A Month of Victory and Freedom for the Captives!

Word for 2025: "I Release My Command to the Captives, 'Come Out! Be Free!'" 

Word of the Lord received on December 28, 2024:

"I will say to the prisoners, 'Come out in freedom,' and to those in darkness, 'Come into the light.' They will be My sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare." (Isaiah 49:9 NLT)

Captivity generally refers to the state of being held, confined, or imprisoned against one's will. There are different types of captivity:

1. Literal Captivity (Physical or Geopolitical)

Imprisonment, or enslavement: "The condition of being physically confined or controlled by force, such as being imprisoned in a jail, enslaved, or held hostage..." (Definition via Google, AI Overview).

2. Spiritual Captivity

Spiritual bondage: In a spiritual sense, captivity refers to being enslaved or bound by forces which cause sin, addiction, or negative patterns of behavior. It can also refer to being under the control of forces, such as fear, guilt, or oppression.

3. Emotional or Psychological Captivity

This is the state of being mentally or emotionally trapped by unresolved trauma, harmful relationships, or unhealthy thought patterns. This can refer to feelings of being trapped by circumstances or one's own mindset.

God's people were held captives by the force of the Babylonians. They were in great hardship, and they had lost their land, their temple, and everything. They started to doubt God's faithfulness and said, "...The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us" (Isaiah 49:14 NLT). We see God's reply in the following verse: "Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15 NLT). (Photo via Creative Commons)

God raised up a greater force to overcome the Babylonian Empire. He raised the Persian Empire, led by Cyrus, to free His people and restore them to their own land.

I heard the Lord say, "2025 shall be a year of release from captivity, a year where a verdict concerning your release has been reached. A shout will go out. My voice will release a decree regarding your freedom. You will come out of this situation unharmed, and you will come out of this furnace without smelling like fire.

"This is a year where I release My command to the captives, 'Come out! Be free!' It is the year of My favor.

"The forces which kept you captive will be destroyed by a greater force. My light will shine in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome [it].

"Many are discouraged and, like My people Israel, they have been questioning [My] faithfulness. Others continue to say, 'The Lord has forgotten me.'

"My answer remains the same: 'Never. Can a mother forget her nursing child?... Even if that was the case, I will never forget you. I have carved you on the palm on My hands; your walls are constantly before Me' (Isaiah 49:15–16, paraphrased).

"This will be the year where I will restore you. This will be the year where I will surpass your expectations. My restoration will be so complete that even the most barren and harsh places will be transformed by My glory into places of nourishment and provision. (Photo via Pexels)

"As the world celebrates a new year, many don't know that more famines, wars, and plagues will break out. But do not fear when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, for your Shepherd will be your Protector.

"The year will play out like a song playlist composed by Me. These are not songs of entertainment but decrees for freedom, divine verdicts of release. I am restoring spiritual vision, for your eyes will see My salvation.

"While the world will be in lack and need, you will be grazing on My goodness. This is My promise to you, I will crown the year with My goodness, and you will see My hands in everything. Get ready to come out. Get ready to move, for My grace and favor are upon you and your household."

Visions of Lions

Visions received on December 30, 2024:

In my first vision, I saw a scene from The Lion King playing out. It was the opening scene where the monkey Rafiki introduces Simba, who is King Mufasa's son, and the heir to the throne. When all the animals see Simba, they all bow down to respect the authority Mufasa carries.

I heard God say, "I am about to reveal My children, and they will expose the dark plans of the enemy."

I suddenly realized that this was the verse of the year:

"For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are." (Romans 8:19 NLT)

In my second vision, I saw a stage being set up for a movie with a hospital theme of sick people. At first, I saw a hospital ward with many sick people. It seemed to me like there was an infectious virus. I saw nurses; some were in panic and very overwhelmed by the scene, and others didn't seem to care.

I immediately saw a picture of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, where children were in hospital beds and nurses were being overwhelmed. Then I saw a huge Lion walk in the hospital room, and He roared so loudly that the stage did not get set up. (Photo via Creative Commons)

"But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, 'Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.'" (Revelation 5:5)

Lions Roar After Winning a Battle

Yes, lions often roar after winning a fight, especially when they feel they have established dominance or successfully defended their territory. The roar in this context serves multiple purposes:

1. Assertion of Dominance

After a fight, whether it's with another lion or an intruder, a victorious lion will roar to assert its dominance and reinforce its position. This roar acts as a way of signaling to other lions and animals that they have been defeated and that the victorious lion is the one in charge of that territory or pride.

2. Signaling to Other Lions

A victorious lion might roar to announce its success and to communicate with pride members or other lions nearby. It can serve as a way to rally pride members or warn rivals that the lion is still strong and in control. The roar serves as both a celebration and a territorial claim.

3. Intimidating Rivals

A lion's roar after a fight can also be a warning to other potential challengers. If the lion has just successfully defended its territory or defeated a rival, the roar signals to other males that this lion is not to be messed with. It establishes that any future challengers will face the same fate.

The Lions of Babylon Are Falling

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are." (1 Peter 5:8–9 NLT) (Photo via Flickr)

(The above image is of the counterfeit "Striding Lion" of Babylon which symbolizes the Babylonian goddess Ishtar.)

Word of the Lord: This Is a Month of Victory

"Many opened their mouths to tear you like lions. They have spoken evil against you and betrayed you. They thought they would get away with it as if nothing happened. But the truth is different; this is a month of victory.

"It will be marked with an intense roar, where I will roar over you like a lion. I will make sure My roar is heard. My roar serves as a signal of My protection and dominance, a signal that I have established My authority over your life. My roar will be intense to mark the territory that I have claimed for you. This is an intense roar to signal My win.

"My roar will serve as both a celebration and a territorial claim, a territorial declaration that the Lion of Judah has won. What the enemy is trying to achieve will not prevail, for no weapon formed against you will prosper. My roar will silence [the enemy's] tongue. My roar will send shivers into the camp of the enemy, reminding them not to mess with My children. It's a reminder that future attacks will face the same consequences.

"Get ready, for January will be marked by a series of wins. Do not fear, for I, your God, the Lord of Israel, made you glorious. You will see My glory and feel My presence."