Patterns & Cycles

Anneta Pinto-Young 3 Minutes
“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Issachar was one of the twelve sons of Jacob who received a blessing. The blessing over Issachar sounded more like a curse, as he was bound to a life of hard labour. Not much is said about Issachar except for instances when there were battles. What is notable about this tribe was their mention during the times of David’s battles. These men had wisdom to understand the times and knew what Isreal needed to do. This skill can seem trivial, except if you consider the value that Solomon placed on wisdom and understanding. God blessed Solomon with wealth and influence, because his request was for wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15).

It was Solomon who also taught us about the times and seasons for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). What is significant about this, is the need for the body of Christ to understand times and seasons. We have to be watchful to discern patterns and cycles. There are particular months of the year for example, that seem to be characterised by major atrocities. What should be the response of a Christian, if they realise that every year, around a particular month, that there is an increase in demonic activity. Many believers have described the months of September and October as being quite difficult months.

Some people have seen an increase in atrocities, bloodshed and major disasters. Perhaps someone will say that this is merely a coincidence, that events like 9/11 and other calamities have happened around this time. Some believers have chosen to increase their prayers, intercession and fasting ahead of what seems like difficult seasons. For other people, it may not be autumn, but they can notice particular patterns of difficulty and resistance around certain times of the year. We can simply accept this and resign ourselves to what will be, or seek the Lord to discern what is the cause of these activities. Some families may notice that a family member may die at a certain time one year and then every year after that, around the same time, there may be another death or some major disaster.

Could you be dealing with a demonic cycle or pattern, which has been created to target your family? Some families may also come under attack from a spirit of death for example. Are people willing to rise up and cry out within the porches and pray for redemption? There are also other seasons of intensity which are characterised by breakthrough. People may feel the pangs of travail and can mistake these for spiritual attack. Sometimes the pain is an indication to push through in prayer, as we have come into our due season. “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world” (John 16:21). These are seasons to push through and travail until you experience joy.

Whether we are dealing with cycles of spiritual warfare and attack or a season of breakthrough, we need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to understand the times. What is your current season and how are you positioned in the place of prayer and intercession? Do you know when you need to increase your fasting, prayer and intercession? Do you also understand when you are in a season of rest? Are you able to discern those seasons when you need to press in the place of prayer and push in order to give birth? We need the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God to maintain a victorious life, as we continue to discern and understand seasons.

A.P.-Y.

Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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32 thoughts on “Patterns & Cycles”

  2. EXACTLY!!!Just this week I reminded my husband of the fact that demonic cycles are usually occurring in October…and the church( at least in our congregation) is quiet …
    In July the Holy Spirit pointed out cycles to me…and I’m still praying around it, breaking cycles.. thank you for this confirmation.a lovely day to you 💗💗

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    2. We are the voices that God has sent to cry out Chalvonia. Remember that some of us are watchers and are in the church to sound the alarm! I’ve noticed these patterns for a while and this is the first time writing about it. This is my sounding the alarm and trust that people will hear and understand. I used to assume that everyone would see everything or at least most ministers would see what I see. I’ve learnt that this is not the case. God does not show any one person everything, which is why the body needs each part to function. We see in part and prophesy in part, so we need each other to fit the different pieces of the puzzle together. Don’t be silent but cry out! 🙏🏾🙌🏾❤️

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  4. Great word my sister let me repeat this powerful nugget in your own words….People may feel the pangs of travail and can mistake these for spiritual attack. Sometimes the pain is an indication to push through in prayer, as we have come unto our due season. 

    Indeed we need wisdon some of these binding and loosing are not spirit led prayer points.
    But fear and natural tendencies of man to prematurely abort and escape trials and some trials are what we need for our growth and character development.

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    1. Amen 🙏🏾. Not everything is ‘spiritual attack’ and sometimes we can give the accuser unnecessary credit. Other times we are just worn out and need to rest and be refreshed in the presence of God. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Bless you Evidence and thanks for your support. 🙏🏾

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  11. Thank you Anneta. Issachar sounds or looks like ‘Is a char’. A char is a hard working person, often a charwoman. Charwomen who do basic household stuff often have great wisdom because they are practical. True wisdom is always practical in the end.

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