The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Prov 18:10 NKJV

What happens when the doctor gives you THAT report, or the employer tells you THAT, or your child gleefully announces they have adopted THAT lifestyle (democrat, liberal, etc, etc.)? Let’s say the stock market crashes, or the hurricane is bearing down on your house, or your parents need to move in! Maybe you are broke financially! How do you handle a crisis? Your response can either make it worse, perhaps even resulting in tragedy, or open the doors for the promises of God. In every crisis there is the seed of opportunity to do well.

My advice in every crisis, especially if you are the decisionmaker, is to take three days to seek the Lord, to wait on Him until He releases clear direction that makes a way for victory. The three-day principle is well embedded in Scripture…

…and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Ex 3:18 NKJV

So they departed from the mountain of the Lord on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. Num 10:33 NKJV

And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Josh 2:16 NKJV

Three days is a season of hiding in God’s refuge, seeking a place of rest in the promises of God, and a time of wholehearted sacrifices of praise and worship of Him. Praise, thanksgiving, sacrifice and worship are huge keys to respond to crisis. Three days is a time to be loosed from anxiety, and to get your ‘donkeys’ found…

But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. 1 Sam 9:20 NKJV

Three days is a time to be separated unto the Lord…

Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy… 1 Sam 21:5 NKJV

With the choice of three days of plague, David knew that he was falling in to the arms of the Lord and not trusting in man. This is exactly what you and I need to do in the times of crisis!

And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 2 Sam 24:14 NKJV

Need more? Three days can be a time of rejoicing, of celebration…

And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them…. for there was joy in Israel. 1 Chron 12:39-40 NKJV

How do you do the three days? First of all, always remember that suggestions are not law, and that circumstances must be adapted to fit the revelation, not the other way around. For instance, I’m going to tell you to go alone for your three days. But if your health situation, let’s say, is such that you cannot wisely be alone for three days, then adapt your circumstances to make yourself as alone as possible for your three days. Do you see?

1). Before you go, get prayer covering. Ask your beloved ones to cover you in prayer while you go off alone to seek the Lord. Many times they will get revelation that confirms what the Lord shows you!

2). Go to a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. My absolute favorite place to pray is on the coastline. I grew up on the coast, and there is something comforting for me about the rhythm of the waves, the cool ocean air, and the vast beauty of it all. No cellphones, no TV, no internet. Just as an aside, whenever I travel, I don’t ever watch TV until my ministry is complete, because I always want to guard my anointing. Distractions can be devastating!

3). Fast only if you are disciplined to fasting. Fasting can be a distraction to hearing the voice of God especially if all you can think about is the food you will eat once you get this time over with. That is not the attitude you want to have while you seeking the voice of God!

My sheep hear My voice… John 10:27 NKJV

What you want to do is create an environment that is conducive to hearing His voice. Praise, worship, thanksgiving, repentance, praying in tongues, reading the Word, all prepare your heart to do the primary thing…listening.

…and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13 NKJV

4). Have specific questions to pose to the Lord. “What are You saying to me regarding this illness?” “What is Your plan for me the next six months, two years, five years?” Depending on what He shows you, have follow up questions. If He says, “The market will collapse in three weeks,” then be prepared to ask, “What do I do with my money now so that it is safeguarded through the collapse?” Think of the dreams of Pharaoh and Joseph’s practical revelation in Genesis.

In all your dealings with God be honest…just plain and simple honest.

When Jesus said, He will tell you things to come, He wasn’t just talking about biblical prophecies, but about real practical realities like what will happen to you today, tomorrow, next week, next year, and how to deal with them, how to bend them to the will of God. He’s a good Father, isn’t He!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Grk. RHEMA) of God. Rom 10:17 NKJV

5). Demand specific answers. The point is that overcoming faith, crisis faith, is released through revelation. In all my years I have NEVER seen a true RHEMA word of God not come to pass. The biblical examples that I can think of for a straight RHEMA word not coming to pass are Jonah and Hezekiah, and both of those reasons had to do with repentance and intercession which changed the judgment revelation. Sometimes I think God, the Master Motivator, gives revelation in such a way, like when He told Moses to ‘leave Me alone’, that we then fight for what He truly wants! Do you understand?

Demand specific answers, not mushy platitudes. The mush doesn’t release faith! God gets serious with you when you get serious with Him.

Fallen human nature tends to live with evils as long as evils are tolerable. Our new nature rebels against the mediocre and tolerable evil and demands that the will of God be manifested. Hope released from the heart of God springs like a fountain eternally. Are you drinking from His river?

If you are not in crisis, my advice would be to take regular three-day journeys with God to hear His voice so that you avoid crisis altogether. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Go meet Him! He will meet with you, and you will come out a victor in your crisis. Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…