Don’t Waste the Trials - Keep Moving Forward
While vacationing in the Smoky Mountains years ago, I demonstrated a divine shift. Ceci and I were enjoying the serenity and majesty of a mountain stream. As young, carefree people will sometimes do, we began to hop from rock to rock, crossing the stream at various places.
Hand-holding, laughter, pictures flashing - it was exhilarating! Until...no, I didn’t fall into the stream, but I did fall. Playing the macho role, taking the more difficult routes brought me to a span of about three feet between two large rocks. It was either leap from one to the other or use the perfectly situated stump wedged between them.
As fate would have it, I chose the stump, which as it turned out was NOT perfectly wedged. It only looked perfectly wedged, made to look that way by demons assigned to harass macho husbands. When my weight descended on it, it began to rock violently back and forth. Not to be outsmarted by a stump, I seized the moment to do my rendition of the funky chicken. For those of you unfamiliar with this dance from the 70s, picture a chicken with its head recently removed.
As gravity was taking its final toll, I spun perfectly, catching myself on the two boulders, one hand on each. Staring into this no longer peaceful stream that was now six inches from my nose, and listening to my shrieking wife, I was trying to decide how to continue to look macho, while at the same time favoring my now sprained right shoulder. One quick push-up with my muscular body, a twisting spring upward, and I was on one of the rocks, looking young and fit - all without taking a dip. My shift from rock to rock and overall performance was divine.
I said something about strength and agility while Ceci mumbled something about “acting your age” and “a spastic, decapitated chicken.”
How we handle transitions and cross over obstacles is important.
Let’s continue our discussion of God changing the times and seasons, creating divine shifts. There are four verses in Scripture highlighting seasonal changes that have always been meaningful to me. They are transition verses, mentioning our journey from one level of maturity to another. Let’s glean from them. (I’ll be covering all four of these in the next few days of posts.)
God’s Wisdom Brightens Our Way
Proverbs 4:18 says we go from brighter to brighter paths:
“The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter
and brighter until the full day.”
In Scripture, light often represents revelation. One of the synonyms for revelation is enlightenment, which actually comes from the Greek word phos - light. Ephesians 1:17-18 mentions both words. Enlightenment literally means to let in light. God wants to shine His light of revelation on our paths so we can enjoy more and more success in our representation of Him and in our personal endeavors.
Part of the divine shifting of times and seasons involves Holy Spirit changing us. We must change before we can be His “change agents.” The church plays a role in all God does on earth. To facilitate this, Holy Spirit moves us from revelation to revelation - understanding to understanding - as He transitions us from assignment to assignment. Yesterday’s revelation isn’t sufficient for today’s task. New levels of fruitfulness require new levels of knowledge and insight. We must have fresh bread - transition bread.
Not only must we have increasing enlightenment concerning God’s Word and ways, but we also need His light to “direct our paths” (see Proverbs 3:6 KJV). We face countless decisions on our journey, many of which will determine whether or not we continue to move forward. If we do not hear Holy Spirit’s leading, we will miss the path He has chosen for us and suffer setbacks. Kairos opportunities can be missed if the light of God’s revelation is not consistently shining on our path.
Joshua and the Israelites suffered two serious setbacks in their campaign to take Canaan, one at the town of Ai and one with the Gibeonite people (see Joshua 7 and 9). Both setbacks were due to their failure to receive direction from God.
Often the insight - light - we receive in current situations is actually meant to help us in the future stages for which God is preparing us. David learned this on his path to the throne of Israel. His declaration before facing Goliath - which certainly marked a divine shift from chronos to kairos in his life - was that the God who delivered him from the lion and bear would also deliver him from the giant (see 1 Samuel 17:37-37).
Many times when we find ourselves isolated, seemingly in a mundane, hidden place (chronos) - as David was when he tended sheep - God is training us for a future stage of victory and leadership. Though no one saw David kill the lion and the bear, the entire army of Israel saw him kill Goliath. Because the future is unknown to us, we frequently find ourselves asking, What is the purpose of this trial or battle? Why am I facing this distraction? Why am I being allowed to face this obstacle? What is the purpose of this lesson?
The answers may not be known for years, but be assured that God isn’t wasting this season. The light of revelation that comes to you during this chronos time will be needed when you move further into your destiny. In His grace and wisdom, Holy Spirit moves us progressively, sometimes slowly, toward fullness. At the right time, your shift will occur. Learn the lessons well. Remember, life’s phases are connected, yesterday feeds today.
Joseph did not realize the light of revelation he was gleaning in prison was to prepare him for ruling Egypt and saving the nation of Israel. Paul did not realize the revelation he was receiving in the 12-14 years between his incredible conversion and release into apostolic ministry would one day enable him to write much of the New Testament.
And finally, please realize that light begets light. The revelation you receive today will not only shift you into more fruitfulness, but will also position you to receive more revelation. Just as learning the alphabet in school positioned you for learning to write, and learning your numbers positioned you to learn arithmetic, today’s spiritual lessons are preparing you for tomorrow’s revelation and assignments.
So keep shifting, and continue moving forward. Do not despise the mundane chronos season, it is preparing you for kairos. And in the chronos season America has been in, God has been preparing us for kairos and fullness. Every lie our government tells the American people will strengthen their desire for a new government. Everything the left does to harm America creates greater desperation in people, which will open their hearts to the gospel. All of the foolish ways and crazy new ideas they promote demonstrate their socialism and will ultimately push people back to their roots. America will have a fullness of time revival and WILL BE SAVED.
Pray with me:
Father, Your promise to us is that we will go from light to light, revelation to revelation. We should be expecting fresh insight from You on a regular basis to order our steps and empower us for service. We release our faith now, asking for wisdom and revelation to increase.
And we pray that this will include revelation to many believers regarding how to participate with You in the great harvest. Also, we ask for revelation regarding reforming the seven mountains of society: family, religion, government, business, education, arts and entertainment, and media.
We ask for creativity, brilliant ideas, money to pay for the plans, and discernment regarding the timing. Position Your people to seize the opportunity. Lord, make us ready. And bring the divine shift.
In Christ’s name, amen.
Our decree:
We decree that we, the church, are moving into a higher level of preparation and revelation.
Portions of today’s post were taken from my book God’s Timing for Your Life.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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