No More Boxes
Earlier this week I blogged about being who God created YOU to be. (See.. Are you standing?) God has really been speaking to me about getting out of my box and walking in faith.. No matter what man may tell me I “should” be doing. I am not a people pleaser or a person in need of approval but there are times that I ‘think’ I know what decision I should be making yet someone who I see as “more spiritual” than I am will tell me what they feel I should be doing and I’ve chosen their idea over what I felt led to do.
Why? Because we all question if it is truly God speaking to our inner being and we all make the mistake of listening to the voice of man over THE MAN at times. I will be the first to admit.
Let me just get real for a minute here.. Over the last 3-6 months I have found myself in a place of confusion and I’ve had a lot of internal chaos going on. I’ve been seeking God and really digging deep to find out where this all was coming from. I felt like I knew but I just couldn’t believe it because it’s what I’ve always done! I’ve had my BFF, mentor, go to woman of God and a few others even mention to me several times.. Maybe you need to let go of/step away from this specific way of doing things. But it is comfortable in my little box! Just being honest here!!!
I’ve been told for 14 years by many, many powerful, prophetic men and women of God what I was called to and what I should be doing.. so I was boxing it up into my ideas and I was blocking out the voice of my Father and not grasping His direction for me in this next season. We MUST realize that seasons change and even though we are called to a specific area of ministry, there are times God will call you out, ask you to take a step back to regroup and refresh. Why? Because we are stuck in old ways of thinking and we need an upgrade OR there may be another area He needs your giftings in for a season. But I do believe when you are called to a specific group of people and you take the time to let Him refresh and redirect you, then you will step back into that place stronger and with much more understanding of His desires and not mans (or your own)!
Check this out…
Jeremiah 17:5 (NKJV) 5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed (arar- to execrate) is the man who trusts (batach- confidence, security, hope) in man And makes flesh (basar- self, mankind) his strength (zerowa- outstretched arm, might), Whose heart (leb- mind, understanding, wisdom, will, emotions… center of anything) departs (cuwr- turn away, decline, withdraw) from the LORD.
Cursed.. Execrate.. what do these 2 words mean? According to the dictionary they mean to detest utterly, abhor or abominate. Wow!! Those are pretty strong words!
God says those who turn away or withdraw their mind, will, emotions.. understanding, wisdom.. Their center of anything… are detested. Because in order to withdraw that FROM God means that we’ve drawn towards another source. We get our focus off God and begin to put our confidence, security and hope in mankind, we look to self and other people to find strength, hope, peace. Oh gosh friends… That is so out of order! No wonder we enter into a spiral of confusion and chaos.
It is natural for man to be led by emotions so when we are allowing them to lead us, then there’s no telling where we will end up.
Please don’t get me wrong… I am a very strong believer in the prophetic and God using man to speak into our situations to bring confirmation or even course correction at times. BUT anytime they do it should always line up with the Word of God, no questions asked! When I mentioned above that I’ve had very strong prophetic voices speak into my life, I know without a doubt it was God and they have all been words of confirmation but my biggest problem is I’m an analyzer. I want to know how it looks, why I should do it, who am I to speak to or work with, etc.. in other words I try to keep things in a specific box. Well, it’s time to jump out of the box!! And the day I chose to get out I was flooded with peace that I haven’t known in quite some time. Am I stepping out from under the mantle God has placed over me or stepping away from my call?? Absolutely NOT! But I am seeking Him and allowing Him to give me fresh, new ideas… jumping out of the box of my own tendencies, ideas or whatever we call them and letting Him lead my footsteps day by day.
Friends… It’s time to tune our ear into our Fathers voice and tune out the voice of man and self reasoning! When we choose to step into unity with our Fathers heart, voice, desires, purpose and His Word… we are unstoppable and will walk in perfect peace! AND we will be placed correctly in the body of Christ (the church) which will in turn allow it to function properly! That is huge right now!!
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep (preserve, hide) him in perfect peace (shalowm- completeness, prosperity, all is well, favor), Whose mind (frame, imagination, purpose) is stayed (sustained, to lean upon, take hold of) on You, Because he trusts (hopes, has confidence, is bold, is sure) in You.
I encourage you today … Don’t be so boxed up, it’s time to LIVE WITHOUT LIMITS!
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.
Let’s pray this together..
Father I choose today to get out of the box of my own understanding and put my full confidence in You! Holy Spirit be a guard at my ears that I hear closely the whispers of my Father and that I’m able to tune out the voice of man that is NOT God breathed. Father I choose this day to live without limits and to move forward into the giftings, calling, purpose, anointing that You have placed on me. I will stand, I will fight, I will be all that I can for YOU and no one else. I choose YOU Father, just as You have chosen me!!Now, Father I declare a hedge of protection over myself and those reading this today and everyday. I decree new joy and peace into their lives.. a new fire to burn deep from within as they jump out of their box and fully into You. We honor You and glorify You our good, good Father! In Jesus name. Amen