I was in worship, and I had a vision of people on top of a mountain, and I heard God say, “I am positioning my people on the mountain tops.” I instantly knew in what was being revealed that He desired to release elevation to the body of Christ. He proceeded to reveal that it would not be a gradual climb. I did not witness people climbing the mountain. I saw people automatically positioned on the top of the mountain. The Spirit was revealing that people didn’t have to climb the mountain, but that He was getting ready to assign instant elevation. I saw people standing on the mountaintops shouting out and exalting the name of Jesus.

Joseph had to work in prison for years, but in a moment, He was placed in one of the highest positions in the kingdom. Just as you have worked and served faithfully for years, He has observed your petitions for assistance in elevating His Son Jesus’ name and advancing His kingdom. Just as Joseph labored, you too have labored and toiled. It is time for your instant elevation. God says, “I am making way for your elevation.”

The elevation coming is for those who are strong at heart, for those who can withstand the battle. The elevation doesn’t come without warfare and resistance, but the Lord has prepared you for this time of gratification to bring forth glorification to His name.

As you are positioned on the mountaintop to do His work you will not be alone. He has sent forth others around you and has created an army of laborers to work together. It is a strong workforce for the kingdom of God, and it will come against the powers of darkness. You will be given divine favor with man, and the Lord will open doors of abundance. The abundance will come forth like a fresh morning rain, also being produced and released in an instance. Again, this isn’t something you have to work for, but something He chooses to assign to His faithful workers.

He says to pray and prepare the way for this enlightenment, the understanding and the insight of what will come forth. Pray and seek His face for what He desires to give you; it will bring glory to His name. The time is now. You don’t have to wait any longer. Remove yourself from the distractions of this world, the time stealers and destiny destroyers. As you remove everything unproductive and unfruitful in your life, you will be able to hear the intensity of His voice and get divine instruction and application for this season of elevation. {eoa}

Kathy DeGraw is a prophetic spiritual warfare strategist releasing the love and power of God, to ignite and activate people, release prophetic destinies and deliver people from the bondage of the enemy. She is the founder of Kathy DeGraw Ministries and Be Love Outreach. She is the author of several books, including Speak Out, Discerning and Destroying the Works of Satan, Identity Invasion, Who is Speaking? and Warfare Declarations. You can connect with Kathy on Facebook, or visit .

While the world watches a grown man leave his wife and children and transform himself to look and live like a woman, what should be the response of the church? While drag queens are allowed to promote their identity confusion right in the midst of the public library to our 4 and 5-year-old children, where is the biblical representation to stand against this atrocity? Does the church even have a voice as the world applauds a preteen boy headlining gay bars as a drag queen? What about the parents who have made a conscious choice to go against God’s biological DNA for the baby and will allow the child to choose their gender regardless of the gender they were born with? While all of this happens right before us, where are the fire baptized preachers who mount our pulpits weekly and proclaim the great power of God to heal, deliver and set free? Why is the church so silent?

Isaiah 58:1 is a call for us to cry aloud and not hold back. God wants the church to open their mouths and show people their transgressions. Jesus was not ashamed to speak truth. He went into the synagogue without hesitation and flipped over the money changers’ tables when they were in error (Mark 11:15). John the Baptist spoke up against the adultery of Herodias (Matt. 14:3-4). Yet, while this gender identity crisis soars and becomes an epidemic, the church almost seems to go on as usual unmoved by the demonic vices that are impacting our society. The biblical example set by John and Jesus himself almost seems irrelevant.

Can our lack of speaking out against these sins actually be a message within itself? Absolutely. Our silence either shows our lack of concern or our willingness to compromise and accept the influence of their lifestyle. When we say nothing, we actually are saying a whole lot. Churches are going on conferences, having great programs and worship services without any representation in our government or school systems. Church members remain uninformed or apathetic about the current trends happening around them. We seem comfortable that states are adding “X” to legal documents like birth certificates so people can alter their God- given biological gender.

What would Jesus do? Could our Lord and Savior sit and agree with a man or woman who tells him to His face that He made a mistake in the gender He chose for them? Would He agree with the lawmakers who say the church cannot offer any gay man or woman hope through therapy or counseling? Would Jesus continue His life as if none of this was happening? Would that be the same Jesus who flipped the money changers’ tables over because they defiled His Father’s house?

Do you believe the gospel you say you live every day? Do you believe in God’s ability to change lives and the hope that Jesus offers? He surely is an awesome God, but do you believe He can do the impossible? Then speak up and say something. Get involved. Go to the lawmakers and demand that your voice count just as much as anyone else’s.

Protect the innocence of your children by taking part in those entities that make the decisions for the curriculum and the educational system. Our voice must be heard. The truth of God’s Word is powerful enough to stand on. We must get out of our comfort zone and speak up for righteousness. The standard is still holiness and we should never fail to express it. If we don’t say something against this evil, then who will?

Listen to this podcast to hear Janet Boynes’ testimony.

Janet Boynes founded Janet Boynes Ministries in Maple Grove, Minnesota, in 2006. She has authored three books and challenges individuals and the church to reach out with a message of hope and restoration to the homosexual community. Her articles have been featured on the front cover of Charisma magazine, Called magazine, Power for Living, Bound magazine and many more. Called out of the lesbian lifestyle, her life is proof that the love of God has the power to heal and restore the brokenness in our lives. Janet travels the U.S. and overseas and shares her story of redemption. Her desire is to bring hope through the power of Jesus Christ.

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

Justin Bieber asked for prayers over the weekend, telling social media followers that he’s been struggling with feeling disconnected.

View this post on Instagram

Just wanted to keep you guys updated a little bit hopefully what I’m going through will resonate with you guys. Been struggling a lot. Just feeling super disconnected and weird.. I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for your guys to pray for me. God is faithful and ur prayers really work thanks .. the most human season I’ve ever been in facing my stuff head on..

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Mar 9, 2019 at 10:27pm PST

The singer married Hailey Baldwin last year.

People magazine reported in February that Bieber was receiving treatment for depression.

“He has good help around him and is receiving some treatment. He seems confident he will feel better soon,” a source told the magazine.

Bieber has openly talked about his battle with depression for years.

“I got really depressed on tour,” Bieber told Vogue for his recent cover story with his wife. “I haven’t talked about this, and I’m still processing so much stuff that I haven’t talked about. I was lonely. I needed some time.”

He continued: “I’m the emotionally unstable one. I struggle with finding peace. I just feel like I care so much and I want things to be so good and I want people to like me. Hailey’s very logical and structured, which I need. I’ve always wanted security—with my dad being gone sometimes when I was a kid, with being on the road. With the lifestyle I live, everything is so uncertain. I need one thing that’s certain. And that”—he picks up her hand—”is my baby boo.”

Bieber even told Vogue that he believes some of his emotional turmoil is generational.

Ahead of the interview, Bieber attended a week-long intensive therapy process that he says he was not comfortable with.

“There were these seances,” he said. “Or not really seances but these traditions. They light candles, and it kind of freaked me out. You sit on a mat, you put a pillow down, and you beat your past out of it. I beat the fact that my mom was depressed a lot of my life and my dad has anger issues. Stuff that they passed on that I’m kind of mad they gave me.”

As for his weekend Instagram post, several people commented with their prayers and love, including pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr., fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo, fitness expert Mikey Arana, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger and more.

Two years ago, high school freshman transgender Andraya Yearwood won the 100 and 200 meter girls races at the 2017 Connecticut State Track and Field Championships. He finished in times that would have placed him dead last in the same boys events.

In February 2019, Yearwood “finished second in the 55 meter dash at the state open indoor track championships. The winner, Terry Miller of Bloomfield High, is also transgender and set a girls state indoor record of seconds.”

The encroachment upon women’s sports is in full swing.

One of Mr. Yearwood and Mr. Miller’s competitors, the high school junior Selina Soule “finished eighth in the 55, eliminating her from qualifying for the New England regionals by two spots.” It also robbed her of the opportunity to be in front of college coaches for a potential scholarship in 2020.

Fairness is no longer a worthy quality in America’s weaponized, politically correct culture, where U.S. Supreme Court Justices in 1963 established secularism by replacing God’s Holy Word with the mundane words of mortal man. Progressive liberals are dead set on imposing pagan moral viewpoints upon America. It is hard to avoid the feeling that profane public elementary, secondary and post-secondary education is taking America off the cliff.

Same-sex intercourse and marriage, abortion, transgender bathrooms, transgenderism, gender equality, evolutionary theory, assault on human sexuality and so on make up secularism’s inviolable sacraments. Secular media elites, for their part, seek to sway public opinion through primetime television and newspaper articles, as they exalt and normalize decadence in America.

The folly on display at the 2019 Connecticut State Track and Field Championship may find an explanation in the fact that “the godless worldview of the atheist will inevitably lead to a godless society that embraces godless values and principles.” (Victor Kuligin, Snubbing God: The High Cost of Rejecting God’s Created Order.)

Having lost the once biblically-based culture, “big faith” will be required by spiritual men and women as the ekklesia begins to move into the public square.

In Proverbs 4:14-16 (NLT), Solomon offers advice to wisdom’s followers: “Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.”

Jewish Hebrew scholar Dr. Michael V. Fox interprets Solomon’s caution as follows:

Rasdaq (1160-1235) takes the line to mean that one should not join in the abominable customs and activities of the wicked. Verse 15, The path of the wicked is not somewhere off in the distance, far from the path of the righteous. Somehow, their path zigzags through the territory of life. You are in danger not only if you choose to seek it out; you may come upon it willy-nilly as it crosses or nears your own life course. When that happens, it is not enough just to continue on your way. You must actively “shun” (para) the evil path and “veer aside” from it without tarrying. Sometimes we find ourselves willy-nilly on the verge of evil and must actively change our life course in order to avoid it. Verse 16, The wicked have a need to cause harm; their “peace of mind” depends upon it, [as they] try to draw youth into their schemes.” (Michael V. Fox, Proverbs Commentary).

In Colorado, a Gideon stands.

“To Brendan Johnston, it was a simple choice. The 18-year-old senior wrestler from The Classical Academy in Colorado had never competed against a girl, and faced with the option to do so and potentially move one round closer to his goal of winning a state wrestling title, he instead decided to forfeit.

“For one of the two would-be female opponents Johnston refused to face in the Colorado State Wrestling Championships last weekend, it was a frustrating outcome. She said she understood and respected his decision but questioned why any wrestler, of any gender, would decide to forfeit in a state tournament after making it so far. Johnston cited personal and religious beliefs for not wanting to wrestle a girl.”

Winning the state tournament had been Johnston’s goal, but once he advanced in the Colorado state championship tournament and had to wrestle a girl, his goal ended. He explained, “I don’t think that I am looking at them as not equal,” Johnston said of Gallegos and Rios (his female opponents). “I am saying that they are women and that is different than being men, because I do believe that men and women are different and we are made differently. But I still believe that women are of equal value to men. I don’t think that seeing men and women as different … (opposes) the idea of equality.”

How did America get here? Where is the outcry and demand for honesty in America’s media as the godless redefine family and marriage? The stability of a culture depends upon trustworthy, incorruptible measures and weights. God demands them (Bruce K. Waltke, Proverbs Commentary).

Where are the morally outraged? Secularists have defrauded the moral order laid down by America’s founders, violating God’s moral sensibility in the process.

Where is the outrage and call for justice for Selina Soule?

Let us never forget that two competing religions—secularism and Christianity—are vying for control of the public square in America. They are often in proximity, as they propose alternative choices to America’s youth. (Michael V. Fox, Proverbs Commentary).

To all mentioned above, to transgenders, homosexuals and sinners like me, let it be understood that Jesus Christ died for our sins and to this day loves us with an everlasting love irrespective of what we’ve done. What a wonderful God.

Gideons and Rahabs are beginning to stand.

“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me – Psalm 139:9-10.”

So reads a post by Pius Adesanmi the day before he died. The professor is smiling at the camera, holding his passport.

He was one of more than 150 victims who died in the Ethiopia Airlines crash over the weekend.

Adesanmi was a professor with the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

“He worked tirelessly to build the Institute of African Studies, to share his boundless passion for African literature and to connect with and support students,” said Pauline Rankin, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Carleton University. “He was a scholar and teacher of the highest caliber who leaves a deep imprint on Carleton.”

Adesanmi posted several other faith-based posts on his Facebook, including a personal prophecy:

Adesanmi was awarded the Penguin Prize for African Writing in nonfiction in 2010 for a collection of essays titled, “You’re Not a Country, Africa!”

Sunday’s crash, minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa for a flight to Nairobi, inflicted a particularly heavy toll on the United Nations, which has large offices in both cities, according to Reuters. The 157 victims, including 149 passengers and eight crew members, came from more than 30 countries, the airline said.

Also among the dead were four Catholic Relief Services employees from Ethiopia. Sara Chalachew, Getnet Alemayehu, Sintayehu Aymeku and Mulusew Alemu were headed to Nairobi for training, their employer said.

High school senior Drake McCain is fighting for his chance at stardom in this season’s American Idol.

While most contestants choose their favorite pop songs to sing for their auditions, McCain chose to turn his performance into a quick worship service.

McCain stood before judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan and sang the gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” which is based on Matthew 6:26.

The 17-year-old was only singing for a few seconds when Katy Perry, who grew up in church, decided to sing along to the old gospel hymn.

McCain harmonized with Perry in a powerful rendition of the song.

Once they finished, Lionel Richie suggested the pair sing “Oh Happy Day,” another gospel hymn. {eoa}

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content partners at CBN News.

Growing up, I often looked at a plaque that hung in our home that read: “Prayer changes things.” Many Christians have said they believe that, but I see a rising consciousness within the body of Christ that prayer truly does change things and that we need to intercede.

David Kubal, president for Intercessors for America, can attest to this rising faith. He has seen intercession do incredible things, including bring down the Berlin Wall. That same spirit of intercession, Kubal told me in an interview for my “Strang Report” podcast, will overturn Roe v. Wade in our lifetime and turn back the wave of socialism coming against America. Click here or scroll to the end of this article to listen to the entire interview.

Most of my readers will remember President Reagan’s famous line to the Soviet Union’s general secretary—”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” But Kubal says there’s much more to the story.

“The wall didn’t actually come down for two more years,” he says. “And there’s actually a story that indicates that prayer was the real reason the Berlin Wall came down, because five years before Reagan ever went to Germany for that famous speech, a small prayer gathering began to meet on Monday nights. This reverend by the name of Rev. [Christian] Fuhrer began to gather just a small handful of people to pray every Monday night. And they would gather 40 candles every Monday night and pray for peace.”

The government began to persecute this small prayer group as it grew, but no persecution could stop the group’s petitions from reaching God’s ears. Kubal believes that same spirit of intercession will soon overthrow Roe v. Wade. After all, that was the main reason Intercessors for America (IFA) was founded in 1973. At the heart of the ministry’s genesis was the late Derek Prince, prominent teacher and author of Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting, which also came out in 1973 on the heels of Roe v. Wade.

“Part of [Prince’s] releasing this book was he was speaking at a conference, and he challenged those at this conference to form a ministry to pray and intercede for the nation,” Kubal says. “The founders of Intercessors for America thought IFA would last maybe a couple years to pray through the bicentennials and that by then, they would see Roe v. Wade overturned. So obviously, we continue to labor in that realm. I believe that you and I will see Roe v. Wade overturned very shortly, in our lifetime for sure.”

But in order to see that happen, Kubal says Christians have to commit to intercession. And, he points out, there’s a crucial difference between prayer and intercession.

“Prayer, I believe, is telling God what you want,” Kubal says. “It’s not bad to bring before the Lord your list of prayer needs and the things that are upon your heart, and we certainly all do that. But intercession is a whole different level. Intercession is letting God tell us what He wants. I begins, I believe, with reading Scripture and understanding God’s plans and purposes for our lives and for our family and our nation that we live in.”

Kubal points out that this isn’t just another duty Christians have to do so they can check it off their list. On the contrary, the act of intercession is much more significant than that.

“I’ve just been captivated by the thought that He invites us to shape history with Him,” he says. “It’s fascinating to me that history really belongs to the intercessor. I think that that’s something really important for [people] to remember and to realize that intercession is about listening to God to see what His heart is in these matters and releasing by interacting with the Lord through intercession.”

IFA seeks to equip believers across the nation for this very purpose and mobilize them to cry out for the U.S. Their website, , offers a regular newsfeed with prayer requests as well as what Kubal calls “intercessory intelligent reports,” which shed light on how believers can pray for complicated cultural issues.

“But more than anything, we’re trying to fuel a community of intercessors that feel belonging with a team of people who are shaping history,” Kubal says. “We’re reaching millions and millions of people on a monthly basis, and we just see the people enjoy resonating as they pray together and as they communicate. More than anything, I believe people need inspiration to really be motivated to pray on a regular basis.”

I’m so grateful ministries like IFA are equipping God’s people to pray. If we don’t take intercession seriously and truly listen to God’s heart the way Kubal describes, we will watch our nation slip further into spiritual death. But there is hope. And if we link arms in prayer, I believe we can see a turnaround in our nation.

Listen to my podcast with Kubal below to learn how to wage powerful spiritual warfare in your prayer times. And if you know someone who needs encouragement in their prayer life, share this article with them!

Pastor Robert Morris shares a compelling message from the Gospels about the difference the resurrection makes in our behavior and life of faith. Watch, and learn more about why you believe as you do!

My friend and I attended a talent show a few weeks ago. Rumor spread that this would be a great event. Singers filed on the stage displaying their best performance as they chose a song to delight the audience. But deep down, they coveted the first prize.

Great Songs, Beautiful Voices

But unexpectedly, one of the contestants gripped the mic and began his song. Then he paused and pulled out a harmonica. With gusto, he slid his lips from side to side, creating contagious melodies that made us all sway and tap our feet. Then he followed up with the rest of the song with effusive passion, bringing a glorious ending to his performance.

The crowd jumped to their feet, cheered, whistled and roared with applause.

What Happened?

Nothing extraordinary—all he did was to take an extra step, do something different, add a special flair and move beyond the ordinary singing.

You and I know that deep inside, we also want to do that extra-special thing in life. That feat in our journey that others would recognize as important, significant and worth noticing. Maybe not for the masses crowded around us, but maybe just for our simple, personal satisfaction.

But in the audience of life, God is also watching. He’s observing our moves, motives and desires. And the good news? Contrary to human expectations, He doesn’t expect us to pull out a harmonica or perform extraordinarily to please others

Instead, He wants a simple servant heart, committed and true. In the midst of sorrow, He wants our trust. When answers don’t come, He still longs for us to trust Him. And when life turns dark, He simply wants us to trust in Him for the outcome.

He Expects Us to …

… love Him, trust and lean on Him. His demands are simple. We are the ones who make them complicated. We want to reach success, but He wants us to succeed in trusting Him first. We want a nice house, but He wants us to house His promises in our hearts. We want a trouble-free life, but even when trouble abounds, He wants us to delight in the freedom of His ways.

We’re tempted to perform, but He wants us to instead find purpose in Him.

We sweat trying to please, but He doesn’t expect grandeur, just gratitude because His applause is ready when we simply “trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and practice faithfulness.” He calls out the instruction: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. … Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:3-4, 7a).

Pray With Me

Father, show me the silent place in Your presence. The place where I don’t have to perform, prove anything or measure my work with the world’s gauge. Grant me contentment while I wait for Your next calling. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus.

Whom are you trying to please these days? {eoa}

Janet Perez Eckles is an international speaker and the author of four books. She has helped thousands conquer fear and bring back joy.

This article originally appeared at .

Photographer Rainer Schimpf experienced his own Jonah-like moment off the coast of South Africa recently.

“It was going for the fish, and I happened to be in the wrong spot. I was collateral damage, and I’m sure it was as frightening for the whale as it was for me,” Schimpf says.

He was capturing photos underwater when he says he felt something tug at his hip.

“Nothing can prepare you for when you end up inside the whale,” Schimpf says.

But it appears Schimpf wasn’t fleeing the call of God on his life when the marine mammal caught up with him.

“I was just holding myself and bracing myself and calming myself down not to be panicked, and it worked out,” he said. “He spat me out, and everybody’s happy.”

Watch the video to hear him recount the incident.