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Nate Johnston: "The Year of Ascend"

Nate Johnston, Dallas, TX

Jan 5, 2024

I've been asking the Lord since August what our posture should be for 2024. I could sense the holiness around it, and the caution not to approach it like any other year. Then, in September, I began to feel a sudden and massive internal shift. It started with a deep discontent, and then I began having nonstop dreams about the same thing – ascending the mountain to be with Jesus.

It's consumed me for months now... a longing to break away from the norm, from the hustle and bustle, and be with Him. What if God is preparing us for 🏇🏽something we can only step into by lying down? (TOTAL SURRENDER)👍🏾What if God is leading the Church into a season of increase in our authority, breakthrough, and dominion that can only come from being seated in Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)?

Bill Johnson said, "There are lovers and workers, and lovers will always get more work done than the workers."

👏🏾What if we are entering a Psalm 24 season where, through ascending the hill of the Lord, we break away from the last remnants of man's institutions and methods and begin to operate from a vantage point of a victory we have never known? 👏🏾What if God is calling us to leave behind the busyness of ministry 👏🏾and enter the priesthood of Samuel once again, which accomplishes so much more? 👏🏽What if this discontent was a DIVINE INTERRUPTION to reveal the old manna and lead us into the new? This is what has been burning in my heart more profoundly than I can express, and I pray you catch it.

One night (before we entered the new year), I woke up hearing the Lord speak about 2024, and so I want to share what I heard.

A "Going Up the Mountain" Season

I woke up hearing the Lord say, "I am breaking you away from the rat race that has worn you down and exhausted you. I am leading you away from the rest of the herd, not to isolate you, but to free you. For I have been preparing you to close the door on man's ways and methods that have spread you thin 🎁😅and enter the door of My Spirit. I am leading you into a 'going up the mountain' season, where you will ascend with Me and learn a new rhythm and synergy in My presence. It will be a season of coming up the mountain, receiving, then returning down the hill and releasing it to the world.

"Next year, will you give yourself more to the secret place than the public space? Will you choose the carpet over stages? Will you come and be poured into more than you pour out? Will you lay down your ambitions and ideas and trade them for Mine? Will you not rush the special moments that come? Will you not prostitute the revelation I give you?

"For up the mountain, I will give you new eyes and a new way of seeing. I will give you a heart after My own heart, and you will feel what I feel, and you will move in step with Me instead of against Me. 👋🏽But be prepared, because this posture will ruin your plans and make you look lazy and foolish;🏇🏽 for while others are choosing the hamster wheel, you will choose to sit at My feet. It will sometimes feel counter-productive, but I will accomplish far more through you as you choose to ascend. And from the mountain, I will reveal My heart and plans to you and invite you into them for the days to come.

Breaking New Ground