March 22, 2021
Dear Friends,
Today, while I was in prayer over the nation and the intercessors, I had two visions. One was of an eagle in flight, soaring across the country with the fire of God flowing behind him. The second was of an eagle in his nest, hidden in the cleft of the rock—in the middle of the molting process.
I love the eagle, like the lion, the eagle is one of the most majestic of all God’s creatures. However, there is so much more to the eagle than what we can see. The eagle is a warrior known for his power and speed. He can soar at great heights, fly for hours at a time amid the air currents at speeds of up to 65 mph. Upon targeting his prey, the eagle can quickly reach speeds of up to 200 mph striking and capturing it in his 3-inch talons before his prey even knows he was the target of this mighty hunter. He is fearless and unwavering in battles on both land and in the sky. He possesses long-range vision, and through the molting process, can extend his life by an additional 30 years.
The eagle willing to face the molting process must die to the flesh in ways most of us cannot comprehend. By the age of 40, he has a weakened beak incapable of tearing through flesh and bone to ensure proper nutrition. His feathers are degraded and can no longer sustain flights to great heights let alone a fierce battle in the air. His talons are brittle, worn with age, and unable to collect and carry his prey. His choice at this point is to die of starvation or be overtaken in battle.
Entering the molting process begins with the eagle, as though called by the Lord Himself, heeding the call to the cleft of the rock. It is here where this eagle finds safety and he will remain here for the next five months until the molting process is complete. He will break off his fragile beak, pull out his brittle talons, and finally, he will pluck out his aged feathers and remain hidden while he completes his renewal. This eagle presses into the process.
Those are easily discovered facts. Surely the Lord did not grant me the privilege of seeing these two visions for a review of the facts. So, I pressed into Him for answers and in His mercy, He spoke…
The eagle in flight:
There is great importance in the flight of this warrior as this eagle carries with him the fire of God. This fire is born of his intercessions, training, and dedication to the commission of God upon his life. He carries the fire because he himself was renewed by the fire. Answering the call to the cleft of the rock, he endured the refining and is now propelled forward by his quest to see others do the same. The fire of God is what he lives for, he flies free, uninhibited by the old because he presses into the new. His intercessions will help release the fire of God that will not only cleanse the nation, but they will heal the nation(s). He is majestic and unwavering in his flight and he is willing to live and even die to fulfill the commission of God upon his life.
The eagle in molting:
This eagle’s importance and majesty is just as great as the one in flight. When faced with a choice to live or die, this eagle chose to die to the flesh, that he might live to the call. This eagle heeds the call to cleft of the rock knowing that a higher purpose awaits. Resting as needed, enduring the suffering, and staying hidden in the cleft of the rocks so he will survive the refining becomes a key focus for this mighty warrior. Once his physical renewal is complete, he finds his spiritual strength has increased exponentially and his vision for the commission is more focused than ever. In the end, he has not only been renewed, but he’s been deeply refined and gained tremendous wisdom, compassion, and grace with which to answer his calling.
In the eyes of the Lord, each is a mighty warrior and highly valued in the kingdom of God. They are both dedicated warriors in this fight and while at times, they may grow weary, they will remain relentless in their pursuit. So, whether we are the eagle in flight or the eagle in the molting process, we must understand that the ebb and flow of this will occur throughout our lifetimes. The most important thing is that when necessary, we heed the call to the cleft of the rock.
Friends, I know many have grown weary in the fight for the nation. From time to time, we receive calls or letters from those who are confused at certain events, feel discouraged that the nation is lost, or perhaps they just cannot carry on because they are weary. The Lord understands where we are. He sees the personal struggles we endure while we are fighting for the nation(s). And the truth is, more than anyone, He knows the days between the breaking of the beak and the regrowth of the feathers are the most difficult of our lifetime, so He calls us to the cleft of the rock so He can protect us during that season. Which is why we pulled back our Monday calls, and shortly after that, closed out the Tuesday calls.
We value every minute you put into this fight for the nation(s) and want you to pull back into the cleft of the rock for renewal when necessary. Then, after you receive your refreshing, come back and join us in the fight! God will provide the ebb and flow of intercessors to ensure we have all that we need as we hold the line for our nation!
Much love,
Ricci Johnson-Wilson