"A Word to the Modern-Day Noahs" Christa Elisha, Oxford, Ohio On October 24th, as I was spending time with the Lord, I went into a lovely encounter that I believe will greatly encourage you and position you for success in the days ahead! Leaning into the presence of God in my recliner, I said, "Lord, I have been so busy. Please come and refresh my heart. Is there anything You would like to speak to me?" Ever so gently, I heard Him speak: "Sometimes you do not need another word from Me. Instead, what you need is another moment immersed in My presence, wrapped up in My arms." Suddenly, I could feel His Spirit, like water, falling all around me. As I continued to soak in His reviving rain, the water level around me rose, and I began to experience a floating sensation. His Spirit was taking me higher as I simply rested and received. It was glorious, to say the least. The Noah Anointing In the midst of this encounter, I was reminded of Noah. Noah found favor with God because he trusted God. The name Noah means "rest" or "relaxation." When we fast forward to the New Testament in Mark 4:38, we read about Jesus taking a nap in the hull of the boat during another storm. His fearful disciples came to wake Him. At their plea, He rose, rebuked the storm and then rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith after all they had seen Him do. I have a conviction that every Believer today is called to operate in this "Noah anointing." We do this by simply trusting that God meant what He said in the Gospel message – that our sins have been erased by the Blood of Jesus, and His covenant to us, His children, is that we have PEACE with Him through the finished work of the Cross. Thus, we may enter into His REST.

We can stop trying to earn God's acceptance through our own efforts and religious activities. We can RELAX and stop worrying that God is not pleased with us, that He will punish us, or that He will not be there for us in our time of need. The Lord said in Psalm 95:9-11, "There your fathers tested Me and tried My patience even though they saw My miracles for forty years they still doubted Me! This ignited My anger with that generation and I said about them, 'They wander in their hearts just like they do with their feet, and they refuse to learn My ways.' My heart grieved over them so I decreed: 'They will not enter into My rest!'" We see in this passage that the Israelites could not experience peace with God or enter into rest because they lacked faith/trust in His love for them, despite all He had done. Reader, I bless you to comprehend the magnitude of His grace, love and faithfulness toward you so that you will not sin in your heart by doubting His goodness. The Father is satisfied with His Son, and now the Son of God lives in YOU, by His Spirit, so that the Father can be satisfied with YOU, TOO. An Invitation to a Season of Rest Corporately, I believe the Lord is inviting us into a season of resting and receiving from Him in this last quarter of the year. It will be through soaking or lingering in His presence that we will find rest. Just as the ark rose with the water level to rest on the mountain top, we too will float to the higher place He has prepared for us. This is a season to relinquish control, to surrender our fear and to refuse to doubt the finished work of the Cross which has accomplished its mission: peace between God and man. It is a season to sabbath from striving to make things happen, and to simply enjoy indulging in the stillness of quietly resting in His love for us. It will be in this place of trust that we will be infused with fresh vision and revelation, supercharged for the days ahead. (Photo via Pixabay) To the Modern-day Noahs I feel that the Lord wants to encourage the modern-day Noahs in this hour. You have seen what is coming and have faithfully built the ark. Now the Lord is sending His reviving rain to water His workers. You have done well in your labor, and now it is time to receive your REWARD of being able to RELAX and RECOVER physically, mentally and spiritually. Praise God! Some of you just need to take a nap like Jesus did! And this is no joke, since the Lord is saying that this season of relaxation is vital for your wellbeing in the days ahead! Remember, friends, Noah and his family did not live on the boat after the water receded... No, they left the ark and Noah got right back to work – this time planting a vineyard. See, the ark was merely the vehicle to get them to the mountain they were called to occupy. There are mountains of culture that many of you will need to begin to occupy with new wine skins when this season of sabbath ends. Rest well, saints, for there is still work to be done on the horizon! So just RELAX, guys! Even though we are certainly living in the days of Noah, just as Jesus talked about in Matthew 24:37, we are called to experience PEACE and REST as we trust in Him! The storm that rocks the world won't rock your boat, if you don't allow it to influence your faith! Rest is the posture required to take your mountain and His promises that, like the rainbow around His throne, never fade or fall. Hallelujah!