Mindset Shift

I used to walk around being very aware of the work of the enemy.

Now, I walk around being very aware of the work of God.

There are probably several things that can explain this shift; one of them is a shift of my own sight.

My car has become a very anointed place. Maybe it was all of those hours infiltrating the space with the songs of Jesus Culture, Bethel, and the like.

Maybe God decided to meet me there. Or maybe it's a combination of all three and I just happen to spend a lot of time in the car!

On my way home from work yesterday, I was washed with a wave of His presence. Like getting a goosebump wave from behind and from head on. Then this thought hit me: "Every single place I go, the enemy is going to know I was there."

I feel a sense of power and authority that I have been longing for my whole life. Many of us have a heart to help those who need it, but for a long time have felt helpless. 

We have been more aware of the enemy than of the presence of God. 

The Spirit of the Lord is an insurgent force. He in surges in us and then through us. Plug into His power and release it. 

Shift your eyes to see that the Kingdom of God is building an army with soldiers being equipped with skill, love, truth, power, and justice. 

Many soldiers are shaking awake to the prescence of God and learning to walk in His power. I desperately want to learn more so that I can better equip my children for the times to come. 

Expecting.

I live in a small town outside of historic Charleston, SC.

I have been waiting for this morning for about 3 months. I walked outside and I know something has changed.

The breeze is blowing and I run inside to grab a blanket. It's 55-- (depending on where you are this might be considered beach weather...) and to me it is perfect.

I fix my breakfast and a pot of tea with an overly large portion of local wildflower honey and bask in the glory of 6:15am.

Then, just as I settle in, the Lord says, "You will be pregnant most of your life."

?!?!?!?!?

"Umm, excuse me Lord, what was that?"

And I hear it for the second time. I also hear a chuckle.

"I am going to birth things through you your whole life. You are going to give new life."

The Lord is doing something new, and it's in YOU.

Feed yourself to nourish the creation God is going to birth in you. Stop in-taking what is poisonous to growth. Take in what is pure. Our lives are bigger than ourselves. 

Real Rant: Stress v. Rest Continued

About a month ago, I posted about beginning a journey of rest.

I told you that I would update you on my findings because, honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. And I try to be a woman of my word (#proverbs31 #goals).

Well, this month has been amazing with ZERO stress.

...

Just kidding.


But I have definitely learned some things.

1. Rest is a mindset.
2. Rest is a choice.
3. Rest does not equal laziness-- rest is holy.
4. Rest is a lifestyle.


But most importantly:

Rest keeps you in a state of Readiness. What does rest keep you ready for?

Rest keeps you ready for revival. Rest keeps you ready for rescue.

Rest keeps you in reliance on the One who can be relied on.

Anyone tired of alliterations yet? (Ironically, that was a vocabulary word in Yearbook 1 today!)

Rest is something that creates an environment for a spirit-filled, fulfilling life.

I used to think that rest was inaction. But rest is a state of being. Rest is a place in which you operate from-- not just something that you do.

Rest also helps reorder. Operating from a place of rest helps to reorder the list of things that we deem important.

Operating out of a spirit of rest means that you are focused on Him.
It doesn't mean that all you do is sit in your room singing praise songs and praying in a million ways of rest.

It means that everything else is in order. He is at the beginning. He is at the end. Everything in our lives are seen through His light, from His perspective.

Rest releases an inner high-rise.

You suddenly see things from a higher perspective. You see the things that stressed you as farther away, and therefore, smaller. This is the size stress should always come in: small.

Rest translates to trust. Trust in Him and there is rest in your spirit.

About two weeks ago I had this amazing encounter with God in my car. It was a very normal moment, but filled with so much meaning and power. I was driving my car, worried about the potential danger of a student who was dealing with a lot of stress and anger in his life. I was worried about the safety of my students, my co-teacher, and myself. I was also very concerned with the welfare of this particular young man. Long story short, I could feel myself sitting with all of my neck muscles tightened. I hold all of my stress in my neck since I was in a car accident four years ago-- and I probably held stress there before then as well.

I heard the Lord whisper, "Give it to Me. Give Me your concerns for this student." And so, I said, "Lord, I give them to you."

As soon as those words escaped my lips, I had the most intense feeling of chills I've ever had in my life. All of the chills were concentrated on my neck and shoulders. Small vibrations went up down my stiff neck muscles. The feeling left and I felt completely relaxed and at peace-- as if I had just finished getting a message!

The Lord wants you to operate from rest. Rest leads to trusting in Him. Trusting Him is partnering with Him. All of my fears and concerns did not come true. And even if they had, I would rather be operating out of rest, than stress.