Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.-Joel 3:14

Believers, we are in a season which I refer to as a "Valley of Decision." So much is connected to this particular "valley experience." Allow me to explain just a little and then we can examine the need for a violent turn in the right direction. First of all, we need to understand that though we are in a season of making decisions-God is near! He is not far away, just a prayer away!

The Lord wants you to know right off the bat, that the way He has chosen for you is not too difficult. He could have taken you a different path in life, but He has led you by His Spirit. He says in Deuteronomy 30:11-15:

For this commandment which I command you this day is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off. It is not [a secret laid up] in Heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it? But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil.

In my own words, let me encourage you! God says that what we are facing is not too difficult. But, we have decisions to make. There is a turning, a releasing of the old and a new narrow path for us. However, our answers are not "caught up" in Heaven or "across the seas." The answers are near us-in our mouths (declaring the Word), in our mind (continually developing the mind of Christ), and in our heart (knowing His love for us and His heart concerning our future). We simply have to choose to turn away from what is old, familiar and hindering us from walking forward in victory.

The Valley, the Multitudes and the Decision

Strong's defines the valley in Joel 3:14 as "to make deep, profound, or (have) depth." In this valley experience, the Lord wants to do something very profound. He is saying to us, "Deep calleth unto deep and there is a noise of water spouts-yet it will not overtake us." God is releasing a sound which we need to heed. He will turn our sorrow into laughter and joy. He desires to prove Himself in the midst of our tests and wilderness experiences.

When studying the "multitudes in the valley" the word "multitude" actually translates as "abundance," but it is connected to a noise being made and a rumbling sound. And, even more interesting is that the Hebrew word "multitudes" is rooted in the words "to make an uproar, tumult, cry out, to disturb, destroy, crush, (be) troubled and (to vex)." In other words, it is not simply a multitude of people in a valley making a decision; it is also a multitude of sounds being made while making the decision.

I believe the enemy has a sound-his sounds are destructive, non-productive and are in the form of lies and hope deferred. The sounds from God are based upon His Word and His desire to heal, restore and bless His people. The decision should be this: Choose to believe God!

In my recent book: Conquering the Antichrist Spirit, Discerning and Defeating the Seducer That Binds Believers Today, I wrote concerning the spirit of Rahab, the dragon that rises up at the time of crossing over. Isaiah 51:9-10 discusses Rahab being the enemy who opposed Israel at the Red Sea. Believers, it is crossing over time and we are challenged to move forward, but the enemy desires to oppose us at every turn. We must decide to make a violent turn. Turn toward God with a violent war cry against our enemy! The violent will take the future by force.

I highly recommend that you read chapter 2 in my aforementioned book which discusses the Courts of Heaven and how the Ancient of Days has already declared your enemies guilty and the Lord has defeated them at the Cross. Daniel saw the saints of God being worn down by an antichrist system; however, because of the Blood of Christ, victory was given to the saints of God! Hallelujah!

Know that when making decisions in this season, there is an abundance of disturbance from the enemy. If not careful, we will murmur and complain rather than remain focused on God's Word. The Hebrew root word for "multitudes" is "hamown" or "hamon" This is really close to the name "Haman," the Amalekite, who set out to destroy Esther and an entire Jewish nation. (I have written about the Amalekites who steal destiny in one of my books, Destiny Thieves.) Esther was challenged with a death structure. She could have chosen to run in fear, yet she remained strong in her decisions to risk all and trust God.

Zechariah 3: Making a Violent Turn

A few days ago I heard the Lord speak to me concerning Zechariah 3. I could not get past the entire chapter. The chapter begins when an angel showed the prophet Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord and satan, the accuser standing next to him. I could only imagine what the accuser was saying to the priest. It must have been so accusing, so defiling, that the Lord Himself had to rebuke satan.

Think about this for a minute. We are all priests unto God, right? Therefore, the accuser is probably falsely accusing us also at times, right? I am reminded of how the accuser was allowed to "test" Job. Our accuser is satan, the devil himself, who is also known as "the accuser of the brethren." Our enemy accuses us before God, day and night (see Revelation 12:10).

In Job 1:8-11, 2:3-5, he accused Job of apostasy (falling away from God). He sent many demonic attacks against Job and the Lord used it as a test. I believe Job may have considered it a valley also. I know that there are times when I am being falsely accused by the enemy, it feels as if I am in a deep, deep valley of despair.

Nehemiah went through his own trial or tests when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and prevailed. Haggai pressed through his opposition and completed his assignment. Numerous others throughout the Bible have overcome the accuser who attempts to seduce us into relinquishing our assignments. Satan wants us to "come down from the wall." He will say things like, "Who do you think you are, building that church? Why do you feel God would ever use someone like you to preach the Gospel?" or "You're not worthy to be used by God."

How did Nehemiah, Haggai, Daniel, and so many others press through their trials and persecutions? I believe it was a "violent turning," a turning in such a way as to "focus" on only what God says concerning our lives, our families, our finances...everything! I have had to remain committed that I must turn away from old thoughts, previous patterns of thinking, religious mindsets as I make a radical, violent turn to Father God, His truth and His faithfulness.

In Zechariah 3:2, it says that the LORD Himself rebuked satan because of his false accusations of the high priest. Joshua, the high priest had been in the fire, becoming a "firebrand" during the "false accusation" period. I feel as if I've been there also, how about you? I've been stuck in the baptism of fire for a while now. Lord, use me as Your firebrand now!

God is determined to baptize us with His holy fire so that we can become a trustworthy priesthood, dressed for the Master's use. He is removing our old, filthy garments and replacing them with "rich" garments of His glory.

Notice in verse 5, Zechariah said to"put a clean turban on his (Joshua's) head." The Hebrew root word for "turban," or "mitre" in the King James, means "violently turn" (Strong's #6801). It implies wrapping and turning of a head turban, but spiritually it implies that our minds (heads) must make a violent turn toward the direction of the Lord. Since the turban wraps and turns around the head, I believe spiritually that God wants His Word wrapped tightly upon our minds-violent turns toward His truths and His directives.

This is a season that the violent rise up with radical warfare and take the Kingdom by force. And, our mindsets concerning the Kingdom principles need to turn in a violent way toward the truths of Christ Jesus! We cannot make radical, violent turns and keep looking over our shoulders to the past. Nor can we allow our past to influence our future. This is truly a time to leave the old behind and fully, 100% embrace the new.

Here is a key for making a violent turn: Verse 7 states that the Lord said to his priest:"If you will walk in My ways and keep My requirements, then you will govern My house and have charge of My courts..." Talk about ruling and reigning. God is saying that if we follow Him and remain obedient that He will give us "charge of His house and in His courts! Wow! We can shift our atmosphere with violent turns! Shifting government!

Remember Esther once more; she was given favor by the King and, therefore, not only destroyed Haman, but was given governmental authority to shift unrighteous decrees. Dear ones, we can do the same. Make a decision today to refuse to agree with the words of the accuser. Decide today to make a violent change, a turn, in the right direction the Lord has for you.

Allow me to pray for you: Father, I ask that You empower Your children to become properly positioned, as warriors, for breakthrough. Lead us to always be in the right place at the right time-positioned as needed for victory in every area of our lives. You said in Deuteronomy 11:24 that every place whereon the soles of our feet shall tread would be ours! I ask that You equip each reader with a treading anointing. To tread is to march and possess our land, so I ask that You anoint our feet to tread. Father, it is time to make a violent turn toward our destiny.

In the Old Testament there was always Your plea for Your children to "turn back" to You. In this violent turning time, show us any area in our heart which needs mending so that we can be completely committed to please You and fulfill divine destiny. Lord, empower each reader as You renew his/her mind to truth in this season. I pray for each of you to have the mind of Christ and that you each realize that you have been created in God's divine image.

In Jesus' name. Amen!

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email:zionministries1@sbcglobal.net