TRANSITIONING
Our journey on earth consists of seasons and when we can discern what season we are in, it makes it easy to let the Lord do what He wants to do during that season. Many are in a transitioning between seasons, but because they lack discernment, they do not enjoy the full benefit of God’s Presence in their lives in the present. Therefore they are either stuck in the regrets of the past or in confusion about the fears of the unknown future.
Transitioning in the spirit could be defined as a bridging time, connecting two different seasons or dimensions. It is a time where we have to position ourselves for His greater purposes to fulfill our destiny.
Many times a shift or change catches people by surprise and that’s why it is very difficult for some. However, remember that the change of season does not change your calling or your gifts, but it fine-tunes your character and exposes your weaknesses; thus the time of transition is a time of re-positioning and preparation.
The first thing to recognize is that you cannot move into your next season if you are not willing to let go of the former one. We tend to wander in circles around the “familiar” and because “change” implies a challenge to our perceptions, we often opt for the comfort of the “known”. This will rob you of expansion and impair your vision.
Take note of your character flaws and identify “same-old” patterns. Then willingly choose to break out of it and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into the image of Christ. If you refuse, the transition period will be prolonged until you die to your self and your own ideas and desires. The storm of fear, insecurity and confusion inside of you will cease the moment you make peace with the fact that God is bigger than your situation and that He will work out the details of your future in glorious ways, far above what you can think or pray IF you put your trust fully in Him. Now give Him the reigns and let go of your control over your life and future. Do not try to rush this time to get it over with and miss the opportunity for God to do a work of refining in you to empower you with fresh anointing for the new dimension He is preparing you for. Invite His Presence into this period and you will be surprised at the joy you experience and the ease in which things move into place.
Transition always gives us an opportunity for pruning, cleansing, stripping away of the old (in us) in order to be endowed with a fresh anointing from above, coming into new levels of the glory with fruit that shall remain. It is important to release what is behind you in order to SEE your future and move on into your next opportunity. Ask Him to enlighten the eyes of your understanding by the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and expect to “see” anew, like He sees with perspective from above.
Our attitude in this time is of utmost importance: Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and be adamant not to take offense, rejection or bitterness. Let go of all regrets, disappointments, questioning and reasoning and simply make peace with it that God speaks through His Word and through Prophetic revelation, visions, dreams and such and when you look for His will in your life above your own desires, He will make it known to you. Simply ask, seek and knock (Mat. 7:7) until you hear His voice and have the “knowing without a doubt” on the inside. Then you won’t need another “confirmation”. If His answer (not someone else’s ideas or opinions) is different from what you have expected, be sure that He has something new in store for you.
Acknowledge Him in ALL your ways, and He will make your path straight. This implies the bow of worship of the heart in full dependence on Him.
Be willing for CHANGE, RESTING in Him in absolute contentment and know that the Holy Ghost will lead you in all truth (one step at a time) as you stay in the WAITING mode for His “kairos” (opportune time). As you obey His instructions, receive correction and shine His glory, you are making progress and you will grow in the knowledge and stature of Christ. You do not have to try and figure it out how He is going do things and it is important that you do not go before Him. Moses is our example in saying, “if Your presence go not with me, carry us not up from here.” God has everything in His hands and will work it out in His way and in His timing if you will simply LISTEN, BELIEVE and follow the Holy Ghost!
The assignments of the enemy against your assignment for the Kingdom
Every time you move into a new dimension, there will be a time of great assault of the enemy to distract you in order to pull your attention out of focus. If you give in to his ploys, you will in the end be disempowered so that you cannot fulfill your call. His assignment is against your anointing and if you do not have spare oil for your lamp, you are going to be left out of the banquet! Remember it is the anointing that breaks the yoke; so get filled up in His Presence, full of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!
When Jesus was baptized and affirmed by the Father as His beloved Son, He was full of the Holy Spirit and led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.
Often we think the wilderness is brought upon us by the devil, but no, it is our testing ground. This is the framework for your opportunity to build some character (like patience and perseverance) and know your identity in Christ, as well as your authority over the devil. Jesus countered the devil’s temptations every time with the written Word. The devil knew that He believed what He said and could not be deceived; then left Him alone; then Jesus came out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit and immediately started moving in signs, wonders and miracles!
Are you getting that? The Holy Spirit wants to use your wilderness to hone you into a vessel of honor, filled with the surety of the Word and the knowledge of your identity as a son of God so that He can invest His power in you to show forth God’s glory! Hallelujah!
This is a time to have a good look at the things that can move you.
1) The affections of the soul
One of these things that few people understand or ever deal with, is to loose themselves from emotional control by others due to the affections of the soul. We need to enthrone God in every choice and to fix our hearts on Him, fully trusting Him to work out the details of our lives according to His good pleasure. His Word is the plumb line to which everything will have to align. Note that our enemies will also use the Word to deceive us to succumb to their flesh and to lure us into controversy, strife and contention with lies, deception and twisting of the Word. We will be tested as to whether we know the Word, “It is also written”…and then have the boldness to speak the truth in love, even though it might cost us the “favor” of those who are against us. Remember, our fight is not against flesh and blood, therefore we can say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”, because they are in the flesh, which gives the devil an open doorway to use them against us! It is our choice whether we will listen to their words and opinions or to “The Word”, which will become a two-edged sword in our mouths to bring truth and light into darkness. If your affections are focused on people, you might find yourself in idolatry. God does not reward double-mindedness; so let’s make sure that we are not doing lip service when we say that we love Him above all!
Luke 14:26:
The cost of discipleship is very high. It costs you your very life.
Our affections have to be put on things above, not on the earth. That does not mean that we should stop loving our family and friends, but that we should be prepared to speak the Word of Truth in love and follow the call of God above the demands of the flesh. The very things that can still “affect” us emotionally and “move” us to get entangled in the earthly things are those which have to do with the affections of the soul and which are rooted in the fear of rejection. Will we be man pleasers or make choices according to God’s will to please Him above all?
We have been given the authority to trample upon snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm us. (Luke 10:19). Remember your seating together with Christ in heavenly places where you have subduing power in Him with the enemy under your feet!
“I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope.” Acts 2:25
This obviously speaks of face-to-face encounters as friends of God. Moses knew Him like this and so did David, but do we walk like that in constant communion-union, acknowledging His Presence?
2) Insecurity vs. being OVERSHADOWED by THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
In this time of transition, while you might even have to do geographical changes, find your “dwelling place” IN HIM (in the secret place of the Most High) and abide under His shadow. (Ps.91) There is perfect safety and protection, deliverance, security, victory, angelic protection, promotion, fellowship, honor, salvation and He fills every need.
3) FINANCES
The big problem with many is the money issue, but “DID GOD SPEAK” is a bigger question. It is very simple and something I am thankful that I heard and received by faith early in my walk with the Lord:
“Where God leads you, His grace is sufficient to KEEP you (supplying in every need)”.
When you are in the center of His will, there will always be sufficient supply, but if you are not sure that you have heard His voice, there will always be doubt and fear of lack. So do the calculation!
Recently I understood for the first time that the Israelites walked under an open heaven of provision, miracles, signs and wonders in the middle of the wilderness, but they were too blind to see it. They had everything they needed (because God brought them there). They had the Presence of God (the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night), they had manna and meat (quails) and water supernaturally. There clothing did not wear out and they walked in perfect health. The problem though was that they did not see their blessings, they only looked at what they did not have. The wilderness was meant for their place of transitioning, which should have taken them no more than 14 days before they could get to the Jordan, but it took them 40 years and only the next generation entered in to the Promised Land, together with two people who were of a different spirit. The reason why they missed out on the Promised Land was through unbelief, murmuring, complaining and idolatry and they were not thankful!
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”. (Rom 1:21)
The problem with many is that they are so anxious to get their own desires fulfilled so that they can look good in the eyes of others, that they cannot be content with His Provision in Christ alone. They either yearn for the fleshpots of their former bondage or they strive for the grass that looks greener on the “other” side. They fail to enjoy the abundant life of His Presence under an open heaven in the NOW and look for temporary blessings, comparing themselves with what others “have” in the natural.
What reigns in your consciousness will determine the degree of light you walk in. If you ponder on anything negative or engage with the flesh, it will deplete the degree of light you walk in and bring “dark light”. It is a strategy of the enemy to steal our gaze so that our focus is distorted and we stare at the problem, which becomes a wall of obstruction. Choose to look “away” into the Light of His countenance and all else will fade “away” until you only behold His Presence and thus live in the consciousness of the extended senses!
Look away from self, others and issues and BEHOLD HIM, conscious only of His PRESENCE, filled with a joy exceedingly, full of glory!
WAITING ON GOD
In a time of transitioning we need to simply become still before the Lord (“Be still and know that I am God”), spending much time in the Word, prayer and worship and incline your ear to hear His Voice with clear perspective on His agenda for your next season. The problem with many is that they are so anxious to get to their “promised land” of blessings so that they can look good in the eyes of others, that they cannot be content with His Provision in Christ alone. They fail to enjoy the abundant life of His Presence under an open heaven and look for temporary blessings, comparing themselves with what others “have” in the natural.
Many people are in transition at the moment and this is a time to review the Prophetic Words that were spoken over your life and position yourself in worship and quietness before the Lord, decreeing your future and your destiny in Him through those Prophetic Words. (Study Is.64: 4-6). As you MEDITATE on His Word and on your Prophecies, praying much in the Spirit, things will become clear to you and He will lead you step by step into the new. Hallelujah!
When you sing in the spirit, waiting on His Presence, the Holy Spirit will quicken His Word to your understanding. Then, as you sing and declare this fresh Rhema Word back to Him in agreement, angels are sent on assignment to fulfill His Word and you will see it manifested. So simply make yourself available for the Lord to sing or dance unto Him in pure worship and pour out your love to Him. Be a fragrant offering unto the Lord, breaking your alabaster vase before Him, loving Him and then go out loving all around you.
Be encouraged to know that the Lord has great plans for you to give you a future and a hope. REJOICE IN IT and CALL IT FORTH and you will WALK in it, giving Him all the glory due His Name!!!
Blessings
Elsabe
