Enter the New Season of Double Restoration

It’s been a while since I’ve written and shared a word. This has been on my mind ever since I had a dream. It was long and vivid, but what stood out to me most was the ending.

There was a man standing and waiting as papers were being distributed to everyone. As he waited to receive his own paper, he seemed anxious because everyone else was receiving theirs while he had not yet received his. He kept looking over at what others had in their hands and appeared envious of the numbers they were getting. It seems like he was wondering why it’s taking so long. And, questions seemed to enter his mind, When will my time come? Was I overlooked? Is anyone noticing that I still don’t have mine? Are they skipping over me?

Finally, the papers came, and there were two. At the top right-hand corner of the first white paper was written the number eighty-eight, double 8. But underneath it was another paper, and written on it was the same number, 88. What he saw was double eighty-eight.

Then suddenly, I woke up, made a little note, and went on with my day.

Honestly, I had no intention of writing about it. But the dream kept coming back to my mind.

As I began to process it, I was led to two verses. And yes, they are both 8:8.

The first is Ecclesiastes 8:8 from The Message Bible:

“No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil.”

The second is Luke 8:8 from The Passion Translation:

“Yet some of the seeds fell into good, fertile soil, and they grew and flourished until they produced more than a hundredfold harvest, a bumper crop.” Then Jesus added, shouting out to all who would hear, “Listen with your heart and you will understand!”

In both verses, what stood out to me was our lack of control.

The wind blows. The Spirit of God moves, and we do not control where it blows.

Likewise, we sow seeds, cultivate the soil, water it, and care for it with the expectation that it will flourish. But how it grows, and how much it produces, is beyond us. Whether tenfold, thirtyfold, or a hundredfold, that part belongs to Him.

Our responsibility is stewardship. We sow. We water. We remain faithful. But the increase comes by His Spirit and not by our own effort, power, or might.

As I write this, I can't help but laugh with the Lord. Earlier today, I placed a wooden frame beside my monitor that I happened to find while cleaning the house. It was the Serenity Prayer.

If you're not familiar with it, it says:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Funny how things seem to synchronize, and how we begin to notice God's divine orchestration even in the little things, such as writing this word.

I was also reminded of Jodie Hughes' book, The King's Prophetic Voice, which has often been my go-to whenever I seek further revelation concerning numbers.

In the book, she writes that the number 88 speaks of new beginnings.

And I believe the Lord is saying that we have entered a new beginning.

It is time to move on from grieving the past, because the new has come.

We do not control how seasons change or where the wind is blowing, but He is inviting us to embrace the new, trust Him, and take courage as we step into it.

The time of flourishing and harvest is at hand.

No man can stop it.

No one can stop the move of God.

His Spirit is taking us to new heights, new places, and new territories.

And He is reminding us to be bold and courageous as we step into the new, because He has already given us every place upon which the soles of our feet tread.

And this is the Heart of the Heavenly Father:

Here are more verses for this word.

Joshua 1:3-9 AMP

3 I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness [of Arabia in the south] and this Lebanon [in the north], even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates [in the east], all the land of the [a]Hittites (Canaan), and as far as the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward the west shall be your territory. 5 No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be [b]successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 AMP

11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. 13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP

20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.