With the end of the year, there is always so much discussion concerning the next year we are stepping into. Everyone asks “What is God saying about this next year?” It’s as if the Gregorian calendar suddenly releases God’s voice to speak something new or different than what He has already been saying. We try to analyze the year by the Hebrew numerical system and the meanings of letters. We then put our faith into what these definitions mean trying to empower them, but also limiting what God can do. We usually come down to the same conclusion. The past year was not so good and the next year is going to be better.
What we don’t realize is that we are making an indictment upon ourselves concerning our own walk with God and our expectations. We, in a subtle way, are saying we are not happy with the past and we are hoping that future is going to be better. We shift our faith off what we have believed for to something new to believe. Many times we never come back to the original intentions of God for our life to complete it. I wonder if some of this comes down to a humanistic viewpoint. Humanism is when we believe God exists to make me happy. I did not live as happy as I wanted to last year and I hope I will be more happy this year. We shift what we are believing for and it always is shifted to what is going to bring happiness to us. When I said yes to the call, I gave up my rights. I said I would go where He wanted me to go, and say and do what He wants me to say and do. If it was up to me, I would be doing something different and living someplace else. It would then be what pleases me. But my decision of Lordship is not about me but always about what pleases Him. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. That should fill us with delight!
Maybe we don’t need to look for a new word but see how God would expand upon what is already in motion. Maybe we still have assignments we did not complete that need to have our attention. When we dismiss the past season we actually nullify our foundations to build upon. The question I have is: how many of the prophetic words given last year are now fulfilled? Did they come to pass? Were they truly a prophetic word or exhortation? As I am getting older in the faith, it is easier for me to not be moved by just another prophetic word, or a generic ‘fits all’ type word. I’m moved by the words that hold the fire of God and His breath on them. Words that give hope but prick the heart with reality that must be attained. Words that don’t set direction as much as set the fear of God to be resident in the heart.
I can tell you the season we are in and we should all be able to recognize it. We are in a season of the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We are in a season of awakening. We are in a season of God dealing in our hearts, convicting us of our sin and our transgression. He is purging our iniquities with mercy and Truth. He is confronting our unbelief, redefining our identity, and fine tuning our assignments. He is bringing us into holy community and sonship. He is connecting and forming us in a family, a tribe, and a holy nation. He is setting the stage for a display of His Kingdom.
He is dealing with the Church to see themselves as a sovereign people living in a sovereign moment to do a sovereign work. Thus revelation will only come as the Church truly tarries before the Lord until His nature is formed and this grace is released. He wants us to carry more than anointing but His breath and the understanding of the very origin points of God’s intentions and principles. He is truly taking us deeper into the seriousness of the Kingdom.
You see nothing has changed for me because the calendar page flipped. Sure it’s great to get exhortation and encouragement, that’s what most of the words are at this time of the year. They come to encourage us to fulfill what already has been spoken prophetically. They might remind us the prophetic destiny that is before us.