In August of this year, the LORD gave me a series of words for those He called forerunners. To those for whom this is intended, God is confirming, encouraging and strengthening us to persevere.

  1. "Be comfortable disappointing people to do My will, to follow My directions."
  2. "You will speak what I tell you to speak, in all the places where I establish you. You will encourage, raise up courageous truth-tellers.  A new stream. Speak a better Word."
  3. "Now is a critical time.  Do not turn back because of what people are saying."
  4. "Know and follow My voice."

Only in recent days have I understood how much our trust in Him will be tested, because many of us are being sent to do things in ways that conflict with the wineskin of congregational norms.   I have to say that despite our saying, praying and proclaiming that God is doing a new thing and the greatest awakening ever is at hand (new wine), His ecclesia is not prepared. Unfortunately, our lack of preparation spiritually and practically is more than enough to feed the enemy's plan to cause disunity and strife...derailing God's desire for many congregations. Should we not expect that established paradigms (old wineskins) need changing in preparation for His new wine?  In business, one of my skills was change management. It can be a long and arduous process, but done well it need not be an mission derailing experience. Moreover, if the change is Holy Spirit filled and led, would it not be a life giving, mission enhancing experience?

Personally, another one of those little foxes in my life has been legalism that manifested in my desperately wanting not to do anything 'leaders' in my life did not champion. I just did not like breaking rules. One prophetic word to me said, "You are a woman of 'Ps' and 'Qs', and you will not operate in disorder with leaders."  On the one hand that can be a necessary and righteous thing in our faith walk.  However, in legalism or when encountering controlling spirits, this characteristic can also be a fear-based excuse for disobeying God.

Family, in the coming days, God wants us to write Isaiah 55:8 - 9 in our hearts. It is imperative that we spend time with Him understanding what this means in our personal stories.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Please take this word to the LORD, before presuming it is for you – because absent our obedience to GOD in the days to come, we will fall into rebellion and strife.  Do not assume anything. Take everything to Him in prayer, and trust Him with the outcome.

As Charles Stanley says, "Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him."

God is doing a new thing, and we perceive it!