Leave the Past Behind You
Isaiah the prophet said it like this:
“Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by; I am doing something new; it’s springing up — can’t you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.”Isaiah 43:18-19 CJB
When God comes to do something new in our lives it requires us letting go of the past. Holding onto past events and it’s memories can certainly prevent us from receiving the new things God has for us. The past may involve hurts in past relationships, or disappointments concerning things you thought would turn out differently. The past can certainly be a weight.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
Fill in the blank for yourself. And whatever your weight is-let it go by the help of Holy Spirit.
For if we take the pain and disappointment of yesterday with us into whatever new thing God has for us, it will corrupt us and those new things he gives us-so let it go my friend. Let go of the disappointment. Let go of the anger and resentment. Let go of the hurt, and the sting of betrayal; and forgive those that wronged you, and allow God to heal you.
The Last Nine Years
The last nine years has been highlighted to me over and over again. I don’t know what those nine years looked like for you, but there was a mix of good and bad memories for me. We know God works all things together for our good and that he is a redeeming God so allow him to heal you, especially concerning these last nine years.
In scripture nine symbolizes the fruit of the spirit. So I prophesy to you that these next nine years are going to be more fruitful years for you in Jesus name.
Holy Spirit Era
I truly believe this is a time where Holy Spirit is coming to do a greater work of purification in our lives. He is preparing us to walk in the fullness of who he is and the fullness of the purposes he has for our lives. We are meant to represent God in the earth. And I believe we will see his fruit manifest in us in ways that show forth all of who he is to a world full of despair and fear. They need to see and experience his goodness and his glory and he desires to work in us to see that accomplished.
I believe we are about to embark upon days of Holy Spirit where we will know him and be so full of him that he spills out and touches everything around us as we surrender our lives to him in every way.
None of us fully know what the comings of God will look like; for we see in part, know in part and we prophesy in part. But we do get glimpses into those comings. These glimpses make us aware that we must must prepare for those visitations so we are ready to participate however he desires us to.
The Race of Faith and the UpWard Call in Christ
There will be some that will receive spiritual promotion in 2022. For some that will mean stepping into eternity and reaching their final destination and rewards. For others there will be a spiritual advancement where they will begin new responsibilities in the Kingdom of God. New posts have been assigned for 2022.
For many have allowed him his place to change them; and it is continuing even now as the Holy Spirit is fine tuning our hearts and pruning away the unfruitful places in our lives, so we are ready to take on new and even greater kingdom responsibilities.
The last 9 year cycle of testing and preparation has been hard for many in the Kingdom of God. The pruning and refining times have been brutally hard for some.
“But it was all unto something” I heard the Lord say. Nothing has been wasted-especially the past failures and mistakes. This was your training ground.
No one knows more about the need to let go of the past more than the Apostle Paul.
“Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NET
God has been preparing us and equiping us for what lies ahead. And he is continuing to do this daily by his Spirit as we allow him to. We don’t have to be fearful; the psalmist David learned to be thankful in fearful times because he knew God was always with him.
God has never left us without help and we have cause to rejoice in this. We have cause to rejoice as we press on with those he has purposed for us to walk alongside of in 2022. These are Kingdom covenant relationships that God will be strengthening and realigning for the work he has purposed us to do. Be on the look out for the re-aligning of old relationships.
Keep Pressing On
None of us have arrived spiritually at our goal and all of us are pressing to take hold of that which Christ Jesus first took hold of us. He will continue his perfecting work in us in 2022.
We must now strain towards what’s ahead, looking to Jesus as the author and the finisher of our faith. Let us all in 2022 look upward to the heavenly call we have in Christ Jesus and let us run well this next leg of the race.
Stay Hopeful
So let us stay hopeful as we press on this year. God wants us to trust him with our whole hearts because he has good plans for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.””Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV
As Christians, our hope has always been rooted in God’s great love for us. He knows how to take care of his own, after all we belong to God and nothing happens in our lives that he’s not keenly aware of; so we can be hopeful even amidst the shakings that he will bring to us concerning the unfruitful things that need pruning in our lives and the shakings that will take place around us and in our world at large.
Hope is an anchor for our souls. Without hope we are missing a key element of our faith in God. We can trust God and hope in his promises for us.
“God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”Hebrews 6:17-19 NLT
Hope in Jesus and His Promises
Jesus himself is our anchor and most blessed hope. God is a covenant-promise keeping God that desires good for us. We can trust him to bring into fulfillment every promise his word declares. The promises of salvation, healing and deliverance is assured for us and for those we love. So if you’ve lost hope, allow Him to restore it. If you’ve lost peace and joy know that he coming to revive you in every way this year. If you begin to wane in your faith regarding his promises I encourage you to plant yourself in the scriptures and allow the truth from His Word to strengthen your heart to wait and not give up hope.
Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes:
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
Pray In Tongues More
Praying in your spiritual prayer language will be key this year. Pray daily and allow Holy Spirit to build you up in your most holy faith. He will do it!
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21 ESV
We are living in a time dearly beloved that peoples lives are devoid of the Holy Spirit. And when Jude what wrote this he was writing to the followers of Jesus Christ and instructing them in many things concerning the times they were living in. We are living in such deceptive and deeply divisive times ourselves; and it requires us to be connected to Holy Spirit like never before.
We often get stuck during such times, because we don’t understand God’s timing concerning the promises he gave us. In the 21st-century we are conditioned to getting things when we want them and we have lost the ability to wait. I don’t know about you but I have struggled in patience waiting for God to fulfill his promises. But I’m reminded that God has set times to fulfill his promises, and if we don’t remember this, our faith can get shipwrecked.
Our relationship with God is a partnership where we must do our part. Our part is to believe in him! The enemy comes to steal our faith-so we must trust in God’s sovereignty and his timing.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Galatians 4:4
Jesus came at a specific time in history. He happened to time-and stepped into time. The author of our faith is the author of all things-especially time. And he then sent his Spirit at a specific time to continue his work here in the earth. We are in an appointed time now my friends- so don’t give up now.
Holy Spirit and His Fruit
Ever since the Holy Spirit came, we‘ve had everything we've needed to fulfill the great commission of Jesus. His Spirit empowers us-to be peacemakers, full of kindness, mercy and God’s love. He empowers us to be compassionate and good to others even when they are not to us. This is what separates us from the world and proves we belong to God.
Worship While You Wait
As we allow Holy Spirit to prepare us for his purposes in the earth, I do sense this to be a time where many promises from the Lord will see their fulfillment in our lives as well.
Whatever he says he will do-he will do. So let me encourage you to worship while you wait. Worship and allow God’s joy to strengthen your heart to believe God and trust in his faithfulness. Worship repositions our hearts in hope and in trust as we look to Jesus.
God Has Heard Your Prayers For Your Children
God has heard your many prayers and the prayers of your heart to see your children and grandchildren walk in the fullness of his Spirit. God has plans for them too and he has seen your faithfulness to pray and trust him no matter what has happened or is presently going on. Keep your eyes on Jesus this year and trust his love for them and his ability by Holy Spirit to re-position them for their deliverance. He will do it!
Hold All Things Loosely
When God has plans for us that we’re not aware of, it’s important that we trust him, even if he takes us in a new direction. This will require us holding all things loosely as God begins bringing these new things to the forefront of our lives this year. Don’t be afraid if this is you, God will work it all out for your good if he asks you to let something go. I do sense change is on the horizon for many people this year as God is putting his sovereign plans into action. Many people will see a sudden change in direction for the eternal purposes of God.
The Blessings of God
I also sense many of God’s people will experience the blessing of the Lord this year.
““But also on that Judgment Day I will restore David’s house that has fallen to pieces. I’ll repair the holes in the roof, replace the broken windows, fix it up like new. David’s people will be strong again and seize what’s left of enemy Edom, plus everyone else under my sovereign judgment.” God’s Decree. He will do this. “Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” God’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people Israel: “They’ll rebuild their ruined cities. They’ll plant vineyards and drink good wine. They’ll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables. And I’ll plant them, plant them on their own land. They’ll never again be uprooted from the land I’ve given them.” God, your God, says so.”Amos 9:11-15 MSG
We often misinterpret judgment in the earth. But we must understand that God’s judgment is always redemptive and restorative.
However, having said that, blessings often come wrapped in unexpected packages. Times around us may be dark but Gods favor and light is about to shine on those who have been faithfully waiting, working and allowing him to re-shape and reorder them. God knows how to balance the scales. He is good and he is just.
If you’ve been experiencing injustices for some time and have been waiting for the Lord to act on your behalf you can be expecting him to act this year- and when he acts make sure you position yourself in humility and do no harm. He will be making things right but we must not rejoice but rather show mercy and forgiveness as he does. Accept that olive branch if it’s offered. We are after all to be peace makers.
So look up and don’t lose hope dear friends. God is for you-not against you; and he is coming this year to make things right.