Stepping Into The new

As I walked through the forest this October and heard the leaves rustling and felt the cool wind blowing through the trees, as I saw the few remaining brambles on the bushes and felt the softness of the moss in my hands, I heard the Lord's invitation.

“Will you let go of the last season, whether it was a good season or a bad season?” For me, I didn’t want the summer to end. Even though the summer wasn't particularly easy for me, with some health challenges, I didn't want the warmth of it to leave and embrace the colder weather. But as I stepped into Autumn, walking through my favourite forest with the Lord, I heard that familiar whisper, “Will you let go? Will you give me this new season whatever it looks like?”  

Of course, I am not just talking about the literal four seasons we experience in the UK. We're shifting into new places in the Spirit, and it’s much greater than simply a season change. I believe the Lord is causing the church to change monumentally and is undoing decades and more of what has bound us up and stunted our growth.  He’s leading us into who He truly created His people to be.  Will we embrace the change? It’s going to be much easier if we let go. It may seem very unknown, but there's light ahead; it is there. We can’t fully embrace the new until we gladly leave the old behind; otherwise, we are tied to it.

 As I walked on and looked ahead in the forest, I saw some green patches of light in the distance. I heard the Lord say, “There are fresh pastures that I have for you; don’t try to live off the old ones. You’ve worked your way through them; you've used up the goodness in them that I provided, but now I have fresh pastures for the new season with all the nutrients and goodness that you need, so come, come into it, and let me feed you well”.       

The new pastures are so well-prepared for us. They contain, if we feast on them. everything to detox from the last season that we need; everything we need to get rid of the parasites from the last season, the things that would cling to us and hold us back. They have everything we need nutritionally for our body, mind, soul and spirit for the new. The Lord says, “Don’t fear the new; I provide in it everything you need. Don't cling to the old and your old ways. Come into the new with me. Yes, it may be unknown, but you will be okay because I know exactly what it holds, what its promises are, what the good and the harder times will be for you in it; the things that you'll struggle with. But you will grow, you will mature, and there is life, because it's my way, and I say this is the way to walk in it. Do not be afraid. I'm leading you into the promised land that you have looked for; that which you have longed for. Oh, you doubted it was ever coming, but don't listen to the lies of the enemy. Don't rely on his stinking thinking. Trust me when I say I know what's coming, and you are going to be delighted; you're going to whoop with joy because you thought it was never coming, you thought your hopes, your dreams were dashed, but that's not what I say; I just needed to get you to let go of the old, for the old stunts your growth and prevents you from coming into the new. When you let go of the old, there’s space for the new; your capacity will grow, and I will enlarge your space, your dwelling. You will see what I have promised, and oh, there's so much more that you haven't even thought of or contemplated yet. There is so much more I have to show you, but you need to let go of the old first; don't bring any of it with you. Don't bring any of the stuff that you don't need - the clutter, the baggage. It's old; it's irrelevant. It will just cause you to trip up in the new. It won't fit in the new, and you will just be frustrated, so let go of it and step with me into this glorious new season and adventure”

Prayer and prophetic act - If you wish, pray with me and as you do so, take a physical step forward out of the old into the new as you pray this prayer. 

Lord, untie me. I choose to let go of everything holding me back. Untie me from anywhere. I want to stay, so that I may not be bungee-ed back to the old place, but be free to move on, taking the good from this last season, and leaving behind the bad and the old ways of doing things. I choose to step into the new pastures that you have for me so I can receive all that you have for me in this new time.

Envision yourself letting go of things from the past and see the Lord untying/ unhooking the bungee rope from you. Be open to the Lord showing you anything specific He wants you to let go of, including any relationships that may hold you back, and break soul ties if need be. Spend some time thanking Him for the new exciting adventure that awaits you and allow Him to show you some of what these new fresh pastures may look like.

 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-20  

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left”. Isaiah 30:21

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake”. Psalm 23