Slight Preview 2013

Yesterday in our house church gathering one of our brothers said that during worship the Lord was speaking to him about a season of new doors being opened for me and my family. At first he wanted to talk to me about it privately, but then God urged him to do it in front of everyone, so he did.

This confirmed what Wendy and I have been sensing for a while now.

Up to this point we’ve only had a vague sense that old things were passing away and that God might have new plans in store for us in the year ahead. A few weeks ago I had a dream where Jesus was calling me to follow Him deeper into the dark ocean depths where there would be real suffering, real pain, and real death. Then, Wendy said that she had been sensing that God was preparing us for some financial tests of faith and trust.

In addition to this word, this brother also felt very strongly that the scripture in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 applied to me, which says: “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

Someone also said that they felt like there could be more writing involved in the future and they prayed for God to bless my gift of writing.

After our house church family laid hands on our whole family and prayed for us, another brother in our group looked at me and said that God had “on purpose” not revealed to me the exact nature of this calling or the new doors He was going to open because He knew that if I knew what it was I would be tempted to start moving in that direction, or try to make it happen. [See? God knows my heart.] But he also said that God wanted me to know that “when the door opens, you won’t miss it.”

So, it’s hard to know if this is about one single thing, or if it’s about several different things at the same time. Is this about a new opportunity for ministry and service to the poor, or to our community, or to my co-workers? Or is it about a new opportunity to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in other states? Or in other nations? Is this about another financial test of faith where we have to depend on God for our daily bread? Or it is a combination of all of these things? Or something else I haven’t even considered yet?

 

See? I am trying to anticipate it and to prepare for it.

Another thing that was spoken over me yesterday was that I would encounter strong opposition to whatever God was calling me to, but that I should not be timid but speak with boldness and know that God was with me through it all.

So, there’s a mystery for you. What does God have in store for us in 2013?

Strangely, I am invigorated by all of this. Suddenly my life has purpose and meaning. I am part of something bigger than myself. God is at work in my life. He has plans for me. He has prepared me for something wonderful.

I’m also encouraged because earlier this year God also urged our family to set out a jar so that we could begin to put into it written testimonies of the miraculous things God was going to do in our lives in 2013.

At the end of this year, we can look forward to opening up this jar and be reminded of all the amazing ways that God has moved to provide for us, protect us, care for us, and lead us nearer to Himself.
I can hardly wait.

-kg