Many have been saying that not only are we at a transitional place for the Body of Christ at large, but it's also a time of acceleration into the "new" set before us.
I really enjoyed reading this article from Crystal Wade of Texas about God tearing down and rebuilding roads before us.
I hope you are greatly encouraged by this...God is tearing down, rebuilding and making things smooth in your path! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Lately, every major road I travel in Texas is under construction. The roads are torn up and traffic is confined to a narrow path, which makes for longer travel time. Road crews work as fast as they can in the blazing Texas summer on asphalt, which is many degrees higher than the actual temperature. It is inconvenient for everyone—workers and travelers.
"This is where My people are. This is what My work looks like now in the nations." The Lord Jesus Christ has spoken this to me for over a year. I knew what He meant, hearing Him speak this to my spirit, having traveled over these roads under construction for over a year.
What it looks like is debris. What it is becoming is not visible yet. What it will be is sparkling, new travel ways with smoother rides and quicker, easier travel time.
This is how our heavenly Father operates. He is masterful and adept at tearing down and building at same time. This is cause for rejoicing because the way Father does things, He is tearing down and building at the same time, which accelerates the whole process.
Think about Nehemiah. In 52 days, the wall around Jerusalem was miraculously rebuilt. The workers tore down the crumbling parts and built new, strengthened parts in the wall—with guards and builders working at the same time.
There was no down time in that process. Combining the tearing down and the rebuilding, accelerated the process of completion. What can we do in this time where we feel blocked (frustrated) because we're stuck on the old, broken road and cannot even visualize the new one yet? (Photo via Unsplash)
Here are three simple ways to work with Father's process in this time:
1. Pray, Bless, and Use Words to Speak Life
Our collective frustration and anger can hinder the workers' daily progress. The words and attitudes we're releasing have power to help or hurt. Or we can use our personal blessing and prayers to accelerate their work and safety.
A nearby road had several freak accident deaths before it went under construction. My friend and I were justifiably concerned about the safety for all during its dangerous road construction. We didn't have daily prayer meetings, but we prayed individually for safety and blessed the road construction crew as we traveled it, and released angels to patrol it. Do you know what? No deaths or freak wrecks happened during construction with our simple little prayers.
2. Keep Your Peace
Our main focus to navigating this in-between time is to keep our peace so we aren't increasing the debris but instead, adding to the speed of the rebuild.
In my high school public speech class, my fellow students and I were trained to stay on top of the news. We had to be responsible to stay on top of current events so we would have an answer ready when quickly preparing our speeches.
However, I noticed over time that I had no peace! I was so stressed over staying on top of current events which were appalling. I felt conflicted over the responsibility, but I chose to follow the Lord and turned it off. As a result, my peace level rose.
There are so many things we don't have control over—what decisions others make, what we hear in conversation at work or school, etc. However, there are things we do have control over. We have control over what we are watching, listening to, or choosing to associate with.
If any of those things are stealing your peace, as evidenced by your rising anger, frustration, fear, rage, hatred, bitterness and/or blood pressure levels, then take action. Turn it OFF!
Turn ON Scripture, worship, recorded blessings, and go out in nature. In that environment, we will "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).
3. Slow Down, Repair and Rebuild in Your Family
Our lives and our families are microcosms of what Father is doing on the macro scale. When a blow up or frustration, etc. occurs in your family, walk away and cool down. Regain peace. Let Him speak. He will show you the way through. The old road of communication wasn't working. Father is causing it to be torn down (through the blow up, frustration, etc.) so the new one can be built which will get you and your family to your destination faster and easier. That's the new road.
As you slow down, stop and rebuild your roadway of communication. Our Father is causing your family to be accelerated into its destiny purpose as He tears down and builds at the same time. (Photo via Flickr)
The "roads" don't look like they will, yet. Father is tearing down and building at same time in our lives and nations, both physically and spiritually. That accelerates the whole process! Use your words to help and not hinder this process through use of prayer, blessing, and words of life. Recognize and disconnect where your peace is being stolen. Stay aware to His roads under construction in the communication of your family through frustrations. Close the loop (don't leave that road of communication in a deconstruction mode of debris) with good closure (a new road).
Prayer in the Acceleration
Father, thank You that You are accelerating the process of roadways being rebuilt by Your work to tear down and rebuild at the same time! Father, we ask for greater grace for the Body of Christ and leadership on all levels of society during this process.
We confess and ask Your forgiveness for speaking out of our anger, frustration, fear, and wrong judgments, and speaking against what You are doing personally, corporately, and nationally.
Cause us to remember what You want us to remember and forget what You want us to forget. Holy Spirit, lead, guide and direct us what to say and do, and when, so that we can actively participate with Your rebuilding process. Cause us to work with You and not against You. We bless what You are doing, Father! We bless the capstone and the rebuilding process and shout GRACE to it in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Crystal Wade
Hope Streams
Email: contact@hopestreams.net
Website: www.hopestreams.net
Crystal Wade writes to throw out a lifeline of hope for people to receive connectivity to trust the Father and be internally aligned to relate to Him, and thus receive His relationship and the blessings that naturally flow from Him. She loves to discover the redemptive plan of the Father in people, places, and things. She co-authored Pure Joy and wrote Perfect Peace together with its audio album, tools for healing trust and growing the spirit. She is managing editor of HopeStreams.net. Crystal and her husband Stephen share a passion to position the next generation to be anchored in truth so they can fly in the spirit. To that end, their family launched Let's Wade In, a media outlet, which is both a community for children and teens and a tool for parents and caregivers to anchor students in truth so they can fly in the Spirit. They have three wonderful sons.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link http://elijahlist.com/subscribe.
