On January 20th, as I watched the peaceful transition of power, I felt a love for my country and a love for her people that I’ve never known before. I was seriously amazed.

Later that evening, my husband Gabriel and I hosted a prayer meeting with any who wanted to join us. It seemed the fitting conclusion to our 70 days of prayer—or just maybe, a fitting start to another 100 days on our knees.

As we were praying, the Lord gave me two powerful visions.

In the first vision, I was looking at a map of America, as though I were lifted up into space. It was night. As I looked down, I could see small beams of light reaching to the heavens. These beams were created by individuals who were praying for our nation. Each one held a small reflective mirror that reflected the glory of God.

As these thin beams were reflecting the glory of God, they converged together to create one massive beam in the heavens. As the massive beam entered the glory realm of God, His glory was returned through that same beam like a funnel—and His glory exploded into the earth, filling it with His manifest presence. So cool!

In the second vision, I saw a different map. This time, it was Google map version of Washington, D.C. Two locations were highlighted on this map and connected through the arc of a brilliant white rainbow—The White House and the U.S. Capitol Building. The rainbow was also filled with God’s glory.

A white rainbow—who has ever heard of such a thing? And yet… white light is composed of all colors of light in the visible spectrum. This is a rainbow on steroids!

I’m encouraged—are you? Be blessed!

Lorraine Marie Varela is the author of the devotional book “Powerful Moments in the Presence of God” and “Love in the Face of ISIS,” a book of prayer strategies for the Middle East—and for your life at home. You can visit her website here. You can also join the conversation with Lorraine on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Many prophetic voices have spoken that 2017 is the Year of the Breakthrough. I agree!

What I find fascinating about breakthrough is that often it is preceded by signs in our natural world. Take Moses for example. Just before he received the breakthrough of leading the his people out of slavery in Egypt, he had an encounter with the Living God through the natural—and supernatural—occurrence of the burning bush. Moses saw a bush that was engulfed in a flame of fire, but it was not consumed. And from that bush, he heard the audible voice of God (See Exodus 3). If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.

If you’ve been following the news lately, you will be aware that the state of California has been in an historic, severe drought for the past year. 86% of California was in severe drought or worse. Yesterday, a news agency reported that California was considering lifting the emergency drought rules. The report stated, “Due to ongoing rain, 44% of California is out of severe drought, down from 49% one week ago, while 42% is out of drought entirely.” That’s amazing! And that should get our attention.

In the Bible, rain is considered a sign of God’s blessing. At the inauguration of President Trump, a light rain began to fall as he was sworn into the highest office of the land—and then it abated. The election and inauguration of President Trump is another sign of breakthrough in the natural, when the improbable and impossible took place before a stunned nation. Very few (myself included) saw that coming. Now I am looking for the spiritual breakthroughs that are to follow.

At the start of this new year, this is what the Lord impressed to me about breakthrough:

“I am teaching you perseverance. Patience is brought to maturity when you learn to persevere in Me for the release of My promises. Breakthrough does not happen in a vacuum. Breakthrough is the tipping point when all your prayers, all your agreements, all your tangible demonstrations of faith converge with My promises and shatter every objection, obstacle and opposition that have stood in the way. For breakthrough to come your way, continue to persevere in hope. Keep your eyes on the focal point of My face, not on your earthly situations. As you walk this road of perseverance, My grace grows in your heart.”

As you consider the area (or areas) in your life in need of breakthrough, I encourage you to ask the Lord for a word of promise in His living word that you can hold onto. Stand firm! This is the faith that enables grace to grow.

The definition of grace can be found in  2 Corinthians 12. In this passage, the apostle Paul talks about a thorn in his flesh,  a “messenger of satan sent to torment him.” Three times he prayed for it to be removed. He finally received an answer from God—but it’s not the answer he expected. The Lord responded and said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responds by saying, “I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so the power of Messiah may dwell in me.”

Grace—the empowering presence of God that enables you to be all He’s created you to be, so you can do all that He’s called you to do. His grace protects and nurtures your life.

Knowing this, can you see why grace is so important—how it empowers and enables you when breakthrough comes?

A beautiful picture of breakthrough is found in Micah 2, where we are given the imagery of sheep together in a pen, like a flock within its pasture. In the middle of this scene, we read “One breaking through will go up before them. They will break through, pass through the gate and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them—Adonai at their head!”

In this year of breakthrough, remain focused in prayer. Do not give up! Your King is ready to breakthrough the gate, and you will move forward as you follow in His steps. In case you need some extra motivation, check out this song by Selah and agree in your heart for the promises of God!

Lorraine Marie Varela is the author of the devotional book “Powerful Moments in the Presence of God” and “Love in the Face of ISIS,” a book of prayer strategies for the Middle East—and for your life at home. You can visit her website here. You can also join the conversation with Lorraine on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

We live in a culture fascinated by the supernatural – evidenced by Harry Potter, the Twilight Series, and countless books and movies – but denies its legitimacy and stark reality.

And yet, it was through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, and through His gifts – dreams, visions, a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom – that John Kutz,  our guest on today’s podcast,  was brought into the illuminating light of Jesus Christ and the love that is found only in Him.

Join Lorraine Varela as she interviews John about his heritage of faith, his life into and out of the Mormon Church, and the supernatural way in which God revealed Himself to bring John into relationship with Him.

Our devotional encouragement for today’s podcast is called, “My Eternal Love”.

In 1986, the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl affected the life of David Guervich in ways he never dreamed possible.  Forced to leave the former Soviet Union to obtain medical care for his young son as a result of the radiation fallout, David and his family found refuge in the United States, in the Northwest corner of the country in Seattle, Washington.

It was at a new job that David was confronted with the reality of God through the life of a co-worker, but it was the persistence of heaven that broke through his comfortable existence with the reality of God and life apart from Him.

Join Lorraine Varela as she interviews David on today’s podcast to talk about his experience living through the historic Chernobyl disaster, and hear his miraculous testimony of how he went to bed one night an atheist and woke up a believer in Jesus Christ.

Also on today’s podcast, Lorraine welcomes the immensely talented Cayley Keogh, a musician who shares her passion for Jesus and her gift of music with an original worship song, written at the age of 14.

Our devotional encouragement for this podcast is called  “Faith to Draw Jesus Back”.

Gabriel Varela was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1987, at the age of 34.  He lived with cancer for the next 17 years, until Jesus supernaturally healed him.  Gabriel has lived cancer-free for the past 10 years.   In this podcast, Gabriel talks with the host of “Inspiring Faith” – his wife, Lorraine – about his journey of faith and the truth he has learned during his walk with God.

Our devotional encouragement for this podcast is called “Cast Down Your Cares”.

In this introductory podcast, Lorraine Varela shares her supernatural journey of faith:  the story of how God crashed through her safe, comfortable and predictable world with one word that changed her life forever.  Prepare to hear a story like none other!

Our devotional encouragement for this podcast is called “Igniting Faith”.

We are glad to have you on this journey of discovery with us!