There is an emptying of thy soul in light of a great wait. Teachings are ones of endurance and patience. Travailing and persisting in prayer are likened to heavy legs scouring a deep ocean.

It is where a wresting with the angel of the Lord presses thy hip out of socket and you must consider whether to hang on in pain or simply give up. There shall be a great crises of faith.

A long season indeed many have endured. The Lord has been emptying thy heart of worldly lusts and desires in which all dreams have been laid on the altar of His sacrifice. Where dreams are not readily available lest they be His alone.

The season has sung of glorious intimacy with Christ yet carries a measure of sadness as He squeezes out all pride left as residue and yet He whispers, “Soon.” The old is now seen only far, far away.

You’ve watched others progress while wondering has Christ placed you on a shelf for an extended measure of time not understanding that which He has been working out of your heart. There was much there needing to be banished although you asked for Him to pour in… He was also pouring out. There has been a great purging.

If thine heart is full of that which is not marked by Christ then He must first make room. One cannot receive the new thing if still full of the old thing. For all things exalting themselves above Christ Himself must be removed piece by piece.

For knowledge not yet blessed by His Spirit ruins child-like faith and sheds a light upon Him that is not entirely accurate. In this, many could be led astray or placed back in bondage and He shall not allow such a thing. So He will spend much time pulling the thing up by its roots. It’s a painful season of cultivation. Yet, He must be assured of good seed growing. For there is coming a scattering season.

If affections have grown too partial for voices surrounding you then He shall re-position all hindrances and make His voice abound with clarity and resilience. For there is too much noise for Him to speak to His lambs today. The Shepherds voice must be heard above all others indeed. In order to fulfill this desire of His heart, there will be a silencing of all other voices. It will be one of your deepest tests yet.

You will be as Peter when Christ asked, “Peter, do you love me?” “Of course Master…” yet your love will be tested when you begin to lose the love of others for the sake of Christ. When persecution arises against you it will take great courage to stand and say “I am with Him!” Let us recall Peter could not utter the words himself.

Fascinating are God’s ways. Certainly never our choice of schools does He enroll us personally but to that one which has the greatest lessons will likely yield the greatest sorrows. Will we be able to stand?

You never really know if you are completely for Christ until the stripping begins in which you are faced one moment after another with a decision. Be silent or arise? The question will be daunting each time for as we walk the similar path of the beloved disciples of old, piece by piece will be taken at the root for the sake of Christ.

The most glorious rendering will then be unveiled when you stumble city to city knowing what waits you is chains as Paul. Yet you choose again as Isaiah, “ Send me.”

A deep joy resides within in your heart knowing Him deeper and His blessed presence profoundly swelling with sweet tears as you see piece by piece the purging is done and the new has replaced the old.

His voice is now a comforting friend and Lord guiding your steps feverishly, yet gently, and you are surely able to say , “Let it be as He has said” as did Mary….

And piece by piece has moved into place that you may stand sure of His heart and hand in every situation.

Now is time for the scattering of precious seed and it shall now yield a greater harvest… piece by piece.

 

December 26, 2017