(pic credit: Rare©2017-2020 by crisbaj. Used with permission)

Quarantine Lesson VIII:   Worshipers Thriving the Next Thing

[Editor note: this is the last ‘Quarantine’ blog for 2020]

Thriving the Next Thing will not be the same as the COVID quarantine.

The Lord would have His people thrive in the Next Thing… not just survive.

March 11, 2020 (3/11) ‘pandemic’ quarantine gouged all of us. Our way of life dramatically changed…

…but the pandemic is not the ‘next thing’.

May 25, 2020 happened, with protests erupting throughout America and around the world. Our way of life is still changing…

…but dealing with racial inequality is not the ‘next thing’.

During these two over-lapping culture-events, there was a constant ‘vibration’ being heard by God’s people, a persistent Holy sound above the voices, a deep call to all ‘true God-worshipers’…

“Draw close to Me.

Be so close in My presence, I over-shadow you.

Radically crush the distractions of life.

Learn to daily hear My voice clearly.

I’m using this as necessary preparation for the next thing.”

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For God-worshipers, the issues are not;

   -when are we going to re-open our church building and services?

   -when can we stop all this mask-wearing, distancing and stay-home?

   -when can the business of life go back to ‘normal’?

   -when can we stop on-line streaming of worship bands and preaching?

   -when can I start hanging out with my friends again?

For God-worshipers, the issues have become;

   -Lord, am I close enough to You? Is my family and household close enough to You?

   -Lord, are You overshadowing me sufficiently… or should I move in closer? My family?

   -Lord, have I crushed many things in my life that distract from You and knowing You… is there more to go?

   -Lord, am I hearing Your voice clearly? Do I draw close enough to daily hear what You have to say to me?

   -Lord, have I learned how to move practically on the revelations You give me?

   -Lord, am I properly prepared for the ‘next thing’?

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The ‘Quarantine’ has lasted over 100 days… have we ‘wearied in the well-doing’ of His dealings to strengthen and prepare us?

Have we sufficiently learned that only He can be our Protection and Strength in the day of trouble?

(check out Psalm 91… the ‘2020 quarantine Promise’ Psalm, for sure…)

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As a God-worshiper, the incredible things I’ve discovered in this ‘quarantine training camp’ has been;

   -He wants to speak to me daily, that He gives abundant amounts of specific ‘do – don’t do’ instruction daily,

   -that I can’t assume that I just ‘know’, based on smarts, training, theology, or experience,

   -that it comes down to His Presence, His face, and His voice, best found in the Secret Place,

   -that His Grace poured out on me is sufficient for what I need today,

   -like manna in the desert, the bread from heaven is only good for today, and needs to be gathered again tomorrow,

   -and that His daily guidance is, as they say in the military, ‘highly credible, highly operational and highly actionable’, and

   -just like St Paul, being connected with other God-seekers confirms and strengthens us in difficult times.

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Dig into this passage of Isaiah with me, which the Spirit spoke to me in the early quarantine… dig, dig, dig…

23 Listen and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,[c]
    barley in its plot,[d]
    and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
    and teaches him the right way.

27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
    nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
    and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
    so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
    but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,
    whose wisdom is magnificent.

Isaiah 28: 23-29

Just like the ‘God of the Hebrews’ did for His nation between Egypt and the Promised Land,

God spread out a cloud as shade as they moved ahead
and a cloud of fire to light up their night.

Psalm 105:39 (The Passion Translation)

…every moment of every hour of every day for 40 years!

TAKE-AWAY:

There is a confluence of prophetic words happening across the globe right now.

This rhema word is saying that there is a ‘next thing’ coming, and it will be much, much bigger than COVID and protests have been.

It also says that Jesus wants us, His Church, to be ready, and to thrive, not just survive IN the next thing.

I found that daily writing down the Scriptures, the Words and God-birthed thoughts has been SO helpful in going over what the Lord has said, and processing what I need to DO about it… daily…

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

         Isaiah 30:21

Then my favor will bathe you in sunlight
    until you are like the dawn bursting through a dark night.[e]
    And then suddenly your healing[f] will manifest.[g]
    You will see your righteousness march out before you,
    and the glory of Yahweh will protect you from all harm![h]
9 Then Yahweh will answer you when you pray.
    When you cry out for help, he will say,
    ‘I am here.’

         Isaiah 58: 8-9   [The Passion Translation]

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Remember, the Presence of the Lord is always open to us, no masks allowed, distancing not permitted.

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written by crisbaj

© 2018-2020 by crisbaj/AdoreTheLord.blog  All rights reserved.

All Scripture references from New International Version unless otherwise indicated.

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