2023 Review

Not What Most of Us Expected

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Since the inception of Beyond the Dalet, I have shared a variety of thoughts, and prophetic words focused on the times and seasons. When I began my blog in 2019, I had no idea the winding journey I can now look back on. I didn’t intend to launch anything, not really. I simply felt led to write what the Lord put on my heart. Since then, Holy Spirit has continued leading and guiding.

As each year has passed, no one has been more surprised than I was at the events I encountered along the way. 2023 was no exception. In fact, 2023 was surprisingly just what Holy Spirit had said to me, yet not anything I expected. At least, I didn’t interpret it that way at first.

2023 A YEAR OF RECOVERING

Why go into all detail about something that is over? Because sometimes in order to figure out where we are going we need to start with the question; where am I? Usually, in order to properly assess where we are, we have to look at where we have been. We have to look at the trail behind us. How did we get here? Where exactly is here?

I am not a defeatist. I am also not into minimizing the reality of a situation either. I believe in trusting God in the mist of my circumstances and praying my way through. This has been especially true throughout 2023. It seemed like life was in a fog. It was difficult to get my bearings and navigate going forward. It felt like I made no progress at all. Yet, it was exactly what God said it was going to be.

At the onset of the Hebraic year 5783, (Sept 2022) I had gotten something from the Lord, about going into a year of recovery and restoration. This past September (2023) we entered the Hebraic year 5784. Honestly, when I looked back, I was confused. I didn’t exactly see the previous year as recovering much of anything. In fact, I found myself in what has now been a two year season of great physical weakness. If I can use the term recovery, I would say it feels more like I have spent all this time recovering from one sickness after another.

But It Wasn’t Just Me!

I was on the phone with my eldest son yesterday. We somehow got on the conversation of 2023. Before I said anything, he said: “2023 was a year of recovery.” He went on to name the specific things he spent the year recovering from, including surgery on his shoulder. I could barely get a word in, as he went on to say:

“Everyone was recovering from something. None of us were able to accomplish the things we wanted to because we were in recovery. We couldn’t live like we normally do. We were recovering. Seems everyone I talk to has said the same thing. Everyone is just trying to start over and get back to normal again.”

I thought it was going to be a time of recovering normal. it wasn’t. It was however a time of recovery.

Often when I get a prophetic word from the Lord I think I know what it means. I mean, isn’t that the way it’s supposed to work? He says it. We get it. But more often than not there’s always an aspect of the word that completely escapes my thought process. This was one of them. Or at least it feels that way.

While it feels like 2023 may have been a time of stagnation, it wasn’t. I trust that God knows what we do not. He knows when we need to be still and when we need to move forward. 2023 was a time to be still.

So where are we?

We are emerging from a season of recovery. That means the grace that was available during this past season was the grace to recover. That season is ending and the exit is in front of us.

Where or When is the exit?

Back in November, I had a vision. It was somewhat progressive, if that makes any sense. Maybe a better way to say that is, discernment concerning the vision was progressive. I saw an opening. Each day, for several days, I got more from Holy Spirit pertaining to this opening.

I saw something I can only describe as an opening, on a calendar. Not necessary on the Hebraic calendar, the way God typically shows me timing. This was an image of the month of January 2024 with some kind of opening in the middle.

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Suffice to say, it’s an opening, like an entrance/exit. I wrote about this briefly for my blog 5700 & Beyond. Not just an opening it was more like a vortex. This vortex I was discerning in the Spirit had a characteristic that reminded me of the transporting device from the 1994 movie Stargate. When the ‘device’ is activated, as one passes through the opening, you are transported instantaneously to a very different place. Let’s not get too weirded out, or too literal here. It was just an image, reminiscent of the concept. I understood by the Spirit that passing through this opening would ultimately result in life being changed drastically.

From my post on 5700 & Beyond

Quote from 5700 & Beyond ~ “I can see a door of sorts opening in mid-January. This will be sometime in the month of Shevat. Shevat begins at sundown on Thursday, January 11, 2024. It will be once we enter the month of Shevat that we will experience something that will set a new course, the onset of a new prophetic season. This will be a shift of direction setting the course for the next five years.“

Prophetic Clarity: the Known and the Unknown

As per usual, with the prophetic, we know in part and we prophesy in part. [1 Cor. 13.9]. I don’t know, what I don’t know and what I don’t know is a lot.

What I do know is that something that will cause a shift is opening up mid-January. The wheels were set in motion a couple months ago, in the Hebrew month of Kislev. We are currently in the month of Tevet. That means things are still processing. The month of Shevat begins January 11, 2024. Once we get into the month of Shevat this door/opening/entrance/exit is going to manifest.

I believe that good things are ahead. I see some people exiting a time of great trial. At the same time, others will be entering a time of greater and greater accountability. In this transition ahead of us we are going to have to get back to doing the basics. Like after recovering from an injury you have to take it easy. But a time comes when you have to step up your recovery if you want to fully recover. That means it will be a time of personal discipline and determination. It is going to take effort on our part. While the opening/gateway ahead will transport us forward it is going to take faith in action to step through.

The progression of the Peh decade

The Hebraic decade of Peh is connected with breakthrough. In order to step into that breakthrough there are some things that had to first be overcome. Some stepped into a time of challenging preparation at the onset of 5780. (Sept 2019) The past four years have been challenging preparation for a sudden turn of events that will be a catalyst for going forward into what God has called us to all along.

Others who have been trying to dodge the accountability embedded in this season which is designed to bring breakthrough, will be going into a time of great difficulty. The adversity is apart of God’s plan to lead them into the breakthrough. The breakthrough will be needed for them to break into all that God has called them to.

Unbelief will be the snare to watch out for.

This past year of recovery has been needed before moving forward.

Every year is a blessing. Even the times when that year has been spent not accomplishing what we thought we would.

God has accomplished much in our lives throughout this past year. It may have been behind the scenes, trust that we have been brought to the very place God intended for us.

I believe the remainder of 5784 will continue to be a time of great transition. Since transition means change we need courage to make change. We cannot move forward in courage if we are stuck in place by our insecurities. As Brené Brown says:

“You can’t get to courage without rumbling with vulnerability. Embrace the suck.”

Brown, Brené. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. (p. 10). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

In this time of uncomfortable transition and frustrating set back, be encouraged and know that all things are working together for your good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ~ Romans 8.28

BLESSINGS!

May the Lord open the eyes of your heart, giving direction and insight with understanding. May you have the courage to embrace whatever change comes your way, empowered by His grace. Blessings to you for 2024.

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