We have experienced terrible bush fires in Australia unlike anything the whole world has ever seen before. To begin with, we are saddened by the loss and damage to our nation. We are so grateful to those who have served as firefighters and our rescue teams who have given into our great Southland to rebuild. I do not believe this is God's judgement as some people have suggested. I do not think God is teaching us anything through such heartbreaking circumstances. What I do see and sense, prophetically and symbolically, is that our nation is being set on fire, a baptism of fire. New life will come out of the ashes. This is a time of birthing new things and seeing them accelerate to maturity. I also believe the rain this nation has cried out for is a type of a water baptism our land will be covered with - the water of God's Spirit. Often we see things in the natural before the spiritual. “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual." (1 Corinthians 15:46) God is always speaking to us and symbolism is one of those ways. As I watched people rescuing our kangaroos, koalas, injured wildlife and animals, I felt the Lord say, "I am resurrecting the Aussie icons. Those icons are how other nations identify with us. I am drawing attention to Australia, I am showing other nations who she is, this Great Southland of the Holy Spirit." Throughout this time of devastation we have seen the resurfacing of the Aussie spirit. We watched families who had lost everything helping other families. We have watched companies and business bringing water, food and supplies by the truck load. We have heard people say that they have not prayed in years and others that did not believe in God, but they prayed and saw the wind change direction, saving their properties. It’s been an amazing display of God’s power - restoring communities and families - that has not been seen in our land for decades. As this has been unfolding, it has stirred patriotism in our nation’s heart. People are proud to be Australian. You may be thinking, "Does that matter in the scheme of God’s Kingdom, in this new prophetic era?" Yes! It does. Revival has often followed patriotism throughout history. As we love our nation and the people of our nation, we open spiritual doors for the Lord to gather in the harvest. These is no authority outside of love. When God is releasing a greater authority within a nation, He is also giving people a greater love for their people and lands. I decree that newness of life is coming forth from the ashes of our nation. We will go into battle dressed in the garments of praise and not faint. We are the righteousness of our God, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified in the Great Southland of Australia. ”To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)