Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

The body of Christ has been in a time where both fire and water has come upon us. Fire has come to purify and water has come to wash us— together they will reform us. This work of the Spirit has come upon us both individually and corporately. There has been such a deep work of the Spirit to purify the bride from the places that brought her harm and ultimately, misrepresented her Bridegroom. Not only that but its been a time of letting go of what has become familiar to be filled with the new.

This season of preparation has been both difficult and beautiful— honestly, mostly difficult. It has been like having old garments removed and that has felt strange and foreign— almost like being naked and empty at the same time. But we needed to be washed and emptied so that we could be clothed anew and filled with what he desires.

Another way to look at it is that we have been put on the master potter’s wheel once again. This has required a “yielding to his hand.” It is taking these yielded vessels (us) through the process of trimming away excess clay that has become “leather-hard and dry” — stiff but still malleable for reshaping and reforming us into what we will now become.

The definition of malleable is to be able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of a current shape without breaking or cracking.

He is not destroying us or discarding us— or even breaking us. He is bringing a reformation!

It might feel like we may break but we can trust him to reform us so that we represent his image in a far greater way as he removes the places that have become hard and dry. That process takes water, the wheel and his hands. The finished product from the potter’s wheel required fire to cause us to shine, be useful, have longevity and to reflect his beauty.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

There is always a time of preparation before positioning. Esther was prepared before approaching the king and being chosen to be his queen, the disciples were prepared by sitting with Jesus before they were positioned, Moses was prepared, Jospeh was prepared and every leader is prepared before they are positioned.

But now there is a reformation, repositioning and repurposing happening once again. The Church has been in a time of preparation through fire and water that will soon position us in authority and humility. We will walk forth with in the consuming fire of our God and release the water that leads to eternal life.

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14

Some call this preparation a wilderness time because God has “allured us into the wilderness to speak tenderly to us and to restore us.” In the Hebrew language the word for wilderness is defined as “the time in between.” We are in between what was and what will be— like Esther’s process before she was to be chosen to become a queen— she was in the “in between.” And yet, God already knew that she was the chosen queen who would deliver his people— the call and position was predestined but the preparation was also part of the call. Many of us— if not all of us are experiencing that preparation wilderness that comes between was was and what is yet to be.

““Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.” Hosea‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭

What was and what is yet to come (or possibly has just begin) will possibly be compared to “coming up out of Egypt (slavery)” when we look back at what was and what we will experience ahead. We are standing at a door of hope!

The emerging move of God will carry both fire and water upon it. Those who have allowed their lives to go through the preparation of fire and water will be rightly positioned in this move of God. As the harmful ways and unhealthy roots have been purified they will be able to lead with humility, love and honor. They will represent the Bridegroom as they are clothed in His righteousness, strength and authority.

If you are familiar with what happened with Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3– this is a good picture of what God is doing for his people. Be sure to read it.

If you are in the midst of preparation, do not resist the fire or the water. Yield to the work of preparation; it will prepare you so that he can position you. The beauty of His holiness will emerge and crown his people with his identity.

“…he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:3

Have you been on the potter’s wheel? Do you see the door of hope standing before you as you come out of the fire? If you do, cross the threshold and begin to live in all that you have been being prepared for.

You have been prepared for such a time as this!

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