"Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" Says your God.
"Rejoice with Jerusalem,
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (Isaiah 66:9-11)
I was praying with a friend recently and as we were praying the Lord began to remind me of something He told me. He spoke of how we would be birthing soon ( read blog on Esther from January to understand) He then spoke that our next season would be all about Breathing and pushing because it is time to deliver the promise. It was that moment during prayer that the scripture above came forth as well. He spoke over and over to "Breathe and Push".
If you are a mother you can completely understand all that happens during the amazing moment of birth. The stages, all the feelings and all the myriad of emotions one will go through during the miracle of birth. Before I share what God has put in my heart for September I want to ask you some questions that will help you discover and identify if you are in your birthing moment!
Ask yourself:
Is there unusual warfare in many different areas of my life right now?
Do you feel you are being stretched in different ways...opportunities that seem bigger than you, stretched in your beliefs, abilities, skills, faith, and/or resources? Is God stretching you beyond where you have currently been, are now, or have known?
This next one is important, are you wrestling with being full of faith and confidence one moment to confronting fears, doubts, discouragement and uncertainty the next?
You are in a moment of birthing the promises of God and are contending face to face with fear, doubt, and intimidation. There is a giant sitting right on your promise! If you do NOT give up you will be walking in Gods promises to you and those with you!!
So let's talk about what is going on by understanding it in the natural and applying it to the spiritual. Did you know the most difficult stage of labor and delivery of a baby is actually called transition? It's true!! It is the moment the mother transitions from being 7cm dilated to a full 10!! She is then told you are ready to push, to deliver and bring forth your baby. Listen to what transition is all about from a midwife and think about the circumstances and situations you are presently going through.
TRANSITION: The most intense phase of labor
Transition is the storm before the calm of the pushing stage. It is the hardest part of birthing but also the shortest part. It is here that the mothers focus might falter. This is also the stage that women may doubt their ability to birth the baby and will request relief from pain. They may worry about how long labor will last and how much more intense it will become. It is at this time that the birth companion must be vigilant to her emotional needs and be her voice of soothing comfort and reason. They must help her to remain focused. She will feel intense peaking contractions, intense pressure, irritability, uncontrollable shaking from pain. There are also many more things she may or may not experience.
Did you feel the intensity of the moment or did you recall your own birthing pain experience? Let's get the full picture of what happens during transition and believe me I know. I gave birth naturally with three of my children at a birthing center with a midwife I trust and love dearly. ( Yes it was crazy but in my heart I wanted to experience it and the quick natural recovery was wonderful). So if you have ever taken a birthing class you will remember them taking about how important your focus will be and how breathing during this moment is very important.. They told you that if you focus on the pain it will intensify the pain. It actually causes more tension thus more pain. The breathing they teach you to do I n the class's I'll help keep you and your body calm and at peace so to speak. This is the stage of birth most mothers are faced with doubts and fear of being able to finish the intense work of what is required of them.
The notorious " I can't" or "I can't do this" and feelings of overwhelming doubt are faced and fought through. I was discussing this when a dear friend reminded me how she recalled there being a moment the mother reaches, where she knows with absolute certainty that this baby is coming no matter what!! It's almost like she wakes up or receives a second wind to push through every bit of the pain. The coach will usually remind her "it's almost time to push and then you'll be holding your precious baby soon" this helps to encourage her to keep on going when she wants to quit. The baby she has carried, nurtured, and allowed to develop for nine very long months! Nothing will stop this Mama from bringing forth her precious baby now! Nothing.
Do you now see and understand what the Lord was saying and how our next season we will need to breathe and push? What is He saying? Thi season will be intense with much difficulty, painful circumstances, stretching, and uncomfortable situations at the same time it is glorious because you are birthing your promises!! You will either focus on the pain of the promise or the beauty of holding your miracle right in your hands!! Glory to God!!! It is so much bigger than you and me!! This birth is the birth of a corporate baby, the beautiful, glimmering, and glorious Body of Christ!! She is at this time awakening and about to receive her second wind in which nothing and I mean nothing will stop this Mother from delivering her baby!! Have you heard a lot about the roar of the lion or the sound of the lion? This is the intense emotion of this mama at her delivery moment!! Her baby is coming!! The Lord's baby is coming forth!!
Beloved sons and daughters of His the only way through this transition is through! Get in His word like never before, pray as you have never before prayed, gather with your brothers and sisters in one accord, and get ready because our time of delivery is coming and has come!! Study The feasts and Jubilee the year we are entering, know what time it is, and realize that Christ in you is the hope the world needs and needs desperately. You and I have a responsibility for the truth we know that has set us free and ultimately has set all mankind free!! Breathe with your coach the Holy Spirit and push in the power of the Holy Spirit!! Nothing is or will be impossible for us with God who is leading us forward!!
Our Focus: Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Our Strength: Zechariah 4:6 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts.
Our Prize: Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Until next time forward ADVANCE, knowing all of Heaven is on our side to bring forth His plans, purpose, and every promise. It is our time of delivery!!