As I was seeking the Lord recently about the season we are in and how He wants His people to prepare, I heard by His Spirit, "Tell My people to trim their wicks."
I immediately thought of the parable of the ten virgins. They were waiting for the bridegroom, as are we. When the midnight cry came, they all rose and trimmed their lamps. (Trimming is cutting the dead, charred ends of the wick.)
"Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them]." (Matthew 25:7 AMP)
Jesus said that this is a parable of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25:1). The ten virgins represent the Ecclesia (the Body of Christ). Many have preached about and taught on the necessity of making sure we have enough oil (representing the Holy Spirit), but I personally have never heard anyone talk about trimming the wicks. It bears noting that the wicks need to be trimmed before the filling of the oil.
Reasons Why We Must Trim Our Wicks
I burn candles, so I understand the need to trim the wicks. As I sought the Holy Spirit, He gave me wisdom on how this relates to our lives. It ties in with the word I received for 5785/2025 about taking the land and the multiplied grace and increased anointing available.
As we move forward to possess new ground, the Lord desires we do so as pure vessels, walking circumspectly as carriers of His precious and costly anointing. We need to continually keep our wicks trimmed. The following are some reasons why this is so important:
1. Untrimmed wicks produce a lot of smoke. We want the fire of the Holy Spirit, not just smoke! Also, charring splits the end of the wick and causes the smoke to scatter, leaving marks everywhere it settles. That speaks of when we are operating in the flesh or soul, rather than being led by the Holy Spirit. When we do that, we leave the wrong kind of marks on others, not the effects of being in the presence of the Lord. Smoke also obscures clear vision, hindering our path moving forward, or leading us in the wrong direction altogether. (Photo via Flickr)
2. Trimming the wick produces a cleaner, brighter flame. We want to be full of, and revealing, the pure light of the Lord.
3. Trimming the wick produces a steady burn, giving a longer lifespan to the candle/oil. Longer wicks burn high and hot, burning the oil/wax faster, so you run out sooner and have to refill more often. We want to stay the course, in pace with the Holy Spirit, not crashing and burning out from overreacting in our emotions or fleshly inclinations.
4. Trimming the wick prevents the flame from getting too big, which can be a safety hazard. The flame getting too big represents pride and ego, both of which are a safety hazard for ourselves and others!
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)
When we are humble and of a meek spirit, we can better hear the Holy Spirit and bring forth words of truth that others will want to hear and receive, and make them hungry for more of the Lord!
Remove the Dead Things
The charred end of the wick represents the dead things in our lives! Let the Holy Spirit daily show you what they are and remove them!
The first mention in Scripture of lampstands and trimming of the wicks is found in the book of Exodus. Every morning the lampstands in the tabernacle had their charred wicks trimmed.
"Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps." (Exodus 30:7 NASB)
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus addresses the seven lampstands (the churches, according to Revelation 1:20). Each area that He corrects and admonishes is an area where we need to examine ourselves. We are His lampstands, our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit, shining His light to a dark world. He was (and is) "trimming the wicks" of the seven lampstands and supplying fresh oil. He was cutting away those things which hindered their shining brightly. Receiving His correction and walking in His ways brings a fresh supply of oil.
Look at the things He corrected: complacency, pridefulness, lifelessness, faithlessness, abandonment of their first love, lukewarmness, worldliness, toleration of false doctrines, idolatry, and immorality. Thank God for the precious Holy Spirit and His still small voice of correction, which we would do well to take heed of, before we get more severe tools of correction, or sidelined!
Trays and Wick Trimmers of Pure Gold
Exodus 37 gives instructions for making the lampstands for the tabernacle. The lamps, wick trimmers, and trays were to be made of pure gold. Pure gold represents the result of the refining process of the Lord in our lives—becoming pure, holy carriers of His glory, rightly representing Him to others, and ministering to them as He would. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
The priests were assigned the task of wick trimming, which was to be done with gold wick trimmers. How does this relate to us? As Believers and followers of Jesus, we are kings and priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10). One of the roles of a priest is to (when necessary) gently correct others in love, not berate, chastise, or talk about their weaknesses to others.
"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1 NKJV)
"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:24–26 NKJV)
The trays to hold the charred ends were to be pure gold also. After you have ministered to others, keep them covered in prayer and love. Don't gossip about what the Lord has removed from them, or where He is continuing the work of redemption in their lives. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)!
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV)
Walk as Children of Light
As I meditated on these things, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, "I shine My light in the darkness to reveal what is concealed. My light is pure and full of grace, so you can clearly see what needs to be erased; of the old leave not a trace. My reproof is not harsh, but gentle as a dove, always speaking the truth in love. Now unto others do the same, and more of My life will be your gain."
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8 NKJV)
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Alane Haynes
Eternal Truth Now Ministry
Email:Â eternaltruthnowministry@gmail.com
Website:Â www.alanehaynes.com
Alane Haynes was radically saved in 1981, when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to her. She immediately received salvation, deliverance and a supernatural healing of her body and mind. An apostolic and prophetic teacher and speaker, Alane has authored four books. The first, "Moses – Shocked in the Desert," was birthed from a prophetic dream and many nights of Holy Spirit waking her to "Write what I tell you." She podcasts through Charisma Podcast Network; "Stirring of the Waters" is her show. Alane and her husband Kerry are co-founders of "Eternal Truth Now Ministry," and are broadcasters on Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (hsbn.tv). They are passionate about the power of God's Word, and desire to see people fulfill their God-given destinies and bring His Kingdom to the earth. When they are not ministering, Alane and Kerry enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, and outdoors enjoying the beauty of God's creation.
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