My heart and mission for the Church since I became a follower of Jesus twelve years ago has been that we would make intimacy with Jesus our greatest treasure. Not adding a little Jesus into our lives here and there, or filling our lives with DOING and performing all the churchy things, but that we would make BEING with Jesus our priority. That we would learn to be led moment by moment by the Holy Spirit. That we would grow in maturity and Christ likeness with passion for the Kingdom in all we do.
Being leads to doing. But we tend to flip that script and DO all the things to BE someone. We need to truly understand and believe our identity in the Kingdom. What we believe determines how we live.
I love the local Church. It’s beautiful and powerful and critical to growing the Kingdom. But each one of us needs to believe that we ARE the Church wherever we go. We have an identity as a royal priesthood and a Kingdom is being established by God through us. His Kingdom is unshakable! What a privilege to partner with God for a time such as this!
Politics and political figures won’t save or change our country and world, but followers of Christ, emitting the light and aroma of Christ will devastate the kingdom of darkness. We must understand that our life is not our own. We are here for a mission, to reach the lost with the grace and Truth of Christ. It won’t be accomplished by preaching, lecturing or judging our neighbors. Or by politicizing Jesus. Or by moving to another state to live in a Christian bubble. We aren’t called to live in fear of the world. We are called to save it. We are called to come alongside the hurting and broken with the Truth and hope of the Gospel message.
I believe all the suffering we’ve been enduring is being used by God to purify and prepare His Church, His beautiful Bride. He is making her ready for His return. He’s coming for a spotless Bride.
I sense 2022 will be a year of increase. As awareness of our need for God increases, so will our hunger for God. This will increase our capacity to hear the voice of God, will increase the fruit of the Spirit in us and will increase the demonstrations of the power of God in and through our lives.
“No more pretending to be a perfect Christian. He wants true humility. He is looking for those who are teachable and willing to pay the cost of discipleship.”
But this will be for those who humble themselves, who set themselves apart as instruments of God and who count intimacy with Him as their greatest treasure. No more pretending to be a perfect Christian, He wants true humility. He is looking for those who are teachable and willing to pay the cost of discipleship.
Distractions and deception will also increase. Challenges will increase. But as darkness increases, His light in us will increase and grow stronger and brighter.
We are made to glow in the dark. His Light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome it.
It’s an incredible time to be alive. It’s time to pursue healing, wholeness and true freedom in Christ so that we can be and do what we were made for.
Let’s go 2022! Blessings, Heather