Sandie Freed: "Let It Go! God Desires to Bless You Abundantly!"

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

I've heard some recent prophetic words saying that God is calling us out of our "comfort zones" and into new territory...that tends to make people nervous and question if they really heard from God, yes? You're not alone feeling this way when starting something new!

But YOU have a destiny to fulfill as Sandie Freed shares here:

Dear Believer, the Lord has a future for us to fulfill. Though at times the past and the familiar seems more comfortable, I will assure you that the best place to be in is our destiny being fulfilled. During a spiritual battle, many Believers want to retreat. But actually, the best place to be is on the front lines attempting to advance the Kingdom.

I encourage you to read this word by Sandie, pray into it, and ask the Lord to LEAD YOU in a fresh, new way!

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My Family's Preparation for Fishing

Dear ones, do you like the sport of fishing? Now, I know that there are the really serious fishermen and fisherwomen and then there are those like me—a female who likes to fish so that I can get a natural tan. To me, it was a lot of work just preparing to go fishing all day in our boat. After packing up my daughter's stuff, my stuff, and Mickey, my husband's stuff...we were ready for the good stuff—fishing! Off in the car we'd head to Lake Lewisville, tugging our boat behind our car. After waiting in line an hour to dock the boat, unloading Kim and her stuff, and all our stuff...is there any energy left to fish?

Once in the boat, we took off, looking for a nice place to drop our hooks. After all, it's all about location, location, location, right? After anchoring the boat, I'd grab my pole and yes, wait for Mickey to bait the hook. I loved to fish but hated to bait the hook. Yet, the most important part of the entire trip was when a fish took the bait, got hooked, and I got to reel it in! The "reeling it in" part is what actually baits US for the next fishing excursion! Oh, the experience of a successful catch can be addicting!

Peter Loved Fishing, Too!

A few weeks ago, I was praying over our Sunday service at Lifegate Church in Hurst, Texas, and I was asking the Lord what He wanted me to minister. I clearly heard Him say, "Tell them that if they can let it all go, then they are positioned to have it all." I was dumbfounded at first, not having a clue as to where the Spirit was leading me. I pressed for more clarity and I had a vision of someone walking away from a large net full of fish, letting the net, the fish, the boat...and basically letting it all go, and jumping into all that God was offering him for the future. (Photo via Wikimedia)

Wow! Where is that in the Word, Lord? The Lord clearly spoke to me about Peter and how he left a net full of fish to swim after Jesus and his own destiny. The passage picks up in John 21 after the Resurrection and Jesus appearing to His disciples proving the fact that He truly had risen. Yet, we notice in verse 3 that Peter decides to go back to what he knew in the natural to do, which was to return to fishing. Peter was disappointed, and due to his confusion and disappointment, his default button was to return back to his old occupation, fishing.

Think about it, aren't we the same way at times? When our faith is met with disappointment, we often revert to an old comfort zone. Reader, there's more. You will relate to this article, so keep reading!

I Go a Fishin'

John 21:2-6, Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Can you picture it? Jesus had died. He seemingly had deserted the disciples, at least what they thought! Even though Jesus had explained to them that He must die and it was all part of Heaven's plan, it was difficult for them to comprehend, especially for Peter! Why? Because Peter thought that Jesus had come as an earthly king with promise to conquer their enemies; and hopefully Peter might be Vice-King or at least Secretary of State!

I know you can chuckle with me a bit, but let me just say it was easy to follow Jesus during persecution if there was a reward, such as position in a new Kingdom! But now, Jesus had died, Peter's hopes of an earthly reign was demolished, and he saw no hope for a future in spreading the Gospel. When his disappointment gave way to major confusion concerning his destiny, Peter reverted back to what he knew to do. So he told the other disciples, "I know what I'm going to do, 'I go a fishin'!" (paraphrased, see verse 3). (Photo via Pixabay)

The other disciples went with Peter. They decided to follow him to the boat and fish as well, after all their hopes for a revolution were crushed too. What were they to do?

Scripture says that they fished all night and caught nothing. Dear ones, without the direction from God we find ourselves in an old place attempting to fix our dilemmas in our own strength. I truly believe that Peter was in a process, still learning to lean not on his own understanding, but to completely trust the Lord. Sure he was confused. We also get confused, but when we can't figure it all out our default button should be to "trust God and press forward".

I'm sure Peter (and the others) were exhausted after casting nets all night and dragging them in and finding nothing. I can imagine Peter thinking, Where's Jesus in all this? He told us to "trust Him". He said that all things were possible!

Yet, Jesus was there. He was watching them from shore. The next morning Jesus called out and asked, "Have you caught any fish yet?" (paraphrased verse 5). They responded with a "No." Then Jesus instructed them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and when they did they were not able to draw in the multitude of fish! Suddenly what looked impossible became possible! I believe Jesus wanted to prove to Peter that his future would not be fruitful without the empowerment of Jesus in His life.

There would be no grace or empowerment to go back to what was comfortable and familiar. Peter was being challenged to embrace an unknown future and mature in his calling as an Apostle of God. Yes, Peter was in a test. Would he be willing to let all of it go? Could he leave the boat, the fish and his friends and let go of all of his past to embrace the new season?

Many of us are also in a test. Will we go fishing, go back to what is comfortable or trust God and embrace our future even if it appears unknown for a season?

Peter's Future

If you take some time and read the entire passage of John 21:1-19, you will read that it was John who recognized Jesus' voice calling out from the shore (verse 7). Peter and the other disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus instructing them to cast their net again. Why is this? Well, since I'm writing more about Peter at this time, let me suggest that in his confusion and lack of trust he couldn't hear the voice of the Savior. I can relate.

When I am confused concerning God's promises for me, I easily isolate myself from His voice. I get more focused on the problem and the disappointment rather than remaining positioned in my destiny. Also, our intimacy with God becomes affected during disillusion and disappointment. But John, the disciple who understood the love of God and had the revelation of how much God truly loved him, recognized the voice of Jesus!

For us, when we understand that Jesus loves us all the time, even when we mess up and when we "go fishing," we can quickly shake off all shame and dive back into the water and swim toward Jesus! Yes, Peter, when he knew it was Jesus, immediately clothed himself properly (which to us means removing the garment of shame and putting on robes of righteousness) and jumped into his future! (Photo via Wikimedia)

Jump Into Your Future

John 21:15-17, When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love You." Jesus said, "Feed My lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You." Jesus said, "Take care of My sheep." The third time He said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

Jesus said, "Feed My sheep."

It was over a breakfast campfire that Jesus empowered Peter to embrace his future. Jesus continued to remove any residue of shame that attempted to steal Peter's confidence in Christ. Three times before the crucifixion Peter denied Christ, and yet that morning at breakfast, Peter reinforced to Christ how much he truly loved Him and would continue to follow Him. Wow! Jesus knew Peter loved Him, but Peter needed to hear his own confession out of his own mouth, "Yes, Lord, I love You!"

Dear Believer, the Lord has a future for us to fulfill. Though at times the past and the familiar seems more comfortable, I will assure you that the best place to be in is our destiny being fulfilled. During a spiritual battle, many Believers want to retreat. But actually, the best place to be is on the front lines attempting to advance the Kingdom.

At breakfast, Jesus empowered Peter to embrace his future. Yes, Jesus prepared him for much persecution, even his death, but more importantly, Peter would not die until he grew old (see verse 18). This meant that Peter still had much to do for the Kingdom. In fact, Peter was just now getting started!

I'm sure that you know some of the mighty deeds of Peter. On the day of Pentecost, it was Peter who declared "This is that," a day which the Prophet Joel prophesied concerning the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and power birthing the Church. How about Peter's shadow touching multitudes and they were completely healed? And, it was Peter who dealt with the sin of Ananias and Sapphira. Oh yes, there's more, but think about it: Peter was more powerful after he went a fishin' and recommitted his life to Christ.

Well, there is certainly hope for this little Texas gal (me), who thought that when she was getting older it was time to go a fishin' but now realizing I "ain't seen nothin' yet." I know now that if I let it all go that I can have it all. How about you?

Believer, I have written two books that will empower you to let go of your past and all that hinders you so that you can fully embrace your future. One is Letting Go of Limitations; Experiencing God's Transforming Power. This book exposes any area that would cause us to be tied to our past such as mindsets, religious performance, lost passion, hard hearts, disappointments and more. The other is Faith After Failure; Reconnecting with Your Destiny, which exposes fear of failure, the need for approval, how to lock into your faith, and much more.

Dear one, you have a destiny to fulfill—be empowered to let go of every fear and hindrance that blocks your future!

A Prayer of Empowerment: Father God, I pray for each reader today to be empowered by Your Spirit to let it all go so that we are positioned to have it all. What we give up for You is worthless compared to what we receive in Christ. Lord, nothing is more important than our intimacy and relationship with You. Father, empower each of us to let go of what is comfortable and familiar. Give us the strength needed to remain on the paths of righteousness and follow You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Co-pastor, Lifegate Church, Hurst, Texas
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.lifegatechurch.org

Dr. Sandie Freed co-labors with her husband, Mickey Freed, doing the work of the Lord as a ministry team. In addition, they are the founders of Zion Ministries Training Center in Bedford, Texas, and Lifegate Church International. Sandie has traveled nationally and internationally teaching dreams and visions seminars and on spiritual discernment. Her ability to adequately prophesy and discern spiritual strongholds over regions has released numerous breakthroughs for individuals and ministries. Sandie has authored Dream On, and eleven other books, most of which are in several different languages. Dr. Sandie and Apostle/Pastor Mickey are ordained with Christian International Ministries, serving on their Board of Governors. They have been married since 1973, and have one daughter, Kimberly.

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Letting Go of Your Limitations: Experience God's Transforming Power by Sandie Freed $15.00 Book

Faith After Failure: Reconnecting With Your Destiny by Sandie Freed $15.99 Book