Day 4 - Reorient Yourself Towards Victory!

Friday July 27

by Stephanie Muzyka

One morning a few months ago, as I was waking up, I heard the Lord speak clearly to my spirit:  “Reorient yourself towards victory”.   As I heard this, I felt a strong impression that I needed to re-arrange the furniture in my bedroom, particularly my bed.  For the past 10 years, my bedroom furniture had been in the exact same position and for good reason: because the way the room is configured, with the doors, closets and windows, everything was organized in the most logical place. 

As I lay in bed wondering if this was some crazy idea of mine because I was just way too tired or whether it really was the Lord, the Lord spoke clearly to me again:  “Stephanie,” He said,” I want you to understand something.  The season that is coming will be completely different than anything you have experienced before. I am about to display Myself as the Mighty God in a way that you and much of the church have never experienced.  So the reason I want you to shift around your bedroom is so that every morning the first thing you see is a brand new perspective. That way you will have a constant, daily reminder that nothing is ever going to be the same again.”

A few weeks after this experience, I was spending some time meditating on Joshua and the children of Israel crossing over into the Promised Land.  And suddenly the Lord asked me an interesting question. “Stephanie how different do you think I appeared to be to a slave in the midst of 400 years of bondage in Egypt vs. the children of Israel who possessed the Promised Land?”  And I thought about it for a while and realized the answer was He probably appeared vastly different.  Because for the slave in Egypt, who was crying out day and night to God for deliverance, it would be a pretty big stretch to see God as a Mighty God as compared to say a 20-year-old who marched 7 times around Jericho and then saw the walls – big thick chariot-racing-on-top-sized walls, instantly disappear. 

Now we know that God really wasn’t different because He is eternal and His character and nature are unchanging.  So it wasn’t that He was “less mighty” when the children of Israel were in bondage than when they were in triumphant victory. He only appeared to be so.

And I feel that this is a really good picture of where we are today in the church.  Theologically we know that God is the Mighty One, the Sovereign King.  And yet we have lived in a time in the church age when it seemed that our enemy succeeded to destroy far more often than God has succeeded to deliver.  Our hearts echo with the cry of Habakkuk thousands of years ago – oh Lord we have heard of your fame, we have heard of your deeds… But few of us have experienced the demonstrations of God’s might in our own personal lives or ministries in any tangible or lasting ways. 

Yet just as the day came when finally the children of Israel passed from a season of desert wandering to a season of victorious possessing, something in our spirits is telling us it’s time, now, urgently to prepare for just such a dramatic shift.  So how then do we reorient ourselves for victory?

Literally “reorient” means “to cause to turn to or face the east again”.  The east is where the sun rises – where the new day begins. And the east is also where, we know, Jesus will split the sky when He returns as our victorious King.  So I believe what the Lord is asking us now is simple: are we willing to reposition our hearts to turn from the pain and sorrow, the disappointments and failures and hope deferred of the past season to face towards the hope of a new day?  It’s not about us doing anything; it’s just about us positioning ourselves in faith trusting that the Mighty One will do all which He has promised.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

If you feel in your heart that God is challenging you to reorient yourself towards victory, then let’s make this declaration together:

Lord, I choose today to believe Your word – more than the circumstances, more than the pain of the past.  I choose to forget and not to dwell on the old but to turn my face to the new day of victory that is coming.  Lord I ask you to search my heart and expose in me any mindset of defeat.  God I ask you to help me to reposition myself, bring me into alignment with You that I might see You as the Mighty God in my life, my family, my church, my city, my province and my nation.  Lord I choose today, now, to say “Yes, I will reorient myself to victory in Jesus name.” Amen!

For further meditation:  Psalm 24:7-10, Psalm 50:1-6, Psalm 62:5-8, Psalm 89:8-18,  Psalm 99:1-5, Isaiah 42:10-13, Jeremiah 10:6-10, Phil 3:12-14

Stephanie Muzyka is a passionate communicator. This passion has been seen in her excellence as she has carried the responsibility for communications in Watchmen for the last 6 years: producing the videos, live worship CDs and written materials. Her heart longs to see the full redemption and release of her generation, Gen X,  and to see the younger generation (Millenials) mobilized and mentored in worship and intercession, especially in Edmonton, where she lives.

Stephanie can be reached at steph@watchmen.org

Share what you’re hearing!  If you would like to comment on today’s post or send any dreams, visions, words, scriptures the Lord is speaking to you during the call, send an email to kingdom@watchmen.org or fill out the “sharing what you’re hearing” form on our website

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Comments

Daphne - Prince Edward Island
I had a great time reading the psalms, etc. that were with Day 4 of the Watchmen email, and went on some interesting bunny trails with key words in the word...and then could sense the Lord wanting to speak.

I WILL GIVE YOU REST, I WILL GIVE YOU RESTORATION, AND HEALING. MY POWER IS STRONG FOR YOU, MY PROMISES ARE TRUE AND TO BE BELIEVED. FOR I AM THE GREAT I AM AND CONSTANT AND FAITHFUL. YOU LOOK AT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES --TURN YOUR EYES UPON ME AND YOU WILL SEE MY WORKS COMPLETED BEFORE YOUR EYES --OPEN YOUR EYES! OPEN YOUR EARS TO HEAR THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN!

And, THEN, I heard the notes of a trumpet. Not a blast, but melodic chords, of the same type that 8 of us heard one Sunday morning a year ago or so, weaving in and out of the worship music in the service. It went on for quite a while this morning.

Since it was prophesied by Kathi Pelton that praise would be the fire that would start on PEI, and worship and worship leaders would have it start in their hearts, I feel that our prayers should be focused, pressing in, in the area of worship. new sounds, new ears to hear. Bringing worship leaders and teams to make that new sound together...we have concentrated on visiting pastors and intercession in past months and years, but now we need to approach the gifts of sound and dig till we find the gold of the heart of God.

Lynn - Toronto, Ontario
I want to reinforce the message of Day 4 “Reorient Yourself Towards Victory".... the part where Stephanie heard the Lord tell her to re-arrange the furniture in her bedroom. I recently had that experience when I woke up one morning with a clear picture of my dining room moved into the spare bedroom - this was shortly after hearing the Lord say on a plane trip "I have planted you here!" (in this city)

I doubted the re-arrangement of furniture idea at first because I would loose a bedroom but I knew that the idea did not come from my mind - so I with the help of a friend I re-arranged my apartment as I had seen in my mind. To my utter amazement and delight the apartment took on a whole different feeling - more homey and inviting - more usable space near windows during the daytime, etc. I now spend much more time in my apartment than previously and somehow I believe this is connected with God's purposes for me in the city - "Be comfortable here because this is where I want to use your life." But I also am now encouraged to understand the message of reorienting myself towards victory, for God has shown me that this is the season when He wants to bring fulfillment of promises in my life but I have to be "ready" to receive..

Louise - Victoria, British Columbia
I found this message totally resonating in my spirit! The scriptures were all strengthening--

Jane - Pembroke, Ontario
As I prayed the prayer, God prompted me to add to it--"God, speak Your victory and faith into strongholds of unbelief and disappointment" and then to add to the list of those places that need His reorienting: "in my body, in my home". Then as I listened, He seemed to say: Those disappointed disciples on the road to Emmaus, I told them why "It had to be so" and I tell you... so that My word would be fulfilled, so that I would be glorified, even as the suffering Servant, glorified." And I felt joy that He would comfort us with the knowledge He has been working His glory through our sinfulness and weakness, our suffering as individuals and churches, to bring to pass all that is necessary for what will be--and that He would trust us and comfort us with this understanding.

Ralph - Newfoundland
I needed that word for the 4th day. I agree with it totally. I believe we are going to see big and mighty things from God. I'm a GenX and I'm tired of the same old same old. I had a hard day at work today and after reading your email it perked me up a great deal and it really connects with my spirit.
Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading more. I'm with you guys for the 52 days and even after.

Kelly - Edson, Alberta
I loved your message---day 4. I have had a war zone in my life ....something that often betrays me and holds me back from what I think God would do in my life. In itself, it is not the only thing holding me back. The problem is deeper rooted than the obvious outward manifestation of sin. The real sin goes back to disbelief; not really believing God could and would do something different in my life. Then the sin manifestation gets in the way because it prevents more excellent communion from taking place.

The solution was to continue in frustration until the Spirit made it clear how important it was to overcome. Both Him and I would grieve together over this. I never want to take His glory from Him and declare that I beat this thing. That's His glory. I couldn't do it without Him. It's His mercy and tears for me and holy jealousy for me and desire for great things in my life and the promise of great things happening in my life..... All persuade me to do my part for Him. Oh how great is the patience He has for me. He gives me hope and I know that as I draw closer to Him, I will want more of what He has and He will share it and I most surely will forget about those other things. Thank you Jesus. Oh and I'm going to move my bed right away!

Thu Ha - London, England
I needed to find a room in my house facing the East and use it as a room to face God. We have recently moved and there are four bedrooms facing four corners of our house. I do not know which room faces east but felt I need to make this into a consecrated room for the purpose of hearing God. I have always argued in my mind that the physical temple did not matter, it was the spiritual temple that matter this thought was being challenged. I then opened my email to read today's Focus Day 4 - Reorient Yourself Towards Victory! God has spoken again, and this time I was left with no doubt in my mind or spirit what He was saying. We need to physically pray towards the East, to Jerusalem. I do not understand why this is important to God, my mind still says it does not make sense but I am going to over-rule my mind and follow my spirit. May the Lord stop me if I am not walking in-line with His spirit.

Sharon - Hawaii
I wept as I read your email, I too believe we are in a season to move forward and not look back.
I prayed that prayer in the end and I want to "thank you for your heart of obedience to share it”!

Phillip
I would have to say that the message that you sent out is spot on for today. We all know the Lord but really have not seen what he really can do for us. Keep up the good work as you journey with him.

Peggy, Dundalk, Ontario
As I read today's e-mail I got to the Scripture Isaiah 43: 18-19 and I realized that the Lord was speaking the same thing into me earlier today. As I was worshipping with a Terry MacAlmon CD and listening to the song "How We Need the River" when it came to the line "How we need the river, how we need the rain, Living water flow to us again, we pray.” I had such a sense of the Presence of the Lord in that song. It was so powerful and wonderful. In part of the song it talks about the River flowing from the east to the ocean. If you have a chance to listen to the song I believe it fits right into what is in this email.

Beverly , Honolulu, Hawaii
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I just prayed the prayer, "Yes, I choose to reorient myself to victory in Jesus name."

A few months ago, I also had the impression (yet not in the clear manner that you received directly from the Lord) to rearrange my bedroom furniture, even though everything has been in it's functional and logical position also for the last decade or so....I even got a new bedspread to mark the new beginnings...in this season of my life.

I believe that this is confirmation for me to go ahead to rearrange my bed so that I also will wake up every morning to a brand new perspective from the Lord! Interestingly, just this morning, I woke up with such freedom from major breakthrough in a certain area of my life over the last day or so!

Praise God! I know there is more victory coming, to both me and to the church!

Marie, South River, Ontario
I was blessed, excited, & encouraged by your message. My husband & I have been in a 5-month renovation project of 3 bedrooms, closets, & 2 bathrooms. Understandably, that end of our house has seen much disruption, dust, turmoil, and hard work. The end is in sight, & because of the re-shaping & enlarging of our master bedroom, I now have the freedom to rearrange furniture. The plan was to face our bed towards the east!! The first thing we will see upon awaking is the eastern sky, & our beautiful, rugged ravine. No cars, people, houses, skyscrapers! Just a lovely outlook for my morning time with the Lord.

Your message came as a wonderful confirmation & exhortation.
Just a little longer, & the trump of God will sound.
Just a little longer, & we'll all be Glory-bound.
Look away to Heaven, your redemption draweth nigh.
Just a little longer, & we'll meet Him in the sky.

Debra, Oahu, Hawaii
Thanks for sharing! About a week ago, I felt led to rearrange my room. Thanks for shedding light! G-d truly IS doing a new thing!!!

Sharon  - Edmonton, Alberta
Stephanie’s article reminded me of a dream I had, making it more meaning full, and that I just need to fall into the arms of My God and rest! "I had made my way to a destination (easy enough) and turned to go back home and thought OH great, now I'll spend the rest of the night(in my dreams) trying to get back home?" Almost immediately I heard "You are Home!" and I went back to a rest filled sleep."

Also, this reminded me from Day 4 - Reorient Yourself Towards Victory! –of…

Phil 3:14 says "I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly PRIZE to which God in Christ Jesus is calling up upward."

Stephen saw the prize! (Acts 7: 55 - 56)
"But he (Stephen) full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him, GAZED into Heaven and SAW the glory (the splendor and MAJESTY) of God , and JESUS standing at God's right hand, "Look" I SEE the heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand!"

MAJESTY - Finally Here

Bobbi - Honolulu, Hawaii
He showed me that He wants to rearrange the furniture in my "house". He is rearranging my heart, He sovereignly is moved to remove all the clutter and redecorate with all new "furniture". He is transforming my life in the natural as He transforms me in my spirit by the power and life given by His word. He gave me two scriptures that spoke so powerfully in all that He is doing, 1John 2:5 "But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him." And Romans 2:28-29 "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." I am finding that I am seeking His praise in all circumstance. He asks for our hearts. Once we submit our hearts, we can give our soul and strength to all that He is asking us to persevere so that He may be our all in all and give to us all that He has intended to bless us with and to bless the nations.