Hey you…!!! I know for a fact that changing your garments is not something that comes really easy, but it is something that must be done. You will get through it. Not to worry You aren’t on this journey alone. Remember that like you would your name!!!
It is time to walk another phase in this journey. I hope you are ready and prepared. So, like I said before, there is so much more ahead for you. You’ve transferred kingdoms and changed garments so what now? Surely, you don’t think that’s all there is to do. You are certainly right that there is more. From me to you today, the more is this: “Listen while I speak”.
“Hmmm. I get the listening part, but I am totally lost. Who is speaking?” I remember telling you that you are not on this journey alone, and that by virtue of this transfer you received a guiding and directional gift to help you on this journey. That is what is speaking, or rather, who is speaking- HIM, Zoe. Life has a its way of expressing itself in and through you that is why a baby would kick in pregnancy and cry at birth. It is a demonstration and expression of its life. In the same way by redemption, your new life seeks expression, and you have to let it. And there is no better way to do this than to let go and let God. Jesus told us in the bible that whoever holds on to his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will have it and keep it. (Matthew 16:25 NLT) Which would you prefer dear friend…? Choose wisely.
“Once a slave, but now a king” truly, that is your status. Yes, so in your former kingdom, I’m sure you had a master. And I guess you were not so satisfied and fulfilled with your life under him, that is why you sought to change kingdoms. So now that you are in a different kingdom, you have a new master or say a new King. This King is not imposing and uncomfortable as the previous one was, but He is kind, gentle, loving, caring, passionate and very much intentional about you. He is very much concerned with your growth and development and how you are faring in this world. And the best part is that He wants to see you succeed. It seems like a lot to take in yes, but it is a really beautiful thing to have someone care about you so much and know you so intimately and who better than the creator.
Let me break it down for you and explain what I meant by “Listen while I speak”. So the thing is this, that gift you received as I said earlier, is a life. I will keep making references to this bible verse, because it holds a lot of resemblance to a Christian believer. (Zechariah3:6-7) “Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Joshua and said, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.” This was an angel of God speaking to Joshua right after he changed his garments (I hope you don’t still have your garments on by the way). What the angel was simply trying to say is this “when you listen carefully to Him (Yahweh) and do exactly as He says…”. What all of this simply means is obedience and surrender. But before you can obey, you have to completely free yourself of everything that could and would hinder you. That is why your garment is very much important.
“There are things in my kingdom I want you to do, there are places I want to take you, there are people I want you to meet, but you can only get all these, I can only give you all these that you desire for yourself and I desire more so for you if you follow me in obedience and let me lead you“. He wants your total obedience and surrender. The task is not impossible, it only requires godly training and discipline. And as I have said like a million times, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. He is not asking you to walk blindly. He is asking you to follow the path of faith that his word and his son has set and paved out for you. So you see, you are not treading an unused road. People have walked this path and succeeded. You can and will too if you desire and work towards it. And the way others have successfully trodden that path, is by a person called the Holy Spirit.
Among other things in the bible, the Holy Spirit is called our helper and our teacher. “What is He helping me with, what is He teaching me? ” The answer is so simple and not far-fetched, He is teaching you the ways of the kingdom and helping you walk in those ways and ultimately, helping you please your father. Simply, He is helping you imbibe the Kingdom culture in order to please the Father. That is His work in the life of everyone who has Him and believes in Him. Every other function He performs revolves around this one- helping to grow and maintain your connection with the Father. You see why I said you weren’t alone. You even already have what it takes to be in total surrender to him. Way to go you. You are probably halfway there already. I hope you now see how feasible it is. And it is He who will see you through, guide and direct you on this journey of life.
“So… Umm how do I know the Holy spirit much less surrender to him“. Well… immerse yourself in His word. “The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this” in another translation it says, “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John6: 63)“. The eternal life you have by salvation through Christ Jesus is by Him. So, in the first instance your salvation wouldn’t have been possible without Him. Now that you have this salvation, don’t neglect him. Just like He is going to stick with you and never abandon you for anything, do the same and make Him your number one priority. It is not easy, but it is doable and blessed.
Applying this in context to what is being said, “you won’t be able to obey me just by your effort and will, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It is my grace you need. It is my help you need. You have it already; I have given it you. Engage it. Don’t be hard hearted and don’t resist me. Surrender and yield yourself to me, and you will see that I AM all you need.” The word I spoke about earlier, is the bible. Read it, study it, meditate on it engage it and apply it. Then you will get to know His voice and His word. Remember that devotion starts with discipline. You don’t become an expert at what you just begun. So, you can and will definitely get there.
The kind of life you live in this kingdom is largely determined by what you do with what HE says. So be careful. Just obey and surrender. Move with the flow of the Spirit. You can definitely do it. I hope you hear enough to Listen, Listen enough to Understand and Understand enough to Do. While you are listening and doing, I will be here, rooting for you. Dearly beloved, see you again when our paths cross. Shalom.
Your beloved partner in growth… xoxo P.
