Kris Vallotton • November 20, 2023

The Practice Of Thankfulness

As we embrace the season of thanksgiving, a time devoted to gratitude and thankfulness, it beckons us to reflect and take inventory of the blessings and victories in our life. Kathy and I have always had a great value for remembering the goodness of God and we have countless testimonies of miraculous provision, impossible healings and breakthroughs under our belt! We have also overcome great obstacles in the pursuit of God’s presence and power.

Personally, this past year has carried us into circumstances that demand greater faith and reliance on the Lord. As a senior leader of Bethel Church, I find myself aligning my faith with prophetic words, to “Arise and Build”, as Kathy and I partner with our church family to fund a $100 million building project. Amidst the vast sea of impossibility, the inclination to retreat often surfaces, urging a nostalgic glance back to simpler times. Yet, as I turn back, I observe a path, adorned with memorial stones that herald my history with the Lord—a trail of faith and courage, prompting me to face the unknown once more.

BUILDING A MEMORIAL TO THE LORD

In Joshua 3, a captivating narrative unfolds as the Lord guides the Israelites from the desert into the promised land through the Jordan River. After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua receives a divine command to prepare the people to cross. He specifically instructs the Levites to carry the ark of the covenant into the river and as the priests step into the water, God intervenes, halting the upstream flow, allowing the entire nation of Israel to cross on foot.

Following this miraculous event, the Lord instructs them to gather 12 large stones from the middle of the river, setting them up on the Jordan's edge. "These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Why did the Lord instruct them to build a memorial of stone?

I propose that God foresaw the giants the Israelites would face in their promised land. He knew they might be tempted to turn back and these memorial stones would serve as a perpetual reminder of God's nature and faithfulness to them, offering strength and courage to confront what lay ahead.

FROM FINANCIAL CRISIS TO FAITHFUL PROVISION

After two decades of building businesses and weathering payrolls, navigating ruthless competitors, and entrepreneurial challenges, I found myself acclaimed as one of the top entrepreneurs in my field. After receiving an invitation into full time ministry, the Lord led us to sell our businesses which should have sustained our ministry for years to come. We took the step of faith, however, when the dust settled and the moving vans departed, I sat amidst the remnants of a once-thriving enterprise with a $1.8 million debt as a memorial to Kathy and I’s hard work—our house and most of our possessions gone.

Yet, through a series of seemingly impossible God-circumstances, our debts were either paid off or forgiven within 3 years!

In the place of the rubble, a memorial of God’s provision stood tall. Now, when faced with financial challenges, Kathy and I look back, trusting that if He provided before, He will do it again!

THE BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING

Whatever circumstance you are facing, trust that God has made a way, and thanksgiving is a key that unlocks doors for divine intervention! Here are 7 attributes of Thanksgiving for you to feast on:

Thanksgiving is the gateway to deliverance and the corridor to Heaven.
Thanksgiving is the inoculation for bitterness and the armor for anxiety.
Thanksgiving is the antidote for arrogance, trading pride for purity.
Thanksgiving is the platform for promotion and the catalyst for community—a gate to favor, amplifying the fruits of our labor.
Thanksgiving is the secret to success and the magic of maturity. It lifts you when you fall and ensures that angels linger.
Thanksgiving is more than a meal, it invites God’s zeal!
Thanksgiving for who God is amid our trials is sometimes the only way out of our current challenges.

THANKSGIVING'S DIVINE INVITATION

As Thanksgiving approaches, take a moment amidst the hustle and bustle to reflect on the memorials you have built with the Lord. Let them nourish your faith and increase endurance for your present reality and future promises!

Let me encourage you, if you are struggling to see a moment worthy of memorial in your life, remember that the greatest memorial you have is meeting Jesus, the one who died for your sins and through whom you can have access to and perfect relationship with God the Father. In every season, this is something you can be thankful for, a timeless foundation that grounds your gratitude and inspires a continual posture of thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's build a community of gratitude together!

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Character and Gifting: Favor with God and Favor with Man

By Kris Vallotton • March 5, 2025

Have you ever felt called to a spiritual role but struggled to find your place in it? Perhaps you've experienced a divine moment where God revealed a prophetic gift in your life, yet you found yourself wondering why others don't seem to recognize or acknowledge it. This tension between divine calling and human recognition can be one of the most challenging aspects of walking in prophetic ministry. I've spoken with countless individuals who believe God has called them to be prophets, yet they feel frustrated when church leadership doesn't immediately recognize their office. They often share powerful testimonies of divine encounters or prophetic words that confirmed their calling. But here's the beautiful truth I've discovered: authentic spiritual authority requires both divine appointment and human recognition. Scripture shows us that even Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). This powerful verse reveals an important principle – spiritual authority flourishes at the intersection of Heaven's approval and earthly recognition. The Bible offers us profound wisdom about this journey of walking out our prophetic calling. Let's explore three essential principles that can help you navigate this path with grace and wisdom. 1. Understand the Process Between Anointing and Appointment King David's story provides one of the most powerful examples of the gap between divine calling and public recognition. When Samuel anointed David as king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him powerfully – yet David didn't actually become king for fourteen years! During that time, he served faithfully, developed his character, and waited for God's timing. The journey between your prophetic calling and your public commissioning is not an accident – it's divine design. 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Absalom, David's son, shows us the danger of winning people's hearts through flattery, false promises, and undermining leadership. He created a following by positioning himself as more accessible and understanding than the established authority. In today's social media age, the temptation toward self-promotion has never been stronger. We can easily build platforms that elevate our image above our character. But true prophetic authority doesn't come through marketing yourself as an expert – it comes through humble service, consistent character, and divine timing. James 4:6 reminds us that " God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. " When we push for recognition prematurely or through manipulation, we may gain a position but miss the protection that comes with proper promotion. Like Joseph, who shared his prophetic dreams prematurely with his brothers, our lack of wisdom can create a much more difficult path to our destiny than God intended. 3. 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My prayer for you is that you would find peace in God's timing for your prophetic journey. May you grow in both favor with God and with people, allowing the Lord to develop in you the character needed to carry His voice with integrity. Let me be clear- the path to your prophetic purpose isn't just about reaching a destination – it's about becoming the person who can faithfully steward the authority that comes with it.

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