Just as there is a difference between “life” and “abundant life,” there is a difference between “provision” and “abundant provision” (John 10:10). I hear the Lord say, “Get ready for an overabundance of blessing, pressed down and running over, poured out without measure in response to your sacrifice!” (Luke 6:38)
A Year of Transition
This past year has been a year of incredible transition for myself and my family. Between the Jewish new year 5783 (which began at sundown on September 25, 2022) and the Jewish new year 5784 (which began at sundown on September 15, 2023) every single member of our immediate family either physically moved to a new location, new house, or started a new career—some even experienced all three of these changes.
For my husband and I, the transition involved selling our home of 22 years and leaving the area we had lived in all our lives (something I thought we’d never do), and purchasing a ranch in another area of our state. In doing so we felt we were following the Lord’s direction—not only because this ranch fulfills a longtime dream of ours, but also in order to reset the generational blessing that had been lost through unjust inheritance perpetuated through the generations. In addition, we feel the Lord may have us use this property as a place of ministry or refuge in the future.
The reason I’m telling you this is because it ties into the theme of open doors. But before I connect those particular dots, let me fill in some background and context.
The Year of the Door
As you might be aware, the Jewish new year 5784 is associated with doors. Four is the value of the Hebrew letter Dalet, and Dalet means door. The number 4 can also signify completion, wholeness, or fulness—as in the “four corners of the earth,” or the indication of all directions as in saying, “North, East, South and West.” We see this type of use of the number 4 in Zechariah 6:1-8, in which the four spirits of heaven, represented by four chariots drawn by strong steeds, are charged with walking to and fro throughout the whole earth.
It’s worth noting that we are still in the decade of the Hebrew letter Pey, which has the numeric value of 80. The primary meaning of Pey is “mouth,” and by extension “word,” “vocalization,” “expression,” or “speech.”
In order to fully realize all that the Lord has for you in the year of the door, it’s important to decree and declare what the word of the Lord is—both for you personally, and for His greater purposes in the earth. Job 22:28 (NKJV) says: “You will also declare [decree] a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”
Much of the testimony I’m going to share with you ties into continually decreeing the word of the Lord, in order that it might come to pass.
The 4:44 Blessing
To be honest, I wasn’t planning to write a word for 5784. Although I always pray and ask the Lord to give me revelation, including a word for the year, we’ve been so busy with the move to the ranch and other facets of ministry that I haven’t been able to write much recently.
Some of the complicating factors of this move included moving the contents of a large house/guest house to a much smaller one, as well as moving the contents of multiple outbuildings and construction related equipment. Then, as if that weren’t enough, we had several other real estate transactions happening at the same time, and the sale of our old property failed on the day of closing (through no fault of our own).
Fast forward six months, during which time the economy continued to worsen, interest rates continued to rise, and the market for the price bracket of our old property softened by at least 30%. But God!
Because not only did we sell, but we got a good price—just in the nick of time. The challenges of maintaining the old property as winter approached, much less the interest we were paying on interim loans, were concerning to say the least. Over and over again my husband and I reminded ourselves we followed the Lord’s direction to buy the ranch, and proclaimed the words the Lord had given us over time—including decreeing the word that, “We’ve sold the house!”
At one point before it sold, I told my husband I had a suspicion that the Lord had a greater picture in mind as to timing than what we probably understood. It would appear that was true, as what followed is fascinating.
The sale closed on September 13, but it takes time to wire the various funds. We were told funds would likely not be disbursed until the following week. But God!
At 4:44 pm on September 15 my husband got a call from our bank saying all funds from the sale were in. He happened to be a couple minutes from a branch that was open until 5:00 pm. Within a short time, all loans were paid off with the remaining balance placed in our accounts. The timing was so close to accomplish this before the bank closed that employees had to escort my husband out of the locked doors!
Provision secured—just in time for the Hebrew New Year of “Open Doors”! I believe this 4:44 blessing is just the signpost for what’s coming.
What’s the Meaning of All Those 4’s?
I want to share another story about 4’s. On September 4, my husband and I were travelling to Virginia for annual meetings for the 50-state prayer network we are in. We had a number of difficulties getting to our destination that day, including that we missed our connection in Atlanta and had to re-book a later flight.
As my husband and I boarded the plane, I looked for our seats—in row 44. A young gal was already in the seat by the window—kneeling down, apparently praying. She insisted on giving me the window seat, which I was happy to take, and as the three of us settled in our seats I looked at my phone. It was 4:44 pm.
I leaned forward and showed them my phone, and said “What do you suppose is the meaning of all those 4’s? It’s September 4, we’re in Row 44, and seated at 4:44.” The young gal’s eyes got wide. I continued, “Well, I’m not sure, but I think it means we’re all in the right place at the right time, and there’s a purpose for us being here.”
I was invited to share that story at the opening of the meeting the next day. After an afternoon of meetings, which went longer than scheduled, we finally adjourned until later that evening. At which point a good friend held up her phone, looked at me and announced, “It’s 4:44!”
Not surprisingly, I began to pay more attention to what the Lord might like to reveal to me through all those 4’s, in this, the year of the door!
Four Open Doors in 5784
I see four open doors in this season:
Strategy and Revelation
I first began hearing the Lord speak of open doors as early as last May. At that time, I felt He highlighted to me that the door of revelation was opening. I see this as not just revelation as to what God is saying and doing in the earth at this time, but also revelation to you as an individual regarding what your part in His plans are, and the specific strategies needed in order for you to execute them. By seeking God as to what His specific plans are for you—you then become strategically positioned and fully equipped to perform whatever exploits He has planned for you in the season ahead (Dan. 11:32b; Rev. 4:1-2).
Fulfillment
In late July I began hearing the Lord speak of “crossing over to the promised land.” One significant “crossing over” was when Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan River into their promised land (Josh. 3).
As I continued to seek the Lord, I felt He showed me that in this season beginning with 5784, the door to the fulfillment of promise and destiny stands open before you. On one side of the river the Israelites knew what the promise was and looked forward to it, and on the other side they lived it—they became it. They became the manifestation of the word. I believe this will be true not only for individuals, but for nations and people groups, as well.
Note: Remember to decree your promises, and that you are in a season of “crossing over” to fulfillment!
Abundant Provision
Let’s talk about bread for a minute. Bread speaks of eternal life (John 6:22-58). It’s interesting that the Israelites ate manna (the bread from heaven) in the wilderness, but shortly after they crossed over the Jordan into the promised land—on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land—the manna stopped appearing (Ex. 16:15; Josh. 5:12; John 6:31, 57-58). God had a better means of provision for them after they “crossed over.”
In late June I heard the Lord speak of opening the door of Revelation 3 that no one can shut. I believe we are crossing over into a new and better provision. This provision is abundant supernatural provision, based upon sacrifice. I see this as the open door of Revelation 3:7-8, that no man can shut.
Just as there is a difference between “life” and “abundant life,” there is a difference between “provision” and “abundant provision” (John 10:10). I hear the Lord say, “Get ready for an overabundance of blessing, pressed down and running over, poured out without measure in response to your sacrifice!” (Luke 6:38)
Honor
I believe the open door of Revelation 3:7-8 that no man can shut is also a door of honor. This passage was directed to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the name of a city of the Roman province of Asia, derived from a combination of two Greek words: love (phileo) and brother (adelphos), meaning “brotherly love.”
In this season of open doors, it will be particularly important to show love to one another, that the Lord may exalt you among men. I see this as a double honor season, as written in Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV): “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.”
The Coming Storm
There is great consensus among major prophetic leaders that there is a storm of some kind approaching. Just recently I have seen several prophetic words released that speak of “battening down the hatches.” On May 14, I heard the Lord say, “We are going to need to batten down the hatches at some point before too long.”
According to the Oxford online dictionary, “batten down the hatches” is a nautical term meaning to secure a ship’s hatch-tarpaulins, especially when rough weather is expected. In other words, it means to prepare for a difficulty or crisis.
In March/April of 2021 I did a three-episode series for our CPN podcast, Preparing the Way, the Practical Prophetic, in which the Lord gave me some of the most clear, detailed revelation I have ever received. It focused on the idea that as the body of Christ, we need to practically prepare for the storm that’s coming.
Why Prepare?
Because—
- It’s biblical to take care of your own family (I Tim. 5:8). If times get difficult and you don’t need all that you have on hand, you’ll be able to barter.
- You can’t concentrate on the harvest of souls and adequately steward the expansion of the kingdom that’s coming if you’re scrambling around trying to care for your own daily needs—securing things like food, water, and electricity. By then it will be too late to prepare (Matt. 25:1-13).
- When we are prepared, we can help others in need. Like our spiritual father Abraham, we are blessed to be a blessing! (Gen. 12:3)
Final Thoughts on the Coming Storm
We live in a rural location with space for storage, our own wells and septic, and the capability to be off the grid. If you live in the city, it will look different for you. Even if space is tight and you’re dependent on city services, I’m convinced that if you ask the Lord, He will give you at least one thing you can do to prepare.
There’s no need to fear or panic—God’s got our backs—but there is a need to prepare. He will never leave us nor forsake us—He’s promised us this in His word (Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5).
“Lord, let us prepare our hearts as well as practically prepare, in this, the season of open doors!” Amen.
Posted on: The Elijah List.
Posted on: Charisma Magazine.
Diane is a writer, speaker and minister ordained with both Christian International and Generals International. Her articles are regularly featured on The Elijah List, as well as platforms like Charisma Magazine, Charisma News, Intercessors For America and others. She and her husband, Allen, co-founded Starfire Ministries with a vision to see the kingdom established beyond the four walls of the traditional church. They host a podcast with Charisma Podcast Network, and serve as Church Mountain, Regional, and Montana Coordinators for the Reformation Prayer Network, and as Media Mountain Leader/Facilitators for C.I.’s Culture Influencers.
