In the opening paragraph, of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, we are given a profound description of the times that is being prophetically echoed today by many of the leading prophetic voices of our day, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” I know there is a lot being said about how the days that we are entering into will most certainly be the worst of days, so I would like to take the opportunity to look at how these could actually be the best of days. As a prophetic father and friend recently told me, “the days ahead will be the best of times for some and the worst of times for others.”

So what is the distinguishing factor between those who are preparing to step into the “best of times” as opposed to those preparing to step into the “worst of times?” I believe it can be summed up in three words: position (where we stand or what we are standing on), posture (a mental or spiritual attitude) and perspective (our “point of view,” the ability to see; including both what we see and how we see). If we can get these three right, we will then be positioned for promotion. There is a lot being said these days about certain inevitable events that appear to be soon coming on the earth. Everything from natural disasters to economic collapse have been prophesied by our most trusted prophetic voices. So, what do we do with that?

Our position, posture and perspective are crucial in this hour. The Bible is clear that certain events must unfold in these last days, but David also tells us in Psalm 115:16 “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” We have been given a stewardship. God is looking for hearts that are loyal to Him, hearts that are completely His without reservation, so that He might show Himself strong on their behalf in this day (see 2 Chronicles 16:9). If in Ezekiel’s day, God was searching for one man to establish a hedge of protection and stand in the gap on behalf of the land, so that it would not have to be destroyed-how much more in our day (see Ezekiel 22:30)? In Ezekiel’s day, it says that God could not find such a man. What about today?

Our Position

In the book of Psalms, we are privy to many great prayers and petitions that David brought before the Lord. These prayers and petitions were often offered up amidst contrary and sometimes threatening circumstances. David also gave us a collection of testimonies of praise once the victories in these same situations were either in process, had already been witnessed, or at times when the word of the Lord in David’s life was being tested and he needed to encourage and strengthen himself in the Lord.

One of my favorite Psalms and one that the Lord has been speaking quite a bit to me from is Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is not only the longest of the psalms, but arguably also the most comprehensive Psalm when examining David’s position on the Word of God. Its insight is applicable to both the prophetic (rhema) word and the written (logos) word.

The heart of David’s worship and intercession will stir and provoke you to new levels of hunger, thirst and outright desperation for an encounter with God. Time and time again, David cried out to the Lord for revival, which has never been more needed than it is today! The Hebrew word used for “revive” can also be translated to “make alive, to give promise to, or to live again, nourish up, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), save lives, and be made whole.” In Psalm 119:25 David prayed, “…Revive me according to Your word.” The word used here for “word” is also used throughout the Psalms and in other Old Testament passages as “promise.” It can also be translated to mean, among other things, “portion, power, provision, and purpose.” In this verse, David is praying that the Lord would again breathe on the promises David was carrying for himself and his people. David knew that if he would commit to stand on God’s Promises, the Lord would restore the hope that had suffered lost, hardship, heartache and disappointment in a way where he would be overflowing with the Lord’s portion, power and provision that he may fulfill the Lord’s total purpose for His life.

Our Posture

Another great prayer of David in this passage related to the fulfillment of prophetic promises that is incredibly applicable to us today is found in Psalm 119:37-38. “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.”

We all know what it feels like to have looked at or given ear to something that we shouldn’t have and the resulting effect it has had on our spirit. I am not referring to blatant instances like pornography or explicit lyrics to a song, I am talking about the subtle things like articles or news broadcasts that feed fear in your heart or the complaining, gossip and murmurings of your co-workers. We become what we behold and no one wants to become “worthless.” But what is David really saying here with his use of the word, “worthless?” The King James and New American Standard versions use the word, “vanity” in this verse, which is translated to mean “false or idolatry.” The root word in Hebrew from which this was derived actually means “desolation, destruction and storm.” Now David was not advocating ignorance, but instead a focus on truth that would empower him to lead and lead well. David knew that whatever his heart would get a hold of would get a hold of his heart, his words and ultimately his life. That is why he wrote in Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Paul writes in Romans 14:23 that “whatever is not from faith is sin.” David knew that by hiding the word of God in his heart, spending time meditating in it, and speaking it’s promises back to God; he was establishing a hedge of protection in his heart that would keep him strong, courageous and connected to the Lord (see Joshua 1:8-9). This living word would act as a filter for what was right and wrong, faith or fear, true or false. Paul writes in Philippians 4:8 giving us a standard whereby we are to measure our thought life as either profitable or detrimental, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.”

David believed that if he was going to see God establish the promises he had been given it was necessary that he turn his attention away from the false and the worthless reports and instead turn his attention to the One Who is Truth and the One Who is worthy! You can see the fruit of this belief in the writings of Solomon in Proverbs 23:7, where he writes about the impact of a man’s focus, “as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” David wasn’t just a man after God’s own heart; he was man after encountering God’s heart for him! He wanted to capture the heart of God in the same way that God had captured his. He wasn’t content to just know the acts of God like the children of Israel; he desired to know the ways of God like Moses (see Psalm 103:7). What was it about Moses that gave him greater access into the heart and nature of God? Moses was a friend of God, a friend who met with God face to face. He had favor with God. There is revelation and illumination in the face of God. Proverbs 16:15 reads, “In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.” We must seek His face (see Psalm 27:8)!

David knew what it was like to be surrounded by enemies, in war on foreign soil, in the king’s palace and spiritually in his own soul. He also knew as we saw in verse 37, the importance of where he put his focus. Like any leader, or really any one who is breathing, he had great days, mediocre days and days where he wanted to run and hide in a cave. However, David knew that consistency in His fellowship with the Lord and the presence of God was the key to living a life of victory where all of those in his kingdom, those living under his authority would reap the benefits of his victories and successes. We too have been given authority. We have been given a kingdom, a stewardship-it’s called earth. Remember, as we mentioned earlier “…the earth He has given to the children of men (see Psalm 115:16).”

Let’s take a quick look at two passages that outline how David, in the midst of bad reports, was able to remain hopeful in God.

Psalm 16:8-9 “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope."

David was able to be at rest in hope. This word “hope” can also be translated to mean “a place of refuge or safety.” The word “rest” means, “abide, dwell, and remain.” David was saying, “I will abide in a place of refuge. I will dwell in safety.” He didn’t say, “I can...” He said, “I will…” He had divine confidence. His heart and even his flesh knew the outcome of his situation. Why? Because, he had “set the LORD always before” him; “because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” The word, “moved” is translated to waver, slip, shake or fall. He was saying that because of the place that I have given the presence of the Lord in my life, because of the priority I have made of His fellowship, His nearness to me…I can’t fail. I will never waver, slip, shake, or fall! Sounds a lot like Psalm 91, a passage we have been hearing a lot about lately. David even went so far as to believe that God would enlarge his path, if necessary, so as to keep his feet from slipping (see Psalm 18:36). David not only had spiritual access to the presence and person of the Lord, he also had an internal access which allowed him draw near in a way where his heart was glad, his glory rejoiced and his flesh rested in hope. David knew that these three things: a heart that was glad, glory that rejoiced and flesh that could rest in hope were spiritual weapons and he knew the only place to get them was the presence of the Lord. If we are going to prevail and overcome in the coming days, we must find our strength in the presence of the Lord and in His Word.

Just as David had access, we too have access through Jesus Christ into a hope that does not disappoint.

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Our Perspective

Paul knew that trials, tribulations, bad reports and the enemies of our day (although not fun in the moment) can be a catalyst that can turn the tables of our situation in our favor when we give ourselves to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at another example in the life of David where the enemies that surrounded him actually brought him into an increase of favor, promotion and victory.

Psalm 23:4-6 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

David said that even when I walk through the “valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Why? The presence of God! He went on to tell us why he feared no evil, “for You are with me.” David knew that no matter what he faced, whether economic collapse, natural disasters, threats against his faith, or even an inside job from a family member in attempt to steal all that he had worked for; God was with him and that was more than enough to overcome any darkness the enemy could throw at him.

In verse 5, David found himself in the presence of his enemies, but they were not his focus. Instead, he discovered a table that the Lord had prepared for him. This table was a place of fellowship and communion, a place where he could receive divine strategies and be strengthened in the Lord. It was also where he received a fresh anointing and his cup began to run over. For David, enemies equaled overflow! If you find yourself surrounded by enemies and bad reports, the truth is that there is a table where you can draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you. It is in this place that not only are you anointed for your breakthrough, but you are so anointed that the cup of who you are in Him and Who He is in you will begin to overflow and break through in every area of your life!

David had an expectation of the “goodness and mercy” of God following him all the days of his life! “Goodness” here means “good things or prosperity.” “Mercy” means, “favor!” David was saying, because God is with me and I am with God, I don’t have to run after the things the world is running after. These pursuits are some of what get us into trouble in the first place. My expectation is that good things, prosperity and favor will pursue me!

Promotion

I believe we are entering a season that will be known for the fire of God. We are going to experience the fire of God turned up in many areas of our lives and the lives of those around us. Rest assured, He is with us in the fiery trials of testing and in times where we are being refined to reflect Him to the world.

We are all familiar with the story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Daniel 3. These three Hebrew boys were committed to righteousness and refused to bow their knee to the pressure to worship the idols of their day. In turn, King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the furnace only to see the Lord show up with them. These boys had done nothing wrong, but the Lord allowed their faith to be tested to see if they would bow their knee to the systems of this world when the times got tough. They remained true to God and were not harmed. Better yet, the Lord walked through the fire with them and the heart of King Nebuchadnezzar was turned toward the Lord.  Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Sometimes it is our willingness and obedience to endure fiery trials that is the very thing the Lord chooses to use to turn the hearts of influential leaders toward Him. You will also remember that when those three boys walked out of that fire, they were promoted. If you are going through a time of testing, a trial…remain willing and obedient to the voice of the Lord and He will cause you to “eat the good of the land (see Isaiah 1:19).”

The fire is never meant to destroy us. It is meant to refine us and make us better, making us look more like Him. Malachi 3 tells us about the refiner’s fire and even says the Lord “will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness (see Malachi 3:3).” In the process of refining silver, the Silversmith holds a piece of silver over the fire and lets it heat up, he then places it in the fire where the flames are the hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.  Throughout the process the Silversmith has to stay close to the fire holding the silver in His hands and keep a close eye on the silver’s progress. If the silver is left in the fire even a minute too long, it can destroy the metal, but when done correctly the Silversmith is able to see His reflection, His image in the silver when it is all done.

Lastly, I leave you with a word the Lord spoke to me several weeks ago out of Proverbs 25:4, “Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. “ The Lord told me that those who would embrace His fire in this season would be given the honor of becoming His treasure.