Applause or Affect?

When you go before the Lord and the people what is in your heart? Do you desire to draw the hearts of the people to you or to Christ? Are you there to be the best looking dancer, with the sharpest moves and syncopated rhythms? Or is it your hearts cry to worship the Lord in purity and truth and to draw the hearts of the people to Christ? Or are you a dancer who’s just dancing because you enjoy dancing…and when you go out you’re having fun but it hasn’t touched a deep place within you…you haven’t made the connection with your spirit man or the Holy Spirit? It’s something to consider. What is it that you seek when you go to minister before the Lord in dance?

One of our main assignments is to lift up the Lord as we minister before Him and His people – to direct and lead the people to Christ. Sure, technique and skill enhances and expands our ability to “speak thru dance”. However, it is what is in our hearts that matters most when we go before His presence. It is what people EXPERIENCE through you that brings transformation. I can go forth with a rousing and wonderfully choreographed piece that may bring people to their feet. However, they will soon forget this dance because there was no experience with God. Or, I can go forth with the intention to bare my soul and expose my heart for God which in turn could leave the room in silence. This silence is not necessarily an indication that the crowd wasn’t “with” me. In this silence, there can be healing, deliverance or even a “word” of confirmation. This is what people will remember…that you have affected them in the secret chambers of their heart and in realms that only they and God know about.

So, don’t be swayed by the roar of the crowd. Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes, many times, the people will receive the demonstration of your “true” heart with applause, cheers and accolades. But remember, this is not what we seek after. I must admit that I have “felt” this before or wanted “confirmation” that the crowd was “feeling” the dance. However, the more I dance, the more I KNOW that it is not the approval or applause of the people that matters, but what God thinks that matters. If God is pleased, then I know the “work” has been done and God’s desired affect is inevitable.

How do we not get caught up in the celebrity and the desire for the applause of the people, you ask?

I can go into a lot of detail and depth here, but I want to keep it really simple. We are responsible for what we do before God and His people. The bottom line is this….

·         We have to seek God to know Him and understand the desires of His heart.

·         We have to choose to obey God and submit to His will, so that we are not moving or dancing out of our own selves, but from the mind and heart of Christ.

·         We have to want to please God more than we want the accolades of the people.

·         We have to want see God in what we do and not be blinded by pride and arrogance.

Most importantly we have to Love God and Love His People. If we keep this at the core of who we are and what we do, we will honor God through our dance.

Psalm 119:33-40 (Amplified Bible)

³³Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly].

³⁴Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.

³⁶Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).

³⁷Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.

³⁸Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You.

³⁹Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good.

⁴⁰Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life.

Take Courage and Fly!

Greetings Beloved!

My goodness do I have a WORD from the Lord for YOU! This is an all out ALERT and ENCOURAGEMENT to those of you that have ministries that are "taxiing on the runway" and just about to take off in this season.

I recently had a dream that I was standing outside of a college campus. I saw several other students going about their business, conversing with one another, etc.  Directly across from the school was an airport runway.  There were quite a few planes taxiing on the runway. Let me give you a quick definition for taxiing - the MOVEMENT of aircraft on the ground in READINESS for takeoff or landing. (I know my prophetic brothers and sisters are feeling something already!) These planes, of course, were in line for takeoff!

Suddenly, a group of students released a missile from the side area of the school.  The missile did not go very high, nor did it go very far.  In fact, the students acted like they were sorry, and fearful, that they fired it! I  wondered to myself why did they do that?  The next thing I knew, a missile came soaring from what seemed like the other side of the world.  It landed very close to the runway and shook the ground in an explosion! Everyone stood in shock!  Then immediately another missile came flying and I watched in horror as it accurately hit one of the aircraft that had just taken off.  It was probably only about 500 feet in flight when flames engulfed it and completely destroyed it. The students began to scream, run, and chaos ensued. Seconds later a missile hit one of the aircraft that was in line taxiing. I began to retreat and thought to myself, I need to get to the basement of one of the buildings. Apparently so did everyone else because we all began running in the same direction. I ran through a building, flew down some stairs, and realized there was no basement in this particular building. So, I pushed the back door open only to find everyone running into the building behind me (the last building on campus).  I headed for the building and woke up.

This dream came immediately on the heels of me seeking the Lord after an adverse word was "prophesied" about me, and as far as I was concerned, my future, and the Promises the Lord has given me.


The Holy Spirit began to minister to me that myself, as well as MANY others, have ministries that are about to take off!  We are "taxiing" or rather have been PREPARED for, and are about to TAKE OFF IN, THIS SEASON!  The enemy knows who you are beloved and he is bringing out the big guns against the purpose of God in your life!  His attack is on the PURPOSE!!! To steal, kill, and destroy it! But you, my friend, have been chosen, and predestined for such a time as this to carry out God's plan!  So, when you see, or hear, the attack coming, DO NOT RETREAT!  The enemy would love for you to take cover in a "basement" where you will stay hidden, be forgotten, be in darkness and fear, and perhaps even go back to some of your "old" ways. BUT GOD desires that you STAY FOCUSED on Him, stay IN Him, have FAITH, take COURAGE, and FLY dear ones!  This is NOT a time to get deterred by the tactics of the enemy!  This is a time to MOVE FORWARD in your calling!! 

2 KEYS FOR HIGH FLYING
Yes, there is going to be a battle for your "flight pattern" i.e. where God sends you...i.e your NEW TERRITORY...and I know that you know...YOU WIN! But there are 2 things I believe will help you maintain flight: 

1.  Increase your STUDY of the WORD!  

• The keys to knowing and understanding your Promises and rights as an heir in the Kingdom of God are in the WORD! So when the enemy tries to attack you, and even deceitfully use the Word against you, (like he did with Jesus) you will KNOW how to answer!

*Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

2. TRUST in God completely!

• Understand that as God has prepared you to "fire missiles" at the enemy, you need to prepare your MIND for retaliation because that's where the battle really is! Keep your mind STAYED on the Father so you will STAY IN PEACE, and in turn, be able to STAY "ON COURSE"! Amen??

*You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Isaiah 26:3     



Friends, God has not brought you this far to leave you now. Get it in your spirit to stand on God's Word and be prepared to FLY no matter what comes your way. If you are a righteous man, God is ordering your steps.  He shall keep you under His mighty wing and protect you according to Psalm 91!  BELIEVE IT!  His Promises are YES and AMEN and HIS PURPOSE SHALL BE FULFILLED IN YOUR LIFE!

In Spirit and Truth,
Alicia