The Lord is releasing new things and bringing you into a time of joy and refreshment! See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 NIV I don't know about you, but I sure need a time of change and a shot of joy from the Lord. It is here and available right now! The Lord is releasing us from the dry times of the wilderness and bringing a new time of refreshment and joy. Also, the Lord is going to jumpstart your ability to hear Him and bring new strategies, plans and ideas.
Have you ever been busy all day long but when you got to the end of it, you found you hadn't accomplished anything that you wanted or needed to do? It's so frustrating when this happens. I'm usually a very goal-oriented person and can stay focused on the things I really want to do. But there was a time recently when I found myself struggling to finish things that I started because I was getting distracted by other things that needed to be accomplished as well. So, I ended up with a lot of loose ends, feeling overwhelmed by everything that needed to be done.
Let us then be eager to know this rest for ourselves and let us beware that no one misses it through falling into the same kind of unbelief as those we have mentioned. (Hebrews 4:11 Phillips) Why all these exhortations in the New Testament to go on? Why is the New Testament just made up of exhortations and encouragements and warnings to the people of God about going on? And why is the New Testament such a practical Book? Because real spiritual progress and the Presence of the Lord depends upon bringing everything that we know right up to date.
Take me to the place where I belong, the place under the shadow of Your wing, where I am to remain comforted and made safe, because I am close to Your Heart. I can hear Your heart beating with love for me, and me alone You would have died for. I must remember that You love me with the same intensity as You love your own Son. Can I even fathom that, or even understand a minute portion of that love? If I truly did, I would not be the same person. I would never struggle with unworthiness or shame or inadequacy. I would see myself as You see me to be that beautiful and lovely and overcoming Bride of Christ.
Has a storm blown into your life lately? Are you, or someone you love, suffering from the trauma of plans that have been washed away, relationships that have been uprooted, or security that has been devastated? If you answered yes to any of these questions, stay with me because how you respond in the storms of life just might determine your potential to overcome the tempest. Peter said [to Jesus], "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water" (Matthew 14:28).
I hear the Lord saying, "I'm releasing my people from bondage!" As I waited on the Lord, I felt a deep overwhelming love fill my heart for people. I was taken into a vision and saw chains and very large bags being carried over the shoulders by millions of people off into the distance. It appeared that they were doing very hard labor, similar to slave labor as I've often imagined the people of Israel when enslaved to the Egyptians during the time of Moses.
Good morning or evening or wherever you are! I know that we are all pressing through, and I really want to press through to the other side! And with God's help (and not without it), we will! I heard an expression on a YouTube video when I was surfing the web where something a man said is challenging my thinking in a fun way. He said that "God sees time as a picture." Now I think we all wonder where this is all going, and many of us, like Peter stated, searched and do still search for our best understanding.
Everything we construct must have a foundation. The things that we believe become the cornerstones of our futures, so we must choose our foundations wisely. Build your foundation for the new year on God's Word. Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
When John's grandfather passed away, he left him with a heavy burden and a great gift: A bag of valuable gold coins and a sealed envelope with strict instructions not to open it until he was an old man himself. He carefully counted out the seventy gold coins, one meant to spend each year of his life. Vowing to spend them wisely as his grandfather had instructed, he felt confident in his financial strategy. Some years were easier than others, but John was determined to follow his grandfather's wishes.
God wants us to be breaking through into new places as He is always calling us to come up higher. All that is required is for us to say "Yes." It is His grace and Spirit that will help us to do all that pleases Him. God does not require us to know all the details of how to do things but looks for simple obedience. When we say yes to Him then He will speak more details to us. He shows us what to do as we give Him the "OK." At this point all He requires from us, as always, is to follow the directions. But what does it take for us to get on His frequency? There has to be a hunger and desire for more of Him, His will, and His desires for our lives. This is the starting point.
Follow Up
