by Kathi Pelton
The body of Christ is in a great time of crossing over. This is happening in both the spirit and in the natural realm. Many are packing up everything as they prepare to cross over from the wilderness home they have known into the land of inheritance they will possess.
As the crossover time from one decade to another is now less than two weeks away, God’s people are experiencing a preparation and call to stand up out of the familiar, out of the comfortable, out of the stagnant place, and move into the new land. Once again, for some this is a shift in their spiritual posture, and for others it is both spiritual and physical.
For my family it it both. The Lord began to speak to us almost nine months ago about a move to the Washington D.C./Virginia region. We have lived on the West Coast our entire lives so this came as quite a surprise and honestly, quite a challenge. When we determined (and discerned) that this move was certain we suddenly were hit with great opposition. Our finances were hit (even our monthly support took a large hit), my physical health was hit so hard that it looked like the possibility of any move would have to be delayed for many months, and circumstances that needed to fall into place were just not happening. Impossibilities were surrounding us like a great army of opposition.
So— we waited. We paused and we ascended the mountain of God to get face to face with Him. During one of my mornings in prayer I heard Him say, “Daughter, it’s time to step your feet into the river that rages between you and your land of inheritance. That which opposes you will stand up and honor you.”
I asked Him if this was a spiritual or a natural step? He replied, “Both.” He then revealed to me what the natural (physical) step needed to be and in obedience I took that step. It was a costly and risky step of faith, but within twenty-four hours everything shifted and the raging waters began to part. Not every detail was in place but we were able to place our feet upon dry ground, and with every step forward the waters of opposition have stood up and made a way for us.
Absolutely impossible circumstances that had no answers suddenly had answers and all of the physical symptoms that I had been experiencing—and that were leaving doctors baffled—stopped overnight. We began crossing over!
I sense that our testimony is a prophetic announcement over many of you. It is time to put your feet in the river that has been raging between you and your Promised Land. What has opposed you will stand up like a soldier that salutes you as you pass by. This may require a spiritual step or a natural step; or like us—both. Ask the Lord what it looks like for you to step into the river of spiritual or natural circumstances that is preventing you from crossing over. He will “direct your step(s).”
As you go forward you also need to know what to bring and what to leave behind. For us, this is occurring in the physical realm and the spiritual realm. In both cases there have been good things, and even useful things, that the Lord has said would not be needed in the next season. Parting with these things that have always been fruitful or useful has been an act of faith but we know they are making room for the new. We’ve never been this way before so we don’t know what we will need in the days ahead, but we know that we must make room for the new by leaving behind some of the old.
One thing I am experiencing (which I believe is a prophetic picture) is that, in the natural, even what I have loved and found “homey” in regards to the way I decorate my home is having to change. I will be about to pack something for our new home and the Spirit will say, “That is part of the old design. I have something new.” To me this speaks of taking off old mantles and making room for new ones. We are stepping into new mantles that will radically change the way we function, and even alter the appearance of “who we are.” There are days that I spend so much time getting rid of things that I wonder if I’ll have anything to fill the new with. But we must trust that the Lord is making room for the new, and not try to fill the empty space with something just because it feels empty at the moment. There are many provisions that will come as you step into the new.
Do not be overly concerned with what you don’t have as you move forward, but be careful about what you do have that you need to let go of. Those are the things that will hinder you, slow you down, and become obstacles in the days ahead. You don’t have to understand His ways but you do have to trust His wisdom! Letting go and trusting Him is key in this hour.
In this process you can be experiencing times of stress or sudden anxiety. That is normal because you may be crashing into the “boundaries” of your faith. We don’t like to believe that our faith has boundaries, but in times of transition you will most likely run headlong into a boundary line of faith. It is the level to which your faith has been tested and proved in the past seasons, but suddenly God is calling you to cross over beyond that point of faith that you’ve walked in before. The moment you begin there is a new giant waiting there to mock you and intimidate you with fear. I find it so helpful to pray out of Philippians 4:7 each day,
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Let His peace be the guard over your heart and mind as you go into new territory and as you expand your spiritual walk further than you have gone before. He is extending the tent pegs (Isaiah 54). You may be confident in facing a lion or a bear but a giant is altogether something new!
So, be patient with yourself and with those around you, because so many are in transition and it is a very vulnerable place to be. Change is hard. The unfamiliar is just that: unfamiliar and unknown. We are entering new cultures and assignments, and the boundaries of people’s faith are being expanded and stretched. This involves our souls being refined, and fears that we have never had to face are suddenly “in our face”! This process is challenging motives of the heart and purifying aspects of our lives that needed to be made pure. So, don’t be too hard on yourself or on your neighbor, your spouse, your friend, or your leader. We are all being stretched and what was normal is no longer normal.
Finally, pray for the grace for yourself and others found in Ephesians 4:2-6,
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
It’s time to step into the river!
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As our family transitions in this cross country move, will you help us financially? Our moving date is January 4th to begin making the almost 3000 mile journey across the nation. God is calling us to stand in the gap for our nation and has asked us to be at the epicenter of the battle. Prayer and financial support is greatly needed as we prepare to go. To give a gift, go to: https://www.inscribeministries.com/
Or; you can use the link: https://www.paypal.me/inscribe
To Use CASH APP: $kathipelton
Thank you for standing with us with your prayers and gifts!
Oceans in the Desert 