From the desk of Steve Shultz:
As we approach a new year, it's always good to seek the Lord and receive fresh vision. We NEED vision in our lives because it's what sets our course and gives us hope for our future. Read this now word by John Belt and I encourage you to get some fresh vision from the Lord for yourself too.
Now, at this time of year, I want to encourage you with this word and also to encourage you to donate to THE ELIJAH LIST. We are a for-profit LLC, so we can't give you a tax receipt. What you give must come from a grateful heart and that alone. You can donate online by going to: https://www.elijahlist.com/donations/donation.php or you can send in a check to this address:
Elijah List Publications
528 Ellsworth St. SW
Albany, OR 97321
Thank you, dear readers, for all of your support.
Here are two brand new Music CDs and downloads from John Belt, which I highly recommend:
John Belt:
A Time of Transition: Open Up Your Heart For Fresh Vision
In these coming months many are in transition laying hold of fresh vision. We must begin to see ourselves in the role we will be in a year from now, a decade from now and even further. As we see ourselves in the place that God has for us, we need to understand the price we will be paying and the lifestyle we will be living at that time. As we begin to live in this way now, it will usher us into the determined place that God has for us.
Another Level of Transition
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.
We are in a time of transition and a time of fresh vision. God is taking things to another level as we press through into a new place in Him. Transitions are healthy and good for us. When we allow ourselves to be stretched into a new place we will experience fresh joys on the other side.
It is important that we open our hearts up to fresh vision from the Lord. It is too easy to go through life without any definite direction. If we allow this to happen we feel like we are in a hurry to head nowhere fast. A life without vision is a life that is destined to be a life without purpose. We must have vision to have purpose. Our number one vision is the Lord.
The Lord is fulfilling in Himself. When we find ourselves engaged in Him, abiding in Him, we should also be awakened to His heart's desires. In His presence He pours out vision, purpose with an accompanying hope that is fulfilling to our lives. We should make the secret place with God our favorite place and out of this place discover a fresh vision and hope.
Practical Steps
Matthew 14:28-29 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
There is much noise in the world. The anxiousness, cares of this life and focus on "things" opens us up to noise that chokes out the fruitfulness of His Word in us. Anxiousness kills joy and suffocates the life of God. We are called to live in the present, not in the future. The future is only a second away. Now is present, this very moment. We need not only vision to see the plans that God has for us in the future, but the ability to begin living the vision out right now. Decree and prophesy your future, this is the first step to living it out right now.
We release God's life and plans with our very own tongue. The next step is to put practical legs to what you just spoke. We must begin to move into this next step. Many prophesy and receive prophecies for years but never activate these things because of not knowing the best way to take practical steps of faith. Yield to the Holy Spirit, speak a word of life over yourself then take some kind of step into it in the natural.
Many wait for and expect natural manifestation of their dreams without putting work, responsibility and effort into that dream. We must wholly invest ourselves – spirit, soul and body – into the dreams that He puts in our hearts. It is not enough to dream, get a revelation and vision. Get it, then just do it.
Step Into Your Vision
Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it."
Dream Big. Take a step. A small step is still a step. Don't compare yourself with others. Don't even try to walk the same path that has worked for others. God has a custom-made path for each of us. Don't let others dictate to you who you are, how you are to do things and what things are supposed to look like. Be unique. Be different as you follow what the Lord drops in your heart. No one else will ever do something the way you will do it. We are all originals. Our paths are particular to who we are.
Be content with God's pleasure in what you are doing. Discover the vision God has for you. Allow Him to breathe on it with His Spirit. Find a joyful outlet for what He has put inside of you. Just be who He has created you to be, for no one else can. See yourself in the place He has called you to. Dream on it. Meditate on it. Give yourself to it as unto the Lord. Serve Him and others in the vision He calls you to, making Him Your creative Instructor. The Holy Spirit is the Helper and will help you. He who has done a good work in you will complete it.
Get Your Vision & Run With God!
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com
