Kislev is the 9th month in the Hebrew calendar and the number 9 is associated with a “choice”. Hebrews 4 tells us that the Israelites did not enter into God's rest because of unbelief. It is critical month that we choose to believe the Word of the Lord!

Last month (Cheshvan) we came through the flood - now Kislev is the month we see the rainbow! The rainbow was a promise of peace from the Lord. Examine where you have warred last year to come into a place of peace. Even in the midst of warfare we can have peace.

Kislev is represented by the Hebrew letter “Samekh” which means security, trust, to support, uphold, lean upon, aid, assist or rest upon.

It pictures a lattice that holds up a plant, or a person being supported by another.. We see this pictured in scripture in John 15 where the vinedresser (the Lord) lifts up and supports the vine (us)

This month is a good month to

review your support system.

Covenant relationships are key!

Who are you supporting,

and who is supporting you?

Samekh is also the only Hebrew letter that is fully enclosed. It portrays the concept of coming full circle or enclosing, circling, a group of items. In Hebrew culture it is common for a circle to be drawn around a group of facts or numbers that hold up a previous truth.

Imagine someone having a long math problem and then circling the answer iso the answer can stand out/ be easily seen! It is the highlighting of The Truth and putting His facts on display.

What is God highlighting in your life right now? What truth is He circling and pointing out?

As we examine what truth the

Lord is highlighting this month,

we also want to examine our heart motives.

Ask the Lord to help you to break out of the old facts, truths or patterns of mistrust that may be hindering you.

This month is about circles and coming full circle.

The enemy will also try to bring up old circles or cycles of destruction, but when we break out of the old patterns of mistrust, we are able to enter into a new level of trust and security with the Lord and those around us!

Kislev is linked with Benjamin who was the only child born in the land of promise. So this is a key month to watch Israel!

Benjamin was also the tribe who was most gifted in the art of the bow, and could sling with both hands! It’s a month to fight against empires and cultures.

As you develop your war strategies this month, press in so you can prophetically gain revelation concerning the war ahead!

One of the responsibilities of the tribe of Benjamin was to defend the Holy Things from

the Tabernacle in war.

We can see a picture of what happens when you don’t defend the faith, and honor the Holy playing out in out own nation. When the faith and the Holy is not honored - it will be lost in battle! This also runs true in our personal lives. We need to assess where in our walk we have not honored the Holy.

A great picture of this is found in the story of the Hanukkah. Hanukkah is the celebration of the Maccabean revolt, where the Maccabees had to war and take back the Temple from the enemy (emperor Antiochus).

But HOW did the enemies get into the Temple in the first place?

I always thought it was a sudden or surprise attack. But it wasn’t!!

In reality it happened slowly over time. It was choice by choice and the people allowing the enemy to come in over time thru compromise. Until eventually they were able to take over the Temple!

Where have we allowed compromise to come in and hinder our choice to choose the Lord?

Hanukkah means dedication, and the message of Hanukkah is that in the midst of destruction there is mercy.

No matter what aspect of destruction you are dealing with - external, internal, physical, or spiritual - God has a way to impart mercy to build the future. His grace is sufficient and His love is everlasting!

Maccabee means “hammer” Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My Word like a fire, and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces?”

When the Maccabees went to dedicate the Temple we see that there was only one flask of oil (enough for one night). Yet the Lord multiplied the oil and it lasted for 8 nights!

Maybe you have a certain situation in your life where it seems like in the natural, you won't have enough. Enough money to get thru the month, enough patience to homeschool your kids, enough peace to have a holiday dinner with your family.

If that’s you I encourage you to look up and lock eyes with the Lord! Because the beauty of Hanukkah is that it comes in the darkest part of the year - yet it is believed that it’s in this same season that Jesus the “Light of the world” was conceived!

So don’t think that just because you're going thru a dark season that the Lord can't begin to “birth” something in you!

The root word for Kislev is HOPE!

We can stand in confidence thru the dark times, because God is Light - and the Light of the world, Hope Himself, was conceived in the darkest moment!

The word for dream in Hebrew is “Chalom” who’s root word means “to be made healthy or strong”. So this is the perfect time to focus on your sleep and dreams. Psalms 127 says that “the Lord provides for those He loves, even while they sleep”

Job 33:16 says “While men slumber on their beds, He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction”

The Torah portion for the month of Kislev contains more dream references than any other month. In fact, during this month 9 out of the 10 dreams in the book of Genesis are read! You may want to begin to keep a dream journal this month so that you can continue pressing into the revelation the Lord is speaking to you in your dreams!

Expect the Lord to speak in dreams & night visions to seal the instructions for your future!