Whether you enjoy shopping or not, most everyone loves NEW things. If you’re like me, after weeks and weeks of quarantine… shopping may actually sound fun! I believe God placed enjoying the “new” in our DNA when He created us. The bible talks a lot about newness. Over the last few months I have been hearing the Father say so much about new things He’s doing right now and I wanted to share some of them with you.
“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.
Isaiah 42:18-19
Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth;
will you not be aware of it?I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.“
We are entering a time where the Lord is going to be doing NEW things in our lives. What exactly does “new” mean? (according to google dictionary)
“Not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.”
We are entering a new ERA, in which we may experience new things that we’ve not experienced before.
I have heard the Father telling me for a while now that He was about to shift His church into a place of alignment with His heart… but I wasn’t sure what he was speaking of or how it would occur. He also told me that the shift would make history! As you can imagine, I was extremely interested to see how it would play out.
And now, here we are watching the diminishing of a historical worldwide pandemic in which the entire globe has been quarantined to their home for months now. With all entertainment distractions being shut down, many jobs laid down, even church gatherings cancelled, there was suddenly a new opportunity for things like REST, realigning schedules to include family, and spending more time every day with Jesus. He takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it into something beneficial for his people. God desires to use this pause to speak to you! When we get still and listen, we will find abundant life.
As we walk forward into this post-corona season, there are many unknowns. Unknowns can be scary because it encompasses an area we’ve not ever been before. There is a temptation to fear or worry if you are listening to the wrong voices. This is why we must tune in to the voice of truth, love, and peace. I want to encourage you to give it a go! Hearing God’s voice is a birthright for every child of God. (If you’d like to be activated in hearing God, pick up my book The Voice of Truth, at Ashley-Edwards.com) No need to seek other’s posts for what God is saying in this season. He wants to speak it directly to YOU.
I believe as we walk into the future, we will be able to look back and see a line in the sand drawn in this season. The Father is moving in hearts right now and preparing his people to be an integral part of the GREAT HARVEST that is coming to the entire globe. The world has never seen revival like the one we are all about to experience!
God always equips you when he calls you. It was his idea to give every believer the Holy Spirit to empower us with boldness and courage to go and tell people about the Savior of the world so they can be saved too. I used to think Jesus’ last words to his disciples were “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND MAKE DISCIPLES of Nations….” but then I realized his important last words were not GO, but instead WAIT. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to fill them with power before they went to witness!
“And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must WAIT in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.””
Luke 24:49 GNT (emphasis mine)
Let me give you an example. The morning I was writing this article, I was having a cup of coffee with my husband before he left for work. All of a sudden, we heard a loud POP and immediately, the power shut off. No lights, no more coffee, no cooking breakfast, no hot shower, etc etc. As I was washing my hair in the sink in ice cold water, I thought, “I need power”!!! Having Supernatural power from the Spirit of the Living God is also needed by the sons and daughters of God because in addition to preaching the good news to people we know, He has called us to do things like heal the sick, cast out darkness, raise the dead, among other things that are impossible for humans! But everything is POSSIBLE with God! (Matthew 19:26)
In Acts 2, we read about when the Holy Spirit was given to empower believers and dwell within them. This occurred on Pentecost, a jewish feast day that occurs 50 days after resurrection day every year. This year Pentecost is May 31. I have been hearing the Lord say He is doing a NEW THING in the hearts of his people. He wants to heal the hurts in your heart, and draw you close to know Him. He wants to prepare you for the new thing He is about to do as Pentecost appproaches. I have heard the Father say that He will POUR out his Holy Spirit to empower his people in this new era as He did in the early church!
Just as I quickly realized how disadvantaged I was without power in my home, so we also need the Spirits power and leading to walk into this new place we find ourselves in today. In the uncomfortable places we find ourselves in, there is a “Comforter” to help us and speak to us. Because you are reading this, You are created to be a WORLDCHANGER. I promise you, Jesus distinctly chose those who are alive right now to walk in his footsteps of power and love and lead many to salvation.
I felt I heard the Lord say, “I’m leading my people to the PROMISED LAND. It is a place flowing with milk and honey. It is NEW. Will you follow Me into the unknown in order to step into the destiny I prepared for your life? Trust will be essential, but I will whisper my love to you as you follow me. With my love, there is provision. Not only physical provision, but wisdom to walk in NEW PATHS.”
I will walk the blind by an unknown way
Isaiah 42:16
and guide them on paths they’ve never traveled.
I will smooth their difficult road
and make their dark mysteries bright with light.
These are things I will do for them,
for I will never abandon my beloved ones.
Can we admit that the new way is also the unknown way? I know many of us are experiencing difficulty right now and it seems this must be the wrong way. But there is no road that is unknown to the Lord. He is already in your future. Even difficult paths lead to the promise land when you are following Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Thank you for your unconditional love and the priceless gift of your life laid down for me. I surrender my life to follow you into the promised land. I trust you. Speak to me as I get still before you and whisper your love to me. I want to know you, Lord. I open my hands to receive the new thing you have for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.