Dear Friends,

I trust that you are well and have had a good week. I apologise for slipping a day on the post.  It have been a hectic week.  God is burning some things in my heart which I am seeking Him about regarding the restoration of Zimbabwe.  Please pray for health, help and protection for myself and my family during this time.  It is a corporate vision, that I will share at the right time.

Special prayer should continue to be raised up for our ruling parties and politicians.  We should continue to give God special thanks for the orchestration of the political merging events to date.  It is very unique and almost unheard of in the African setting.  We also strongly credit our leaders for sticking with it, and continuing to work it out.  Historically nations have taken centuries to arrive at stable  medium.  We are by no means there, but the grace of the Lord is so evident.  We praise you Lord! The earnest heartfelt prayers of the saints avail much.  Keep strong.  Our prayers to God support and uphold those in authority and bring His peace to troubled situations.  Lets continue to speak His peace over the political merging and for smooth resolution.  Pray that the Lord will pull down stronghold of division and confusion over the legislative power.

Its time to pickup our tools and start working.  What tools has God given you?  Pray about it and ask Him to show you.  We are best suited to doing what He alone has called us to do.  Remember the least will be the greatest in His eyes.

Blessings on you Zimbawean family, 

Here is one word of thought from the Lord.  Praise His wonderful Name! 

“Winds of restoration are blowing in Zimbabwe again. Things will not be the same.  What was meant for evil will turn and benefit My children.  The cries have gone up and are heard on high.  I will speak peace to My people”

 The Lord says, “I continue to work restoration upon Zimbabwe.  Things will not be the same any more.  The brokenness is being made whole.  I speak peace and prosperity to Zimbabwe.  Her soils shall again become fertile and wholesome.  The curse and mark against her shall be removed.  The time of her judgment is come complete.   Speak restoration and prophesy restoration, and that My favour shall be upon her and her sons and daughters.  The land shall bring forth new crops and abundant harvests.  The rain shall fill the rivers and the dams again.  Restoration.

“Your leaders sit around the table and decide on the direction to go.  I shall put words in their mouths.  They shall say, ‘That’s a great idea.’  I will give them the idea and turn their thoughts through your prayers and intercession.  There are some who plot Zimbabwe’s demise and breathe threats against it.  There are opportunists that wish to come in and take advantage of the fragile situation.  Pray against such as these.  There are many who do not want the country to prosper and who do not love the cross of Christ.  Pray that the door will shut to these individuals who are preying on the minds and hearts of the Zimbabweans.  The rise of Islam wishes to bring its doors to Zimbabwe and open a way in while the country is weak and bleeding.  Pray that the door will remain shut to them, even when money and aid is offered.  They are only interested in the souls of the people.

“There are others who say, ‘How may Zimbabwe help us?’, and they seek to tilt the international scale in their own favour.  Pray that only the will of God will prevail.  Many in ‘the West’ seek to monopolize for power and gain too.  Pray that the god of money will not enter in, lest people say, ‘It was these people who helped us, or it was those people…’”  God desires that all glory be His.  He will exalt His Name throughout the earth in what He will do in Zimbabwe!  He is jealous over her as a lover and will not allow her to receive help from anyone except whom He sends and allows.

The Lord says that, “…there is greatness stored up for the upright in Zimbabwe.  They have been the tail for so long.  They will become the head, and rule and reign in Christ Jesus.  They will not fear any longer for Christ shall be their rear-guard and helper.”

Remember the old touristy name used ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’  (Lozi).  “‘The smoke that thunders.’  God shall thunder even louder above the mighty noise of creation.  He shall create confusion amongst the spiritual enemies.  They will flee when no one pursues, but find no place to hide,” says the Lord.  “There is no place to flee and hide from My presence. I  Am everywhere and I Am drawing all things together into Me.

“Zimbabwe shall change the appearance of the flag.  They will say, we have fought together under this banner for so long.  Now, we should add some changes to reflect where we are going.  We have been a divided nation, but now we desire to unite under one flag.  We are going to be a forward looking nation and seek to outdo our very best from the past.  We have been distracted with things that have been a small deal, but now we will forge new trust and new vision for our future.  There shall be new mergers in governmental circles.  There will be some retirement of old knights, but induction of ne w ones with new ideas.  There will be a new respect for those in authority, and a new desire to respect the elders of the political ‘tribes.’” 

The Lord says,”I breathe newness into Zimbabwe.  I breathe restoration.  I call things that are not as they were.  The situation seems very tumultuous right now, but I look with eyes that see the best, and I see the way things will be in the future.  To you it is impossible.  Remember during the time of Samaria’s famine that Elisha prophesied that there would be an abundance of food the very next day.  To man’s eyes this seemed impossible, but through a mighty victory over the enemy lines, the enemy fled when no one pursued and left much food and treasures.  The prophecy came to pass, but the man who did not believe the report failed to eat of the food and was trampled at the gate of the city by the rushing feet of the people.”  The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts.  The same God who resurrected Jesus from the dead, is the same God who can and will resurrect our country to a new life!

Let’s pray it friends, with no wavering, but with singleness of mind:

“Lord, we thank You that You care for our country Zimbabwe so much.  Lord you gave your own son for each and every one of us, both at home and scattered around the globe.  You died for the least to the greatest, and love us all with a measureless love! Praise Your holy Name!

We pray for a hedge of protection around the country.  During this vulnerable place, when she is giving birth, we ask that you protect her.  We pray against the rise of Islam in our country and declare in faith that this door will be shut right now.  We pray against other foreign nations who pursue Zimbabwe for lustful purposes that the doors to them will remain close.  We close them in Jesus’ name.  Lord, you will not share Your glory with another.  We pray and also declare a release of your presence and love in Zim.  We unite ourselves to you as our ‘husband’ and we as your ‘bride’.  We declare that our ‘help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth,’ and that ‘You will not allow our foot to stumble.’  Our eyes are on you, as a child expectantly watches his mother.

“Lord release your wisdom and create new ideas for our leadership.  Bless them.  We bless them and ask that a spirit of reconciliation will be upon them that they will share common thought and common purpose.  We declare the spirit of unity.  We pray against spiritual elements that seek to tear the country apart.  Shut their mouths O Lord!  We declare they will not speak.  We proclaim restoration over Zimbabwe.  We call her the ‘nation that the Lord rebuilt!’  We speak divine prosperity over her.  Where there was little harvest this year, we pray for an abundant harvest next year Lord.  Lord may each man and women be able to farm their land and receive abundant yield in Jesus’ Name.  Let every person come to know You are their personal provider! Glorify Your Name.

We praise You for You love, You revelation, and your truth.  We love you Jesus! You are our King and Saviour.  Amen”

The other day, I was driving home from work and looking at the greatness of creation - the beautiful blue painted sky, the green trees, the hills and the valleys.  The clearness of the air and of nature really touched me.  Yes, the magnificence of God was truly seen!  As I considered this, I heard the Lord say - “My people have lost their song, one of their greatest weapons.”  What did that mean I wondered?  I knew looking at the creation right there that I felt the praise rising up in My spirit and flooding my thoughts of that day.  Yes, true praise and song is consuming, my friends!  Even when life is difficult and tough, there is a song that goes before us and clears the way.  It will clear out and rout out our enemies before we can even encounter them. 

As I prayed on the thought on this, I was reminded one of the great stories of a great old Testament.  It features a certain Judaic king named Jehoshaphat.  Feel free to read it in 2 Chronicles  20.  I include some bullet points below to summarize the key events in the progression of this great and very unusual battle.

Jehoshaphat and the Song of Praise:

• A vast army of numerous nations came to make war against him
• He was alarmed but proclaimed a fast for all of Judah
• The people grouped together and sought the Lord as one voice
• He praised the Lord and confessed that they as a people would serve Him no matter what the outcome or calamity
• God spoke to them
  • “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army”
  • “For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
  • “Tomorrow march down against them.”
  • “They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle”
  • “Take up your positions”
  • “Stand firm”
  • “See the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.”
  • “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you”
• He appointed singers to go before them and prepare the way!!!
• The Lord caused ambushes on the enemy such that there were none left alive by the time Israel arrives to collected the spoil! It took 3 days, and there was still too much for everyone to collect! Israel praised and sang to God again. Great fear and reputation fell on the surrounding nations. God was very clearly on their side. Jehoshaphat experienced no more trouble at all from the surrounding nations during his reign.

This passage could be further summarized as follows:

1.      A GREAT TROUBLE AND ALARM

2.      A FAST AND PRAYER IN UNITY TO THE LORD

3.      A PRAISE TO GOD

4.      A BATTLE SONG TO VICTORY

5.      AN ADVANCED ROUTING OUT OF THE ENEMIES

6.      A MASSIVE SPOIL

7.      A GREAT REPUTATION

The story is a powerful one.  When do we hear of singers going as the head against the most powerful armies?  Surely one would put the best soldiers skilled in the art of war? Surely we must quickly put our best foot forward?  Surely we bring our best talents to the table and give it our best shot?

God told them to go one step higher.  He said “The battle is not yours, but Mine.”  When you are prepared to yield your way and striving to take His way, then He can become the Lord of the battle.  I believe that this is more easily done when we break out into songs of praise.  Some surely thought that they were singing their way down the war road to their death.  Would you not have thought that, or been tempted to think that?  There are times in life that we feel the cold hands of fear and death gripping around us and our lives.  We feel our instinct kicking in, and we want to give it our best shot and get ourselves out of it.  We want to fight back. 

God is saying that “this is the time to lift up the shout of praise unto Me.  My people have lost their voice, not because I have taken it away, but because they have forgotten how to use it.  Now is the time to lift up your voice.  When you feel the “shutting in”, or the persecution, lift up your voice and praise Me on high, for I still reign.  No matter what circumstance you are going through, continue to lift up your voice to the One who reigns on high and see light break through on your darkness. 

“See My kingdom come to your world.  See you enemies scatter.  Where are those who accuse you?” says the Lord.  “Are they not scattered before you?  My voice shall part many waters and guide you to the place that I have for you.  Were not the Israelites afraid as they hit the deep dark waters of the Red Sea and night was closing in on them.  There was no way out it seemed.  They were in a hard place.  There are some of you who are between the Dead Sea and the Egyptian army and there is no way to turn, but I will part the waters as you pray and call upon Me.  It shall then be that the greatest trials of your life shall then turn into the greatest testimonies of my favor and grace.  Then the enemy can never again test you in this way, for you have seen the salvation of the Lord and know His favor is with you.  “Fear not”, have I not said this in the passage mentioned, that the peoples’ eyes were on Me, and as their eyes were on Me and they were separated unto Me, I then scattered their enemies, and they came upon the spoil.  The rejoicing did not end for it was followed by much praise and glory in Me for the salvation that I wrought on that day,” says the Lord.

So friends, let the song of praise be released from your lips!  Seek to praise when it is hard, when you don’ t feel like it, and when you feel you should be out solving the problems.  Let the problems wait a minute so that you can lift up a shout of praise!  As you do, the waters shall part and you shall pass through.  Fear not, greater is the One in you than the one in the world!

Naturally I had the opportunity spring on me just the other day to walk this passage out.  Some event occurred that caused me an intense amount of disappointment, anger and frustration.  It hung over me as a black cloud and blackened everything around me.  The hardest aspect was to make the choice to begin to sing and praise God.  He is still on the throne.  Right?  Yes, so I had to start.  I did not feel like it.  I did not want to.  I could not see resolution from my vantage point.  As I began to praise, I felt strengthened.  I felt the black clouds begin to break away to the sunshine and clearness once again.  Peace returned.  The situation had not changed really, but my view point had, and Christ was back on the throne.  Yes, friends, the hardest thing is to go against the grain when every thought and emotion tells you otherwise.  The choice is yours.  As you take it and press through, Christ will meet you when you glorify Him, and change the darkness into light before you!

The Bible also talks about “admonishing” or “encouraging” one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Step out and ask God to fill your mouth with a new song today!

Blessings and love in Christ Jesus

Keith Lemmer