A Divine Preview Of Life—The Sequel.
SANTA? 👀
After morning coffee, I went straight into prayer. Repentance for wayward thoughts and emotions spearheaded the session. I’m grateful the Holy Spirit hits the hidden spaces we miss. God revealed that resentments were in the way of perceiving Love clearly. Intercession continued in the shower in hope that former feelings washed away with the soapy water.
After a few minutes of silence, a portion of the lyrics from “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town” played within. Scrunching my face I said, huh? It was peculiar. The timing was odd. At the time, spring was near. I listened carefully for words that looped in my Spirit. These lyrics repeated like a broken record:
“You better not pout, you better not cry, you better not shout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town… He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming to town… He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake…” .
SHOOKETH
Learning that God is intentional and unbound by space, time or man affirmed a greater message between the lines. To be transparent, this post was prepared through many provocations and discouragements. The Holy Spirit had words for posture in this season. The Lord also spoke to promise and expectancy. The song struck a chord. Scripture directly followed a specific line in the lyrics : “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake”.
The King James was “James-in’”. After spending time with God about the song’s meaning and timing, I heard: “awake, awake thou that sleepest” in my spirit. I’ve learned that when God repeats a word, it’s time to pay attention. I searched the scriptures for “awake”and landed on Isaiah 52:1-2 and Ephesians 5:14-21. Here, God speaks life and strength to a broken people. Today, the Holy Spirit points us to the true Light. Within I hear, “whomsoever will, let him I’m come”.
Searching for understanding I learned that “awake” referenced in Isaiah 52 is translated as “ur” in Hebrew (5782). It means “to rouse oneself, awake”. The same word in Ephesians 5:14 is egeiró (1453), which means “to waken” and “to raise up”. The NASB translation synonymously concurred. “Ur” also means “arise” and “stir”. The extended definition of egeiró is “stand” “risen”, “rise again” and “woke”.
WAKE UP, GET DRESSED & ARISE
The Holy Spirit confirms that faith in God to deliver exactly what he promised is the only thing worth mediating on. Though it’s been an interesting couple of years for many of us, we’re reminded that the LORD precedes us and we are redeemed.
I was in a heavy and conflicting space initially reading Isaiah 52:1-2. I asked the LORD, how? How do we “put on strength” when feeling exhausted, triggered or stagnant? How can we be made free? I sensed God meant more than fashionable attire when he commanded his people to “shake off the dust” and “put on beautiful garments. I asked God, to help me see what this looks like for the soul— in real life.
Impatiently searching for answers, I learned that “put on” in Hebrew translates to “labash” or “labesh” (law-bash) which also means “wear, clothe and “be clothed”. Though more was nestled within the message, research seemed to lengthen the pages without spiritual resonance. It wasn’t clicking. Between redundancies, the Christmas song and “fifty-‘leven” word translations, I needed a nap.
The next day, without my assistance, these words came to my spirit “call those things that are not as though they were”. While writing this, I heard the LORD saying “the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth”. I received God’s word with humility. Grace opened my eyes and mouth.
“LET THE WEAK SAY I AM STRONG“
God’s is calling for faith action in the “as is” state. Though the “as IS”, “is what it IS”, God is leading me to share that this season is about movement in frailty and faith. Jesus is the Light. Move, without all of the answers. Move whether in line or unorthodox. Move with missing pieces. Move when God gives the green light within for what He’s revealed and purposed.
The Spirit of the LORD is moving! Something is brewing here! This season is giving “beauty for ashes”. It’s giving Luke 4:17-20. It’s giving, rise of “the underdog”. It’s giving “breakthrough”. It’s giving comforted. It’s giving, God Almighty is about to show out for his people. I’m on the edge of my seat watching and waiting to see and experience the glory of God!
DID YOU GET DRESSED THIS MORNING?
The Holy Spirit wants us to know that our weaknesses are an opportunity for God to display His glory and strength . Belief in God makes room for miracles to manifest. When God tells us to “put on” “beautiful garments” and strength”, this means to wear “boldness, force, security, majesty, praise — loud might and power” in His Word. Getting dressed means to “be clothed” in the beauty, power and authority of the Living Word of God; confessing in faith, and living in expectation to see what HE said— in real time and in real life.
The Holy Spirit then led me to Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Verse four says: “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness”. The beginning clearly describes the kind of atmosphere that flourished due to God’s good word spoken in it to create good and fruitful changes. Just as God called Light into being in a dark, void and formless space; our Creator has equipped us, “made in His image and likeness”; empowered by His Holy Spirit to co-create in every place and space devoid of His image and likeness.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” God speaks strength to Zion today . The “garment of praise” is appointed for “the spirit of heaviness” .
“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore” .
Isaiah 54:4
“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psalm 37:4
1. “Faith-ing” isn’t “feeling”. Remember “God said, and there was…” Speaking in belief brings results.
2. Arise and get fly as an act of faith. Good news is here, great things are on the way. Stand on the word of God. Arise, “Christ shall give thee light”.
3. If God calls heaviness aka burdensome things, exhaustion and depression a spirit, that means it can be casted out in the name of Jesus.
4. Shake off the dust. The past is over. Love reminds us of who God is and to resist temptations to complain or walk in fear.
5. Trust that “God’s word will not return void” (Isaiah 55:11). If we truly consider the Word, we’ll see that it created the whole Earth.
Surely the God who created and gifted all things is able to heal, restore and set free. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end…”
SOURCE REFERENCES
Isaiah 52, Ephesians 5:14-20, Isaiah 61;3, Psalms 23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Strong’s Concordance https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5782.htm, https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm, Isaiah 54:4. Mark 5:39-42, Mark 5:34, Luke 17:11-19, Isaiah 55:11, “Santa The Clause Is Coming To Town” by Haven Gillespie / John Coots, LyricFind , Joel 3:10, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. Hebrews 13:8, 1 Corinthians 13, Zion, Romans 4:17, Genesis 1:1-3. John 11:25-26, John 1:14, Ephesians 1:4-12, Luke 4:17-20, Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:8-10, James 4:7-10, Isaiah 60:1-3, Romans 10:11-13, Ephesians 3:20, Strength- azaz, oz, 5797, Psalm 37:4, John 8:32, 1 John 1:5, Genesis 1:26-28.
Glow 