July 2021 - Candice Smithyman

July 27th, 2021

A transition time is here. I know that some of you have continued to feel a crushing, pulverization, or even a heaviness. Others may still be going through a difficult time. It’s okay if you’re feeling this way. A transition time can also be difficult or feel like a crushing time.

After the transition, trial or crushing comes, you now have to rethink how you are going to make changes, live your life and determine what God is calling you to do. There can be many questions but one thing is certain – you must abide in Him.

In John 15:1-5 it says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, no more can ye, unless ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.”

Abiding in Him is a very important truth that you need to grasp from this passage. Abiding in the vine, the Lord, is necessary if you want to see amazing results happen during this transition time. Just like physical branches get purged, you may be experiencing a time where things have been cut back and purged. It hurts. But no matter what emotional battle you are fighting, whether it was anger, frustration, discouragement, depression or oppression; you cannot disconnect yourself from the Lord.

Instead, allow this time to be a time of repentance and ask the Lord to reinstate His divine nature in you. Staying connected allows you to receive nutrients from the true vine , Jesus.
Tell Him, “Lord, I’ve been through this crushing, but I want to abide in You. I want to get closer to you. I want to hear your voice. Give me the knowledge I need for this time of transition. Amen.”

This is so vitally important because intimacy and a relationship with the Lord is the only thing that will help you walk through this transition time.

Stay encouraged! A new wine and a new birth are breaking and coming forth! This will take place during the promotional time on August 1-15th and you are going to be experiencing it!

Seasons are shifting and you are properly being positioned to step into your new season!

Share this with a friend who needs to stay connected with the Lord.

July 20th, 2021

I know you have been through a lot lately. I have too! It’s been a time of testing and trials during the 3 Weeks of Sorrow. On the Hebrew calendar, the three-week period ended July 18th, which is also the 9th day of Av.

During this time, the Jewish people remember a few things: how the Israelites worshipped a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai, how he broke the 10 Commandments in anger when he saw their idolatry, and how the temple was destroyed once by the Romans and again by King Nebuchadnezzar on the same day but in different years!

The 9th of Av is a very solemn time. It’s also a time to repent and ask the Lord what you may be worshipping instead of Him. It’s a time to pray and fast, to re-consecrate yourself to Him and to following His will.

Did you know that your body is a temple? You are a holy temple, and the Spirit of the Lord lives within you!

Do you feel attacked? Destroyed? You may be wounded, heartbroken or experiencing a great trial right now, but let me tell you – new wine is coming forth in the midst of this! God is bringing forth something new that will carry you into your next level of promotion, coming in August!

You’ve endured this time of testing, but I don’t want you to be discouraged. YOU ARE CALLED to wear a mantle of splendor. Your mantle doesn’t change in the trial. You are part of the body of Christ. You are the Kingdom of God made manifested in the earth. Keep your eyes on Him, stay steady and remain firm in knowing that HE is going to bring you through! A great glory has come upon you, and you are being filled with new wine, a greater presence of the Lord, and fresh glory.

Now let me give you some scriptures that the Lord laid on my heart about staying in proper alignment during this time. You have got to keep your focus. The Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Take time today to set aside all evil desires or anything that could mess up your relationship with the Lord. Stand in the knowledge of His love and beauty. It will be a great place of freedom for you and the foundation you need to stand on His precious promises.

In 2 Peter 1:5-9 it says, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”

You see, when you truly come alive in Christ, you develop great compassion and remember how the Lord cleansed your heart and life. You know how to stand in the divine promises of the Lord and grow in His virtues. Determine in your heart to grow daily and increase in the attributes of Jesus.

Share this with a friend and encourage them to stand firm in their faith. The Lord will bring them through!

July 14th, 2021

Stay steady! Even though you’re still currently in the Three Weeks of Sorrow (until July 18th), take this time to remember and reflect on a few things: How the Israelites worshipped the golden calf, how Moses broke the 10 Commandments at the sight of idol worship, the destruction of the Temple (twice), and most importantly, a time of repentance.

You need to make sure your life is in alignment with the Lord. Lay down whatever you are worshipping or exalting above the Lord.

But what if you feel oppression? Maybe your own personal temple is being attacked right now? Maybe it’s your health, family, job or other parts of your life that are being tested? Do you find yourself having to stand firm and stand in faith? Is there an assault against your mind? It’s in these times you have to remember that the Lord is sending you in HIS STRENGTH!

In Judges 6:11-16, it says,The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’ ‘But sir,’ Gideon replied, ‘If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian. The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ ‘But Lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.’”

Have you ever wondered where God was in your life? I find it interesting that in this passage we see there was a time of great sorrow and oppression, BUT GOD! He raised up Gideon. He raised him up even though Gideon saw himself as one who was oppressed and weak. The Lord says, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Praise the Lord! Do you see that? You just need to confess to the Lord when you are weak.

If you’re going through a difficulty right now, just say, “Lord, I’m feeling weak. Reveal to me what I need to change, how to put things into alignment with You, and what I need to restructure in my life. Open my eyes to the things that cannot go with me in my time of promotion.” When you do this, He will come, show you things, and make you strong! He is faithful! You will come through this time of testing!

Promotion time is coming – even if you don’t feel like it! Your strength comes from the Lord. You are part of God’s perfect plan. Go in the strength that He has given you. (See Judges 6:14)

Share this with a friend who needs to be strengthened and encouraged to keep moving forward. Be blessed!

July 6th, 2021

You have just received a new mantle assignment from the Lord. Now, you have quickly moved into what is called the Three Weeks of Sorrow or Between the Straights on the Hebrew calendar. This period started on the 17th of Tammuz (June 27th) and ends on the 9th of Av (July 10th).

In this three-week period, there are going to be intense trials and circumstances. I know that some of you have already been experiencing difficult times and have stepped into intense situations and spiritual warfare. You must know that there will be things that will challenge your faith and the mantle assignment God has given you during this time. Even though things may be very difficult right now and hard to process or understand, this is happening because you’ve entered this pre-promotional time and your new mantle is being tested. It is truly a test of faith.

I want to share a passage that I believe will encourage you. In I Peter 1: 6-9 (NASB) the Apostle Peter says, “ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

I know what you’re going through has been hard, and I have also been experiencing some intense spiritual warfare. Even if you try to avoid or ignore it, it pays attention to you. It will manifest. The power of God’s calendar will come forth, and then all of a sudden you will find that your faith is being tested.

I get so encouraged by the Scriptures personally. I know that my faith is being tested, but it’s going to result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ! Your faith is going to show that it’s more precious than gold. Gold is perishable, but your faith is imperishable! It helps you enter into the realms of heaven.

God is asking you to rejoice in the midst of your trial. This is a test in and of itself! He wants you to count it all joy. No matter what the enemy throws at you, COUNT IT ALL JOY! When I’m in a trial, I laugh at the enemy and start praising the Lord. Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength.

If you count it all joy during this time and walk in your new level of authority, the enemy cannot defeat you.

Do not be angry at God because of these trials. The circumstances may be difficult, but they are not too difficult, and the spiritual warfare is not too hard. God is for you. He will help you! Love on Him, even in the midst of the challenge.

You got promoted. Now walk it out! Keep your mind on the things above. I speak life into you right now, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Share this with someone who needs it and let them know, “I’m still standing!” They can stand too!