind.  All she was thinking about was how much she loved Jesus and how much He loved her.  As she was singing the song, “Open My Eyes, I Want to See Jesus,”….there He was… standing right in the middle of the youth group… looking right at her…  nothing complicated about it.

What if we as believers decided to operate in the all the spiritual senses God has given us?  What if we believed like Job, that we can see with our spiritual eyes?  What if we practiced, made ourselves accountable to seasoned seers and moved forward with confidence, utilizing the spiritual senses God created us to use?  WHAT IF?

We read in Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness,” and again in Genesis 2:7, “The Lord formed man, and man became a living being.”

As Jesus has asked the question to me, I now ask you, “What do you see?”

We know we are created in His image and the seed will reproduce after it’s own kind. He is the creator, and through us, He creates! Because He sees, we can see also!

The first time I “saw” Him, I was thirteen. My father had just died and it was a very difficult time in my life. I was awakened to a “knowing” to go downstairs and open the front door. As I hurried down the stairs and flung open the door, I saw a man approaching, shining in a glorious light! There was a loud, but sweet sound of bells ringing. He looked at me, and with great love spoke these words: “Forgive your mother.” At the time, I did not understand His words, but later learned that this was a prophetic statement concerning things that would soon come to pass. After He uttered these words, He vanished before my eyes.

I had never been trained in these realms. When I tried to communicate my experiences with my mother, she was overwhelmed with fear, so I bumbled along on my own. It was years later that I began to see clearly. I realized that the greatest stumbling block to seeing was FEAR.

He loves me and He loves you! His life was laid down for ours so that we would have life abundantly! If we then believe His great love towards us, and in us, that works all things together for our good, then we dwell with him in heavenly places! If we then abide with him, what do we see? We see what He sees!

Psalm 36:9 states, “For with you is the fountain of life; In Your Light we see light.” So I see all things in the light.

We read in Psalm 17:15, “I will see Your face in righteousness, I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.”

Consider Matthew 17:1-5. Jesus took Peter, James, John, and his brother with him to the mountain. Does He not also go with us? “Did not my heart go with you?” Yes, is the answer! In the same scripture their first response was to become fearful. Isn’t that our response also? But Jesus tells them, “Get up and do not be afraid!” So then, as we walk knowing His love, His abiding, and His working all things for our good, we see! Perfect love casts out fear!

We may see glimpses of spiritual movement in our peripheral vision. As long as we embrace the truth that we have seen something, rather than to dismiss it in doubt, we will continue to see. We may have a “knowing” of His presence, or of angels, or of demons. He may open up our spiritual eyes to see them clearly or to see Him! What will our response be? The possibilities of seeing and overcoming fear are eternal. We are eternal beings, having a human experience. It is not the other way around. God will bring forth all that He has for us, whether in open vision, transportations, dreams, or occasional glimpses. Only believe He is, what He says, and what He does through you, and you will see!

He says to us now, “Beloved, in Jesus Christ you have been purchased, and in Me you are enough, you do enough, you have enough. So rest and I will show you great and marvelous things!”

Amen, Lord!

Mankind has never experienced anything close to the era in which we find ourselves. Media has the ears, eyes, minds and hearts of cultures of the globe.

This is a day of “social networking” and media technology. Politicians, marketing gurus, network television and even governments are fearful of the freedom of communications that the people of the world have. The world is planning their self-expression of communication. The “controllers” of the world fear the lack of control in communications. We must wake up and realize that several governments have tumbled lately because the people found strategic communications through the use of tools like FaceBook and Twitter.

Strategies abound, when it comes to the ways that mankind is able to reach the masses in meaningful communications. “Where much is given, much is required,” and as representatives of the kingdom of Heaven we need to know media and communications and start the flow of the declarations of our King.

The Church, typically has one of the slowest “change mechanisms” of modern society. “Pastors” don’t see that it is their job or responsibility to strategically use the growing number of communications tools that technology is making available to the world. Those churches that are “lost in the old days” are dwindling by shear numbers alone. Not to mention the attrition view, watching the congregations getting older and older as far as the medium age of the people is concerned. We say that the Church is about relationship but relationship cannot possibly deepen or even take place without communications.

Preaching is the use of media for communications. Jesus Christ, our model, used every form of media available to Him at the time.

Young people don’t use their mobile phones to talk on, much. They text, tweet and Facebook and even develop a shortened language so that they can talk more and say less. Complain all you want. It won’t change the direction that the generations are traveling. To get them

on course with the kingdom of God, you are going to have to get in the slipstream and start piloting the ship in the direction of the kingdom of God.

One flow of communications will only narrow the audience. Communications strategies must consider all forms of communications and use every avenue with the hope that in each form, your voice, the message, will get to a few and the few become a growing number of thriving audiences.

I suggest that Ecclesia leaders stop what they are so tied up with and take a look at their responsibilities toward media, technologies, and the use of every form of communications possible.

Sending emails out for advertising is so narrowing that it is nearly Neanderthal in nature. Might be better to draw hieroglyphics on the walls of the local bus station and get better results. I’m exaggerating but only a little. Let’s face it, we email because it’s easy and cheap and then when we have labored so hard to get that email blast out, we think we have done the job. When, if you did some message tracking you’d find that a very sizeable group of people didn’t even open the email for more than a second if at all. However, there are some people who depend on communicating through email, so we must.

Using the United States Post Office and sending what is now called “snail mail” seems archaic. I suggest that it is a hole that needs to be filled and people need to get something beside a bill in their mailbox for a change. Am I saying that we need to go back to mailers? Yes! Along with all the other forms of communications, there is a distinct audience that will only hear you if they get something in their P. O. Box – in their hand communication experience.

So, you don’t like FaceBook. Funny, Jesus didn’t like what was going on in the Temple in His day either. But that was where the people of God and the sinners congregated. So, He went there with a message. Do you know that “Virtual Churches” are forming on FaceBook? You may not like it but it is where we are today and you can’t close your spirit to the people of God and the people of the world and expect to change the nations.

Twitter is used by Politicians because it wins elections for them. Some of the new celebrities that we now know, started on YouTube, Twitter and FaceBook without a big production company or recording label.

I’ve heard preachers pride themselves in the fact that they, “don’t twit on you face.” Now, that’s an intelligent statement.  Yet, I actually heard a man who calls himself a leader say exactly that.

So, what’s the answer? Roll up your sleeves and get to work at studying the technologies for communications that are available to you. Don’t text? Just do it. Text some young people you know and love. See what happens.

Don’t Tweet? Start putting some of your sermon outline points into a 140 keystroke form and see who responds. Don’t YouTube? Try doing a simple Q&A on a two to five minute video and upload it to your own channel and see who starts listening to you. Don’t FaceBook? Your peeps do. You need to know what they are saying and join into their lives in the comfort of their homes and workplace. Is there more in the future? You bet there is. That which is coming is going to astound you. Be there for it. Be the first on the block to “make the name of Jesus Christ famous” in the newest social media out there.

What is a communications strategy, anyway? Sit with a team of people that are a crosscut of ages and talk forms of communications. Snail Mail, FaceBook, Email, Twitter, YouTube, Website, and the like. Draw out an individual plan for each avenue of communication. Get the ideas from others. Take really good notes and then sit down and make a first draft of your plan. Send it to some media “experts” and get some input. Plan on building a media team and meet with that team regularly to assign tasks and get input.

The Apostle Paul told his son in the faith, Timothy, to “Preach the Word!” This is our quest, our goal, our responsibility to the people of this world. The “gospel is the power of God unto salvation,” and we need to get the Word in every form of media that is possible so that the gospel can go to work and change lives everywhere!

“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”  Psalm 16:5-6

God is the one who determines the lines and not human beings, and God has set us women in an appointed place. The traditional practices of the Church and the boundaries that have been set for women is nothing more than a deceptive lie that the enemy has used to keep women from walking in the freedom that is theirs in Christ Jesus. The deceiver came to deceive the human race about women, but the Liberator came to restore the original plan for women!

When God made male and female He made them radically different. A male cell has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome and a female has two X chromosomes. This difference in the make-up of our bodies is a huge factor in the way each of us functions. Not only does this genetic difference mean physical and psychological differences, but our experiences and perspectives are also different.

Culture and traditional interpretations of the Bible have put great restriction on women all over the world because of gender differences. One example I witnessed was during my 10 years of being a missionary in a Middle Eastern nation. I saw many Churches place limitations on the role of women in the Church. I have even seen such suppression in Churches in America as well. The Good News is that in Christ Jesus there is a new value system that brings total restoration to women. The anointing of Holy Spirit is not limited to gender. We do not have to be limited to just children and women ministries.

Every Blood-redeemed believer is an eternal new creature in Christ Jesus, so therefore our identity is from the Divine Creator. When Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” He welcomed all to fully and equally become a partner in His Kingdom. It doesn’t matter to God what your ethnicity, class, or gender is. Paul put it this way, ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28

The religious system has kept women in a box as to what we can and cannot do. Women were never meant to be in competition with men. In Christ we are able to walk in full expression of our identity in Him. God has set the lines in pleasant places for us as women. We are full of potential and possibilities! Hidden inside each one of us is the Great One and as we release Him, we can see great advancements in the Kingdom of God! God declares freedom for those who have been oppressed by the forced traditions of religion. Jesus took oppression to the grave; and when He arose from the dead, He came with freedom for us. May the world see the beauty of the Lord shining through His women.

Although women don’t appear to be the weapons of mass destruction that He has made us to be, women are still God’s secret weapons. He has camouflaged women by clothing them in frailer appearing frames, softer skin, and sweeter voices. In addition, unless the world has scarred us, we are innately affectionate, nurturing, kind, loving, and sympathetic. We seem to more closely resemble a rose rather than a nuclear weapon. However, outward appearance belies the fact we have the covertness, discipline, and strategic nature of a Navy Seal, who can get in, get the job done, and be back home before anyone knows there’s been a disturbance in the force. Yes, we’re good at that… and more.

God is our biggest supporter, encourager, and admirer; and in no way does He oppress women, hold us back, or see us as weaker or inferior. In addition, there are no glass ceilings for women in His Kingdom because our gifts make room for us. (Prov. 18:16) I listened to a news report this week that said there is a new trend among women in corporate leadership. They are deciding to pass by the goal of breaking glass ceilings in favor of time for life and family concerns. They’ve decided their glass-breaking goal comes with “too high of a price” and “Having it all isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.” In contrast, 3rd world nation women are now pursuing the ceiling with unprecedented speed. Seemingly forbidden fruit is much more appealing than it is when you have it in your hands. Although we need a woman’s perspective and leadership in every arena of life, if you ask any woman, she will say her family is her number one priority whether she spends 24/7 with them or if more of her hours are spent in other leadership roles. The key is hearing His voice and knowing His season for His plan for you. When you have these, then – go girl- to wherever He sends you!!! We all have a part to play and none of us are locked into a stereotype, especially those who can hear the voice of God.

Women are one half of His entire arsenal. When I went to Africa in 1985, the simple but profound message He gave me for the women there was RISE UP, YOU ARE ONE HALF OF THE ARMY OF GOD! Our enemy has no problem seeing us as the threat that we are. From the beginning of creation to the present, he has attempted to silence us, bind us, and cause us to think our lives are of little value to the Kingdom. He is such a L-I-A-R!! The pockets on earth where the devil seems to have been successful in stifling the authority and power of women are always the kingdoms where it is the darkest. I believe if you could somehow measure the oppression of women in a certain people group, it would be comparable to the measure of the darkness there and the anti-Christian sentiment in that same area. But, as our son Joshua always says regarding dark places, “The darkness is the theatre for the Light.” The Light is always brighter and more effective against a dark backdrop.

If the hearts of our husbands trust us, then we definitely have all the influence that he does, and more. I have always said that I look more toward the character of a leader’s wife than I do the leader, since I know from experience how much I can influence Wayne. Because of that influence, I am very aware of what opinions I share with Wayne knowing he takes everything I say to heart. This is seen for good and for bad throughout the Bible, and it’s a huge responsibility for women to be making sure their influence in every area of their lives is for the good. If the heart of your husband puts its trust in you, and if you are wise, you will never give cause for him to lose that trust. Developing and maintaining the trust of your husband and those you co-labor with in the Kingdom of God is a fundamental priority and privilege in every godly women’s life. That’s powerful!

From the day of our salvation, He has given us more authority and power than we know what to do with – much like the farmer who declined the door-to-door salesman who was selling the latest book on the newest technology for farming by saying, “I’m not farmin’ now as good as I know how.” God has already given you as a woman all that you need to accomplish everything He has instructed you to do. We can sharpen the tools we have, but the foundational implements are already in place.

The refrain from the poem, “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle is the Hand that Rules the World” by William Ross Wallace (mid 19th century), has it about right. Anyone who can influence the next generation and can do it well has done a great thing. Hitler focused on the youth because he knew that’s where the energy, power, and ideology would be upheld for the next 40 years. That’s why there is such a grab for the hearts and minds of our children in public schools and universities. People can think what they want, but I know who I am and how much I affect our world. He has given women the heart for the family, and she symbolizes a type of Christ as she lays down her life for them. No one has the potential to pray for their family more powerfully, more succinctly, more pointedly, more consistently, more adamantly, and with more anointing than the one who is constantly with them. My husband counts on that. He is on the national and international frontlines. I am on the homefront taking care of all that is most important to him and to me. Yes, nations are important to me; yes, you are important to me, but who will fight harder for the lives of their children than their parents? This is huge; this is powerful!

All mothers have children who are either going through, or have been through “stuff”. It’s the praying parent that will bring them out the other side, victorious. It’s not over ’til it’s over; and even then, no matter what it may seem, I will still stand on a platform, raise my arms and cry VICTORY!!!! WE WON!!! We have so many promises of God that it takes a full-time job studying them, remembering them, and applying them. I read my Bible and pray everyday, always the first thing before anything can try to steal those precious and powerful hours. I don’t quit until God quickens what I’m reading into a prayer for my family. The devil hates me – I hate him! I’m powerful, and I know it! I’m a threat! Women are powerful!

I stand in amazement at the power of women. Men’s power is evident; they look like they’re built for battle; they talk like they are; and they are usually the first ones out front. A women’s role is often more subtle, but equally as powerful and often more dangerous because we have been hidden. We are God’s “special forces.”

A new era has begun that is propelling women to their places of destiny. This awakening among women and the call to war is not to be confused with the Women’s Lib movement of the past. That agenda was driven by a man hating, antagonistic spirit of feminism that demanded that women be treated like men. It cried out for equality and yet the “equality” it offered, served only to trade one unfulfilled identity for another.

True equality extends to a deeper more influential level. It is the ability for a woman to walk into a room and have equal standing regarding the impact and influence of her words and ideas. It is an aura of openness and competence that causes the thought processes and insights of a woman to be sought, embraced and valued. I believe this is part of the era that is being ushered in today.

Coming into our destiny and having our voices heard does not require that we silence men! Men are a critical component to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Their value in our lives is irreplaceable and we honor them. However, this is team warfare! As we embrace and step forward in who we are created to be and work alongside men, we remove competition and bring completion to the body of Christ.  Together, as unified men and women, we will deliver deadly blows to the enemy.

Before we can walk in the fullness of our destinies, we must accept our own value as women. Men cannot be expected to be the first ones to discard the incorrect perceptions about our roles and invite us into “their” world. We must be the first to step forward and reject the limiting perceptions of ourselves, and our womanhood which have become incorrectly entrenched in our minds and in the workplace as realities.

As mature women, we must accept our summons to war. We must let go of our need to be in the center of an emotional crisis. It’s time to silence the irrational presumptions about yourself and others. Lose the drama, stop reacting to life, and get out of the boxes you or others have created. You don’t need a crisis to validate your existence.

While this revelation is liberating, and can birth generational culture change, it may find resistance from the religious sectors and from within the internal ranks of women as well! Daring to defy the traditional perceptions of a woman’s “position” can seem rebellious, unsubmissive, and even unladylike. But, when we realize that the initial definitions were drawn incorrectly, we can reject the incorrect programming received as children, we can celebrate our femininity and still have significant and lasting impact in every sphere we enter.

It is time to come into the revelation that we, as women, have the opportunity to shape history. Our ability to respond to the call will open doors, remove stumbling blocks, and set precedent for our daughters, granddaughters, and generations to come. We will be those who unleash the sustainable roar of femininity, create lasting impact in our society and redefine our cultural influence.