Avoiding Ruts and Common Themes

I believe it is the desire of everyone here to come up to a higher level of faith and anointing. That means we must set our vision on that higher level and "press in" to receive it. That's what we will work on in this activation...

Actually we will do two activations with our partner. They are designed to help us eliminate (or at least downplay) some of the common phrases we may habitually use when ministering. I have asked various students in the past to list some of these common phrases, and this is what they came up with...

• You have a prophetic call/gift/anointing
• God is taking you to a new level
• You are a mother/father in the kingdom
• You have a business anointing
• God is going to give you a financial breakthrough
• The time is near
• Don't move to left/right
• You have been hurt in the past
• You will be used mightily of the Lord
• God is laying an ax to the root
• This is a day of new beginnings
• New things/new day
• You are in transition
• God has called you here
• You are here for such a time as this
• God loves you
• God is opening/closing doors
• God is giving you a double portion of the anointing
• God is preparing a spouse for you
• God is with you during your troubles
• God is sending you to the nations
• God is calling to deeper intimacy
• God will restore what devil has stolen
• Restoration
• You will soar like and eagle
• Bloom like a flower
• "Even"
• "I'm going to bless you"
• "the Lord has been watching over you"
• a 'David' anointing
• God loves you, be at peace, rest in Him
• The Lord knows your heart
• a new mantle
• God has heard your prayers
• God is increasing the anointing in you, you will operate with greater power
• There is a strong anointing in you
• God cares about every part of your life
• He will never leave you nor forsake you
• His love for you is great
• God is doing "a work" in you
• You're about to turn a corner
• God is calling you to....
• step out
• God is been directing your life for such a time as this

We are going to break into pairs and do two things with our partner. The first thing we will do is to share with our partner any common themes or phrases that we tend to use in our words. Next we will attempt to give our partner a word from the Lord, avoiding use of these common themes or phrases.

Please note.. these themes/phrases are not necessarily bad. There is nothing wrong with these statements. It's okay to use them. If God is telling us to say them, then we should be obedient. However, we don't want them to be "standard fare" and limit our words to these types of statements. They can be redundant and loose their meaning when we use them to often. So we want to challenge ourselves to listen to God for greater detail and more meaningful words.

Again, there is nothing wrong with these words. However, as I listen to people prophesying, I find that many limit themselves to these types of words. This is probably due to several factors:

• one may be a lack of faith on our part
• is it easier to say "God loves you" than "you just got fired from your advertising job" ..... and being human, we can often tend toward what is easy
• God often times gives us details and specifics, but we don't give it

We are going to minister to one another (as we have done in the past). However, we are going to try to avoid the often repeated, and perhaps habitual type of common phrases. Challenge yourself to believe God for something that you don't often give. Try to break out of the rut (not that you are in one ). This is simple enough to explain, I hope you find it simple to do.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

1. We are now going to pray a covering prayer, so we can approach God with a clean heart and a clear conscience.

   Please pray after me:

   Father God, please cleanse my by the blood of Jesus. Jesus, wash away all of my sins. I accept your shed blood and the sacrifice on the cross, and I agree with your Word that I am now clean. I ask for a greater measure of faith and anointing for this activation. I want to come up higher and challenge my faith to flow in a greater way. Please say whatever ever you wish through me and help me to hear in Jesus name, amen.

2. Please pray in the Spirit and stir yourselves up to minister. Take about 1 to 2 minutes to do this.

3. Now go quiet and listen to the Lord for about 45 seconds to a minute.

4. First person please begin. Go until the leader stops you. If you are doing this by email, go for about 8 to 10 minutes. Once the first person has completed, the second should begin. If you are doing this by email, then mail the word to your partner.

5. Do not take time for feedback just yet.

6. I would like you to stay with the same partners, and minister to each other again (and yes, God has more to say to them ). Once again, mentally review the common phrases and themes that you tend towards. Ask God to give you things that are different or unique from them as He gives you another word for your partner.

   Once again, first person, please begin. And both share the word for your partner. If you are doing this by email, go ahead and mail the second word to them.

7. Take a moment and give each other some feedback.