I knew going to another country on a missions trip would change things for me but little did I know that it would be an immediate change.
This is day 6 of being home from my missions trip to Belize. The first few days were all about catching up on rest. We were designed to rest and when we don’t, it can take a toll on our souls and bodies. Day 2, I came down with a cold and have been battling that all week long; but that wasn’t the only thing I was battling-my soul was in full blown war. I was warring on so many levels. I’ve learned not to underplay the power of getting enough sleep. I began to search the Lord out about all I was experiencing and I sensed RESET to be a word from Him. Reset what? My emotions, thoughts, plans, time, mindsets, feelings, heart, and my will. What was I to do? I knew I needed to hear more from God than anyone else, so I shut out all other voices.
So my first place of RESET was to disconnect from Facebook. I de-activated my Facebook account because I knew if I did not I would eventually go back on.
Facebook had become too big in my life. The need to connect is a real desire God placed within us, but it has an order. Our first place of life giving connection is God, then others. It had become a distraction and daily draw on my soul (in essence an idol) and I knew I needed to disconnect. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
So instead of getting up and browsing Facebook this morning I got up and prayed. Duh…right?!?! The Lord then gave me a war strategy. I remembered that this is a time to war against empires and cultures. Facebook itself is an empire with many cultures.
Empires and cultures represent power and influence.
For months now, I have seen a common theme in ministering to others. I’ve seen the influencing power of hell causing people to shrink back and give their power away. Power? Yeah decision making power. Then it clicked- I had given my own decision making ability and power away on some level and that’s why I wasn’t experiencing peace and rest. Don’t give your power away. Counsel is necessary, there is safety in it, but ultimately the decision is yours to make.
“This is a month to enter a new level of trust and rest, to declare your life experiences to be filled with tranquility, and peace and to ask for the rivers of life to flow. We should be coming full-circle in developing our trust and confidence” (excerpt from the book-“A Time to Advance” Understanding the Significance of the Hebrew Tribes and Months by Robert, Linda Heidler & Chuck Pierce)
My soul needs those rivers of life- so declaring LIFE was my prayer focus and strategy today.
I’m pulling back to tranquility, rest, peace and confidence. Hebrews 10:35 says-“Do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded.” I’m trusting the Lord as I sit with him in quietness. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…. Isaiah 30:15 .
As we enter into a busy holiday season let me encourage you to take time to allow God to do a DIVINE RESET in you. Remember- you are the master of your soul. Take time to engage in this season of Thanksgiving and Advent and enter into rest. All of this will bring about your DIVINE RESET as you finish 2018 and enter 2019.
Until next time….
Shalom
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