Last night as I lay wide awake in my bed after midnight The Lord began to speak to me about the current Hebrew month we are in. The name of the month is Av which means "Father" in Hebrew. The symbol of this month is the lion. Who is this Lion? The Lion of the tribe of Judah!
I believe that many of us in the body are in the midst of major transitions and changes. We are in the midst of having left how it was and not yet in what will be. This can be very uncomfortable and at times frustrating unless you continue to lean upon the Father and His everlasting arms of love. What we know for sure is we cannot go back. We cannot return to what was, we cannot go back to the bondages He has freed us from, we cannot shrink back in fear, and we must press on. Think of the prophet who burned the plows to follow. It's time to burn the plows of no return. The only way to go is forward!
This scripture has been burning in my heart lately and I love the amplified version;
And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by FORCE ( as a precious prize-a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and INTENSE exertion). Matthew 11:12
The highlighted words were what was emphasized as I was reading these verses. The Lion is roaring within against injustice, against the wrongs in the world around us, and in our lives. You see when you know the truth of heaven on earth you cannot accept what is not as it should be. You will begin to sense that trembling within you even now roaring against pain, poverty, abuse, injustice, and corruption. Let the sound come forth! This month allow the Lord to show you the wrongs that He created you to solve. A key in finding this is in your righteous anger. What moves you? What changes do you long to see? What makes you angry?
I will share some of mine in hopes that you find yours. I cannot accept human trafficking. It bothers me that kids go to sleep everywhere with no food. I cannot accept the reality of statistics of broken families in and out of the church are close to the same. This should not be! It cannot!!
The Lion within you is awakening and roaring! He will not accept this! Oh how our current condition grieves His heart.
In Av the month of the two temples destruction and a time of mourning, we must mourn for our current condition and no longer accept this. It's time to draw a line in the sand of no more. No more complacency, no more lack of prayer, no more lukewarm, and no more the way it has been!
Stand bold and courageous as lions declaring as Joshua did;
As for me and my house we WILL serve The Lord. Joshua 24:15
Rest in the arms of the loving Father. If you are anything like me and didn't grow up with a father to protect and provide for you, know that in this month of Av, God is going deep into that place to bring healing. Your Daddy will protect you, will provide for you, and wrap you in His arms. Your Daddy will take care of you because He loves you so much. I am resting in His love and may you also rest in His love.
I look up to the mountains does my help come from there? My help comes from The Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1,2
I want to close with a beautiful reminder of our responsibility to follow Christ no matter the cost. May this all be our confession as we go forward in what may seem unknown to us,but The Father knows what He plans to do. Our Daddy can fix this, Our Daddy is able, and Our Daddy loves us too much to leave us the same.
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, I will still follow; though none go with me, I will still follow; though none go with me, I will still follow; no turning back, no turning back.
My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; my cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; my cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; no turning back, no turning back.