All week I’ve been seeing pictures of snow plows and then hearing this phrase in my spirit, “dig deeper, I’m clearing a path.” It’s an interesting phrase because work is required from both God and from us. The digging deeper is ours to observe and reflect internally. The clearing of a path is something we can rest in because that’s up to Him to do.
Interestingly enough, I don’t actually feel stuck and at least for this season I can see the pieces coming together from the puzzle God has placed before me. However, I’ve always been a quick learner so when I heard these words for the third time (lol) I grabbed a pen and sat silent.
I sensed that God is purposefully clearing a path where things seem clouded or unclear and removing hindrances where things might be “blocking our path” or at least making it harder to take steps. Hindrance (by Oxfords definition) is defined as a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone. I believe God is both revealing the deterrent and then then taking care of it for us. Where there might have been setbacks, delays, or obstructions, I believe the barriers are coming down.
When God seems to be doing a thing, it tends to manifest itself personally for me. I.E. rearrange my space, clean out my closet, this season I have chopped off my hair. I have felt the Lord saying two things simultaneously; to expect abundance and to keep it simple. So I’m holding my arms out for both, simplifying where I can and getting my hopes up for even more. That’s what this word feels like to me, “a both and” situation. Dig where you need to dig and let Him be the One to move the things that need to be removed.
The path will become clear and you’ll get there with less restraint if you’ll be willing to close your eyes, open your heart, and listen to what He says. This feels like an easy thing for the Lord, so don’t stress or strive, hidden things will be made known and the path will open up ahead of you. I’ll be here cheering you on.
”His pleasant paths lead me to pleasant places” -(TPT Psalm 16)
Today, Sept.22, is the official last day of Summer. About a week ago I was walking around our lake and heard the Lord start to whisper to me, “summer is over.” I tried at first to act like I couldn’t hear Him and focused my attention on the heat burning my skin, I wasn’t ready to think about big sweaters and chilly days. Thankfully He persisted, “We’re moving out of SUN exposure and into a time of SON exposure. I’ll admit it made me cringe a little but Gods confrontation is always for our restoration, so I leaned in and asked Him to be gentle.
In Daniel 2:22 it says “He reveals the deep and hidden things, He knows what lies in darkness.” This text isn’t only about the things that need pointing out and pruning in our life, but also the things that need to be stirred up. The dreams, hopes, and assignments the await us in the next season.
Exposure by Oxfords definition means to come into contact with something. A revelation that has previously been concealed. An unmasking, unveiling, a display. In photography it means getting the right combination that best reflects the subject at hand. I have a feeling that God is setting us up with “right combination” moments and meetings, so we can see what has been hidden from us.
My encouragement…lean in. Don’t look away, don’t “work it out later.” Talk to the friend, address your attitude, deal with the mindset, make steps toward growth because if it’s pruning He’s after then it only means you will bear more fruit later. If it’s new things and new opportunities in your future that He’s uncovering then walk boldly toward what He wants to give you. You’re probably more gifted than you think, stronger than you believe, have more capacity than you give yourself credit for. He wants to use you, no doubt He’s getting you ready to place you where He wants you so welcome the uncovering at hand.
My prayer is that whatever God has in mind to reveal and expose this season, we each have people around us offering their shoulder or their applause- should we need it. Life is better next people who can see us and clap their hands.
Today I caught my breath after making a move to Wyoming’s back country. I’ve unpacked a house, unpacked defining spiritual lessons for me and our team at refuge, and now I find myself unpacking homeschool curriculum for the days ahead (don’t tell me God isn’t hilarious, I still don’t know if homeschool is one word or two). So today as I was walking on water, excuse me, walking around the water 😜, I sensed God saying something corporately. A word I’ve walked through and believe in.
“Catch and release” is what I kept hearing Him whisper and as I pondered that word with the Lord I sensed that there are things that have been “caught,” picked up, or reeled in and it’s time for some of those things to be released by us. Things that might have got us through our last season, our last relationship, or just last night. If we keep our old habits on the hook or we keep trying to reel in something that is bent on swimming away, than we will miss a chance to recast and see what else God might bring our way. I’m not a fishing expert, but I can tell you that there is freedom in releasing.
There’s a passage in Luke where Jesus tells some fisherman to put out into “the deep” water and let down their nets to the other side for a catch. They’re not so sure though, they had fished all night and caught nothing. I always think this is funny…unsuccessful and yet reluctant to try some different, how many times have we been there? Thankfully the boys listened to Jesus and they caught so much their nets broke. -Luke 5:4-6 Sometimes God will ask us to release the things we’ve reeled in, maybe even after some consideration and enjoyment-just as a fisherman contemplates what he’s caught. Sometimes He will tell us to go and fish in a new place/ an unexpected place, and at times He will take us out into the deep waters so that new things can be caught, revealed, and admired. Deep can be lonely, deep can be scary, but treasures can’t be found if we are unwilling to hold our breath and take a chance. So wherever you find yourself fishing this season- may you listen to His instruction. May you release what’s not working on your line so you can receive new opportunity for your next catch. May you fish where He tells you even if it seems unorthodox, and may your boats be so full this season that your only explanation is God.
Good luck-from way out west, DeAnn C.
“And whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way; walk in it”- Isa. 30:21
What do birthing and building have in common? If you thought to yourself PAIN- FEAR- & SLEEPLESS NIGHTS… I hear you! They are also both the beginnings of something new, full of hope and wonder.
I keep reading, hearing, dreaming, and seeing signs of things to come with these two themes, “it’s time to birth and it’s time to build.” I accidentally bought a nursing bra last week and rolled my eyes and thought to myself, “this is what happens when I’m in a hurry.” However, I immediately had another thought, heard a softer whisper saying, “it was no accident.” For the record, I’m not pregnant and don’t intend to be, but there is a lot stirring in my womb that I think God is trying to coach me through. That being said, I think there is a lot in the wombs, on the hearts, and in the minds of others to do and I believe God is saying “it’s time.”
I was reading in Ezra and say that, “everyone whose spirit God had roused-prepared went up to rebuild” (Ezra 1:5). I’ve also been in Joshua, where the whole book is about getting strategy to move into what’s ours to take. God exposes, God speaks, and God gives His people direction. We get to co-operate with Him. Listen, occupy, build, bless, enjoy. All that is really hard work by the way, it’s probably why God has to continually tell his people, “Do not yield to fear nor shrink back because of past failure, be strong, and so on..” (Joshua 8:1 TPT) because birthing and building can be tiresome, wearisome, and scary sometimes.
Thankfully God rouses the spirit in others to go with, to help, to support, and to cheer. That might be one of the kindest things He does for us, to bring others right next to us so that when our hands get tired, we have someone to lift them up. “When Moses hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands…” (Exodus 17). They help us see, “then Elisha prayed, Oh Lord open his eyes so that he may truly see…” (2 Kings 6). They encourage us in our call, “then Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and your child (what you are birthing) will be blessed” (Luke 1:40). They hold us accountable, “who knows, maybe you have come into your God given position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
God is adding to us this season, generously wanting to give to us, so if you’re one that’s being “subtracted” from in any way, I’d ask the Lord about what’s going on with that. He’s taking the things that are in our hands and producing something more. What first looked like a stick that Moses could lean on became an agent of change for a nation to lean into. (Exodus 4:2). Sticks can only do so much though, they need brave builders to get ahold of them and warriors to use them. People need what’s inside of you, so birth the thing, build with guts, and lead as you are, we will all be grateful.
I pray that whatever this season holds for you, you are holding tightly onto God and the people He’s put next to you.
It’s fitting that as spring brings the new to us, we in turn must let go of the old. Just as we clean out our closets from the things that don’t fit and our garages of things we have no use for in a new season, you might find yourself internalizing some of that change for a new chapter. Before God brings the new He usually has us dealing with the now. Now what needs to go? Now what needs to change? Now what is next? What right now is getting in the way of my new?
Isa.43:19 seems to be on everyones lips, or at least my eyes seem to catch it and my heart is registering it. It feels like heaven is holding a megaphone and the words are trickling down with anticipation, “see I AM doing something new. I have already begun. Do you see it? I am making a way in the wild nearness and creating rivers in a wasteland.”
Jobs are changing, friendships are changing, family dynamics are changing, and if you’re feeling a shift too, I think it’s just as God intends. New things (new ideas, new strategies, new hope, new assignments) are springing up as the old things (things that don’t have benefit for what we need now) are being shed. By googles dictionary, the definition of shedding means: to allow something to come off, or to eliminate something. It seems natural on animals but it can be a little more painful on us.
This is manifesting in my life both physically and spiritually, as one is usually an indicator of the other. We are packing up to make a new move as we open a new location for our non-profit (refuge foundation). We bought a new house but had to tear all the old out in order to settle into what suits us. We had to let go of a beloved dog because this new season wasn’t fitting for him (or us) to be together anymore. We’ve welcomed new friendships and new staff while we’ve blessed and let go of other ones as they’ve transitioned and changed. We’ve had an influx of new ideas for a new time in ministry and now we are waiting to see how it will all take shape.
And what I know is this:
1.-God will shed the things off of us that can’t come with us and shedding, just like pruning, will give us more room to flourish.
2.-New means we haven’t seen it yet, haven’t done it before, but just because it’s not tangible doesn’t mean it’s not suitable- so stay open.
3.-God is faithful to get us to where we are suppose to be with the people He needs us next to. What God does is always for our benefit, but if the new is feeling painful, remember that some things just aren’t for “now” but that doesn’t mean that they are gone for good.
I pray that you move lighter into this new season having shed all that God intends. I pray you let go of everything that’s hindering you and keep your palms open to what God wants to give you. I pray the new feels hopeful as it springs up…in the way that flowers come up to sprout, not like a pimple that surfaces with surprise and frustration. No one needs that. Blessings on you as you shed the old and process the new in your life.
