Each year during this season, it's important to examine our lives to make sure we are aligned properly with the Lord's plans. The reason for this self-examination is to help us transition correctly into the next year. As I have prayed concerning the year of 2007, I am hearing the Lord say that there will be even more focus on a Kingdom Alignment, meaning that we must properly align our hearts and minds with a Kingdom mentality.

Though we have been hearing this direction for a while, I feel that to fully develop a heart for God's Kingdom, we must learn to truly reach up and "touch" Heaven. If we will touch Heaven, we will be positioned to go through new gates in 2008.

Touching Heaven

"For she said within herself, 'If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.'" (Matthew 9:21)

To touch God, we are to be properly positioned to endure the "press." The woman with the issue of blood pressed past the multitudes to "touch Jesus." As a result, she was made whole. This woman was desperate. Did you realize that she was not even supposed to be anywhere within the city? She suffered with an unclean condition and none of those who were considered "unclean" were allowed within the city gates. This desperate woman moved beyond religious tradition, pressed past religious legalism, and reached out to touch the Lord for what she needed.

To fully develop a Kingdom mentality, we must press beyond religious mindsets and touch the hem of His garment. As a result, our minds can be healed, our bodies will be strong, and we can enter into our new season with the mind of Christ and His Spirit of might upon us!

Being Made Whole

The woman with her "issue" was made whole. Though many of us may not be diagnosed with a literal blood disease, we may have certain issues which need healing. The word "whole" in this passage is a Greek word, sozo, which is translated as "safe." With the different terrorist threats and realms of demonic darkness that we are enduring, isn't it comforting to realize that we can truly "touch" Him, so that we can remain in a safe place?

The word "whole" is further translated as "to be kept safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, to save a suffering or perishing one, to make well, heal and restore to health." Put simply, if we touch Him, we can be healed from issues of fear, physical infirmities, and the stronghold of death and destruction.

How Do We Touch Him?

The word "touch" in this passage refers to a "clinging to." It means "to fasten oneself, and adhere to." This "adhering" reminds me of having what I refer to as a "Super Glue relationship" with Jesus. Once you pour out your heart to Him in intimate prayer, then you just cling and adhere to Him and not let go! Another meaning of touch is to "set a fire," and "to fasten fire to a thing."

How awesome to think that when we worship Him, He sets us ablaze for Him. When we reach out to touch Him, He lights a fire within us and even fastens us to Him. This is how we can become His "firebrands" upon the earth and set our environment ablaze with His glory! Hallelujah! Our job is to reach out to Him and remain close and, then, He does the rest.

Establishing Divine Order in Our Lives

"Only by clinging to Him and His direction, do we become empowered to make a divine shift and remain in proper alignment"

The woman with the issue of blood had suffered for twelve years. The number twelve represents divine government. When she touched God, a new authority arose within her situation; in other words, a new governmental structure developed within her and her life became divinely ordered. When her life became ordered by God, she was made whole.

It is time for us to align ourselves with God's government and shift into our new season. However, to totally shift, we are must press beyond our circumstances and religious belief systems. We are being challenged to press beyond the pressures of our own abilities to make things happen, and press only to look to Him.

In our new season, we will not be able to make any "strange fires" as Nadab and Abiu (Numbers 26:61). Do you remember? They tried to start a counterfeit fire, not depending on the fire which only the Lord could provide. They sought an alternate route for the blessing by ignoring the divine instructions from God to depend upon His fire. Only by clinging to Him and His direction, do we become empowered to make a divine shift and remain in proper alignment.

Many of us thought it difficult to touch Heaven, as if we had to do everything right and perfect. However, touching Heaven is very simple--just worship Him, cling to Him, and never let go! If we do this, He promises to burn away everything displeasing to Him, and rekindle a fresh desire to serve Him.

As you cross over your Jordan, remain attached to Him. Don't allow the fear of failure to attach itself to you. Remove all attachments of fear and doubt by attaching yourself to Him. This will empower you to keep touching Heaven for your breakthroughs, so that in 2008, you can fully pass through the new gates He has for you.

Divine Alignment: Tuning into God's Frequency

"To become properly aligned in His will requires that we 'tune-in' to God's frequency"

According to Webster's Dictionary, the word "align" means "to arrange in a straight line, to bring into alignment, to bring into agreement with a particular group, cause, etc., to adjust (circuit components) to approve response over a frequency band."

Simply stated, when we determine to align ourselves with God's Kingdom plans, we become determined to be in agreement with His Word. Also, we become aligned with His desires to establish His Kingdom upon the earth. This is what I refer to as establishing "Heaven on earth." To become properly aligned in His will requires that we "tune-in" to God's frequency; meaning that we align ourselves with His radio station and truly "hear" what He is saying. We will not be able to simply tune-in to just any station or frequency. We must align ourselves with the frequency which is aligned with His Kingdom purposes.

As you know, when you search the radio for a particular station, it requires a hearing ear. If we stop short of the proper frequency, all we hear is static. We must search for God's program, tuning into His frequency, and listen carefully for His instructions. This will empower us to shift and properly adjust so that we move into 2007 with divine direction and purpose.

Though most of us truly desire to be obedient and align ourselves with God's plans and purposes, we battle with our minds. Developing a Kingdom mentality requires a paradigm shift in our thinking. As we embrace the Kingdom message, many of us are challenged with religious mindsets, old belief systems, and old patterns of behavior. To truly embrace the new will require that we let go of the old. The only way for us to do this is to trust the Lord and attach ourselves securely as we continue to touch Him.

The Shifting and Aligning into New Government

Remembering once again, that the woman who received her breakthrough had suffered for twelve years. And as I mentioned earlier, the number twelve is symbolic of divine government. During this alignment season, we must allow the Lord to restructure our lives and belief systems.

Being aligned with the Kingdom message requires a shift into divine government, meaning that we give the Lord every opportunity to restructure and perfect everything that concerns us, just as the woman with the issue of blood did.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7; emphasis mine.)

This passage speaks of divine government, His government, of which there will be no end. Jesus came to establish His order upon the earth. As we gain further revelation of His divine attributes, our lives will realign with His purpose. We need to allow His Spirit to "counsel" us during this season because we cannot trust ourselves. We are limited to our knowledge of the past, and our mindsets can limit how we perceive God.

Deliverance from Mindsets

Can you imagine how Joshua felt when God told him to "shout" down the stronghold of Jericho? Talk about having to align your thoughts! Don't you know that Joshua was challenged?

Our mindsets are our biggest challenge in aligning with what God desires. The mindsets concerning God's Kingdom alignments have become strongholds. In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Paul addressed these strongholds and also stated that they were to be pulled down, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." The word "stronghold" is a Greek word ochuroma, which means a "fortress, a castle, or a citadel."