Wise and Courageous

Wise and Courageous 

The Book of Judges

Awake, awake Deborah!   Awake, awake, and utter a song of praise!”        Judges 5:12

It is much easier to stand up against something or some one that we can see or understand, but it is much harder to stand up against something unseen and not understood, but only through the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we stand up against those things we can not see and get the understanding of what we are up against.  The Word of God clearly tells us in: 1 Corinthians 2:14- The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.“ That is the Wisdom from the Spirit of God.”  That is why I have learned that is crucial that everyday to ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and understanding and to guide me in my walk through the natural and also through the spiritual.

So understanding the Deborah anointing has been an amazing process for me on this journey into the heart of God. My journey took on a new meaning, as God called me as “deep calls to deep” to learn about His supernatural power and Holy Spirit gifts. Through my personal experience just a few months ago, was as if God took me to a spiritual book camp and he wanted me to learn more about what goes on in the spiritual realm and he needed me to become wise and courageous, just like Deborah was in the Book of Judges.  Nothing in this world could have prepared me for the things that I experienced. Because of certain events that occurred during that time, my life became a constant fear, I feared being alone, I feared the unknown, I feared to be rejected, I feared being at work , I feared to drive and on top of that I trusted no one; it was a time of my life that I lost all control, it was terrifying and unbelievable to say the least.  As I was going through this God ministered to me and said by the time I am done with you:  Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.{ Matthew 18:18}. But in order for God to have my undivided attention, he temporarily had to remove everyone and everything from my life  and some he had to remove permanently, it was from losing my job, separating me from my husband, love ones and also removing from serving in his kingdom. At times it was painful, lonely and scary but because God knew me, he worked it according to his will as he declares in: Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”.

During this time I did a lot of reading; one of the books that I read “which was once recommended by my pastor” was the “Final Quest”.  I had read it before but this time the book was an instrument to help me understand the battle we “Christian” go through as the Word of God tells us in Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, which means there is raging war against us in the spiritual realm and we need to be prepared to win this battle that is taking place even as I write. Another book was “From Prayer to Warfare”, from this book I learned that God was not looking for people with titles, God was looking for people with willing hearts to enter the battlefield with power and authority to intercede and stand in the gap in boldness and faith that whatever God asks, it will be done in the name of Jesus and in the power of his Blood.  I also studied Deborah’s life.  I saw that God used Deborah first of all in a mighty way on behalf of His people because she was a woman that loved God with all her heart, soul and mind.  She was faithful and obedient to Him. Deborah was a very humble servant of God.  She did not seek to lead, nor did she seek any position. During this time, as I mentioned before, God had stripped me from being part of anything, so my life consisted of reading, praying, fasting, worshiping and seeking God from dawn to night and my constant prayer was for God to give me more wisdom.  And as time went by, I experienced manifestations that revealed it self from past generations to present and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I learned how to bind and loosen, uproot and cast out. Prayer became not only a lifestyle but a necessity. 

In Matthew God tells us: “Seek Me first and My righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” And as I read Judges 5:12 I understood that God needed me to seek him, not a position; I understood that he wanted to raise me up as a mighty warrior to help lead and change. I not only heard God say to me, “AWAKE MARIBEL, AWAKE” But I heard Him say, “ARISE MARIBEL, ARISE!  You are a strong, bold, courageous warrior. ARISE FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME!” Claim it in the mighty Name of Jesus!  Claim Victory!  And I stood up and I began to feel greater strength, greater faith and greater wisdom and with courage I claimed Victory over my marriage, over my household, over my children and over my soul.  Like Deborah, God called me to the challenge and I willingly put my own life on the line to fight the enemy and win back what was rightfully mine!! I don't know where God will take me from here on,  but this I know that he has been faithful and as he says in Philippians 1:6- being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until he day of Christ Jesus. 

To Conclude: As we are faithful, God is most faithful to pave the way. I see this played out more and more as I am faithful to minister where God takes me. I say this to all who is reading this; we all have a purpose in God’s kingdom to fulfill, walk on water, answer the call, don’t look down or back, let JESUS be your standard of truth.  I encourage you to spend time in Intimacy with Jesus.  Spend time in God’s Word and Meditate on it both day and night.  Keep His Word in your heart. Spend time in prayer.  God will give you greater strength and endurance, faith and wisdom, confidence and greater courage through the mighty power of His Holy Spirit, to guide you in all your ways.  Listen to His voice.   
  

May God bless you all with GREAT faith! GREAT Wisdom! Great Courage!

 “So may all your enemies perish, Lord!  But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Judges 5:31

Written by Maribel Castillo

April 15, 2013