The year of rescue and restore
By Christy Johnston
Flames upon your tongue.
Before we crossed over into the Hebraic year of 5780, I could hear the continual decree in my spirit, ‘THE YEAR OF RESCUE AND RESTORE.’ I was prompted to read Psalm 80 in the Passion Translation and was amazed to find that it is titled, ‘Rescue and Restore.’ In the subtitle, it is written, ‘Asaph’s poetic song, set to the tune of “Your Decrees Are Like Lilies.” Immediately when I read this, I knew, we are to decree the year of rescue and restore. I want to show you how profound this Psalm is for this year of 5780 and the coming Gregorian year of 2020.I encourage you to study it, write it in your journals and align your heart with it, prophesying it’s promises over your own life, family and Nation. The number 80 in Hebrew correlates with the 17th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, which is the letter ‘pey.’ The letter pey has the numeric value of 80, and it symbolically means, mouth, word, expression, vocalization, speech and breath.
This is a year of the mighty decree, and as we decree the answers ahead of time, God will come in mighty power to rescue and restore all that has been lost. There is an amazing mystery hidden within this letter pey, as it is believed that this one letter is also made up of two other letters, Kaf and Yod. Without going too deep, it paints the picture of the divine spark (Yod) of God, within the soul (Kaf.) The pictoral letter itself looks like a spark inside an open mouth. This year holds a divine invitation for you to open your mouth with the spark, or decree of God that will set into flame the fires of revival. As you release the sparks of revelation that He reveals, prophesying His answers ahead of time, His plan of rescue and restore will be set into motion. You will begin to see, or have possibly already noticed many prophetic words come forth about decreeing in this coming year. Pay attention to these words, for they align with what God is saying. This will be a year of increased intercession, prayer and declaration, and it will result in RAPID answers and harvest. The question is, what do we decree? I believe there are keys found within Psalm 80.
DECREE: “God-enthroned be revealed in SPLENDOR.”
I have been sensing for quite some time now that this new year is going to be a significant one. Every year is like a chapter with God, and each chapter reveals another facet of who He is. Within each chapter, we have a new invitation to step into and discover another realm of His glory, and I believe that this year, according to Psalm 80:1, will be a discovery of His splendour. It says;
God-Enthroned, be revealed in splendor
as you ride upon the cherubim!
How perfectly you lead us, a people set free
Loving shepherd of Israel—listen to our hearts’ cry!
Shine forth from your throne of dazzling light.Psalm 80:1 TPT
Where there has been growing tensions and increased discord in the Nations, it is all simply a stage being set for the King of Kings to be revealed in His splendour and majesty. The Amplified Bible translates the same verse this way;
Hear us O Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who sit enthroned above the cherubim [of the ark of the covenant], shine forth!Psalm 80:1 AMP
It is significant that Joseph is mentioned here, for Joseph was one who was in slavery and captivity for many years, until the time came for Jesus to be revealed through his life. This will be a year where many ‘Josephs’ who have been in hiding will emerge onto the scene. Suddenly, they will appear with the answers of God. They are those of you who have been in captivity, but God has secretly been planting His answers within you all along for this very moment of time. We will see these ones step onto the scene in such a profound and impactful way, for suddenly, the years the locust has eaten from their lives, will be washed away in a moment, and God will be revealed in His majesty and splendour upon their lives. This is true for not only individuals, but Nations too. Where God’s people have been experiencing persecution across the earth, the shining light of His Glory will burst forth upon them and shine through them and into the Nations they live.
DECREE: “Double the fruit for the years of pain.”
In the sight of Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh,
stir up your mighty power in full display before our eyes.
Break through and reveal yourself by coming to our rescue.Psalm 80:2 TPT
The name Benjamin means ‘Son of My right hand’, Ephraim means, ‘Doubly fruitful,’ and Manasseh means, ‘you made me forget.’ This speaks of those who have been in years of exile, slavery and bondage, as well as pointing to the bigger picture of Nations have been suffering under the hands of evil doers. God is saying to you both, “My power is about to be displayed in full, I am breaking through for you as you continue to cry out to me. I am coming to your rescue, and you will say of Me, ‘The Son of Your right hand has rescued me, made me doubly fruitful and made me to forget my years of misery.’ It reminds me of Psalm 90:15-16 that says;
‘We’ve been overwhelmed with grief; come now and overwhelm us with gladness. Replace our years of trouble with decades of delight. Let us see your miracles again, and let the rising generation see the glorious wonders you’re famous for.’
DECREE: “Revive us again, O God.”
Revive us, O God! Let your beaming face shine upon us
with the sunrise rays of glory; then nothing will be able to stop us.Psalm 80:3 TPT
As we call upon His name to revive us again, we are going to see the revivals of past generations culminate upon the earth like a roaring, raging fire. God is renewing and reviving in this coming year, and the flame of these fires will be sparked by your decrees. I also felt this was speaking of prodigal sons and daughters who have walked away from the Lord. There is a CALL-BACK taking place in this spirit as we decree over them, ‘REVIVE THEM LORD, then NOTHING will be able to stop them.’
DECREE: “Come back, O God, and restore!”
The verses of Psalm 80:4-6 speak of years past, the pain, suffering, mistreatment and exile that many individuals and even Nations have suffered through. But in verse 7 it says,
Come back, come back, O God, and restore us!
You are the Commander of Angel Armies.
Let your beaming face shine upon us with the sunrise rays of glory,
and then nothing will be able to stop us!Psalm 80:7 TPT
God is saying to you in this hour, “Call upon me to come back and restore.” I see this restoration coming in power and might to broken marriages and families and I also see this over Nations who have turned away from God. I see it specifically for the United States, who in years past have had God driven out of schools and governments. For those of you in the U.S, I felt impressed to tell you, that as you continue to cry out to God, ‘Come back, come back, O God and restore!’ You are going to see His hand come in and sweep away the darkness in quick and swift motions. I see sudden open doors where He will be unexpectedly invited back into schools, government and mountains of influence that will restore health and wholeness back into the United States. This is a year of redemption for you, and you will know it by how much the enemy kicks and screams. “Do not fear them!” Says the Lord over you, “For they will bow to me because of you!” You can take this individually as well, but I sense it strongly for the United States in particular. When you read verse 8-9, it speaks of America’s foundations;
Remember how you transplanted us here
like a tender vine from Egypt.
You cleared the land for your vineyard,
evicting the nations from your land and planting us here.
The roots of your vineyard went deep into the soil
and filled the land with fruit.Psalm 80:8-9 TPT
DECREE: “Let blessing, extend to every mountain of influence!”
There is a prophetic declaration found in verses 10-11, both for individuals, and for Nations. Decree this over your life, family and Nation:
Because of your favor on your vineyard,
blessing extended to every mountain of influence.
Through this flourishing vineyard mighty ones were raised up.
The nations were blessed by your fruitful vineyard of Israel,
all the way from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates.Psalm 80:10-11 TPT
God of the Angel armies is raising up His mighty ones in this hour, that’s YOU, and His blessing will extend to every mountain of influence. Where the enemy has been ruler of the mountains of influence, we are about to see God’s hand extend and overtake every mountain of influence. He is on a mission of rescue and restore over individuals, families and Nations. We are going to see His hand of deliverance move in a mighty way for the destitute, the helpless, the unborn, the lost and the broken. Decree this verse as a prophetic declaration over your year.
DECREE: “Strengthen the Branch-Man!”
Finally, the Psalm finishes with this decree from verses 15-19
Nurture our root and our fruit with your loving care.
Raise up the Branch-Man, the Son whom you’ve made strong.
Enemies chopped down our vine and set it on fire;
now show them your anger and let them perish by your frown.
Strengthen this Branch-Man, the Son of your love,
the Son of Man who dwells at your right hand.
Then we will never turn back from you.
Revive us again, that we may trust in you.
O God, the mighty Commander of Angel Armies,
come back and rescue us!
Let your beaming face shine upon us
with the sunrise rays of glory.
Then nothing will ever stop us again!Psalm 80:15-19 TPT
I encourage you to decree this over your year, “Come back O God, rescue and restore us, raise me up as one of your mighty ones in the earth, strengthen this Branch-Man in my life, the lives of my family and in my Nation. Revive us again, let nothing stop us ever again and pour out your spirit!” Psalm 80 points to a recent vision the Lord gave me about the door that is ready to open, with the key inside just waiting to be turned. (Click here to read this word) I believe the Holy Spirit is charging this very important message to the Body of Christ right now, “what are you speaking? What are you saying over your life? I implore you, choose LIFE, choose words of destiny! Speak and prophesy My answers of this coming year, and you will see Me pour out My Spirit as never before!”
I am your only God, the living God.
Wasn’t I the one who broke the strongholds over you
and raised you up out of bondage?
Open your mouth with a mighty decree;
I will fulfill it now, you’ll see!
The words that you speak, so shall it be!
Psalm 81:10 TPT
Nate and Christy Johnston