For years, I have prayed for a “new thing,” a change of season, a different way of looking and going about life. I've looked forward with great anticipation to a fresh move of God in my life and in the lives of the people around me.
What I did not anticipated, however, was the painful process of “letting go” of the old in order to embrace the new. To move forward with God’s dreams for my future some relationships, mindsets, comforts and habits have needed to be left behind and replaced with new ones.
Over the past year, the Holy Spirit and I tearfully wrestled through every decision point that required a choice between clinging to what was familiar and venturing into the unknown with Him. Through Scripture and by His Spirit, God continually whispered sweet assurances of His love and empowering words of courage to my heart.
I pray the following excerpt from my recent conversations with the Lord bring fresh hope and renewed resolve to YOU, in your journey toward the heart and purposes of God this year. I pray YOU hear HIS heart for you and are encouraged….
Do not be discouraged when old doors,
old passages seem closed to you. I am the Door and the Keeper of the door. I open and shut as I see best –just
remember the door to LIFE in any decision and circumstance will always be open to you. No one can keep you from me nor
the LIFE I offer you. You enter by trust and obedience.
No earthly thing can take
these from you. No one can block the door I place before you for entering through Me and walking toward Me is a personal
matter of the heart and will.
Do not be afraid, do not slow down. I have shown you
the way, now walk in it, My love. Treasures await but can only be accessed through trust and through obedience.
Every door through which I invite you is a chamber into My heart. Come closer, breath deeper and truly live! I
am the door, the Gateway to heaven. Do you hear Me knocking?
I am both knocking from
the outside and beckoning you from within. I invite you into my heart through your invitation into yours.
The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy, Mine is to restore what has been taken and give life! Discern life
from death and choose Me, for I am the door that leads to LIFE and am the LIFE that has led you to this door. Unlimited
access to My heart, to your LIFE is being offered in this movement of decision – forget the past and step into your future.
The narrow doorway will require you to leave some things behind and every new door will seem narrower than the last, yet each will
lead into a bigger room. If you continually walk toward Me and through Me it will cost you everything, but you will never,
not ever, not even for a moment lack a thing. This is what it means to become less to know more of Me. Much
is required but you will see that the sacrifice is microscopic compared to the gain.
I do not present
a door without also providing the way through. Remember that I am both of these! The narrower the door appears
the more precious the treasure awaiting on the other side. To those who stoop lowest, more space awaits, for I will be
found among those who serve.
This is how you have been made to serve-with humble heart and powerful
words. You will find LIFE as you give it away. This will lead not only to LIFE for you, but for others as
well. I am the WORD you have to offer. In your love for Me, feed My sheep. Guide them to the gate
and I will let them in!
Though it cost you everything, you will not lack any good thing. What
I require you to leave on the outside of the door will never be missed – though it appears a sacrifice at this moment it will
free you to really live, to fly, to dance unburdened and with joy. What you are required to leave behind will be returned
to you immeasurably on the other side. You are ready. I’ll be your Guide, your Companion, your Protector;
in Me you will lack no good thing. Come now, let’s get going!
(Isaiah 43:18-9, John 10:1-18, Romans 12:1-2)