What are you looking forward to the rest of this year, and in 2020? What dream has God put in your heart? I believe that you are going to start seeing those things THIS SUMMER–
IF you will set your sails!
Summertime is a time that invokes all kinds of images in our mind, such as:
vacation;
homemade ice cream;
hot dogs and hamburgers;
4th of July fireworks (at least here in the USA);
sunny days; and,
dare I mention … swimming, swimming, swimming!
It’s a time that you have waited for all year long. You have saved all your nickels and dimes; you have planned the exact place for ‘the’ vacation spot; and some of you have even spent time planning out each day. (Not us, though … just sayin’.) 🙂
In other words, you set your sails many weeks and months ago in order to arrive at summer with every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted, so to speak.
We set our sails and plan for our summer schedule, but I believe the Holy Spirit wants to go beyond summer.
As a matter of fact, if we will allow the Holy Spirit to begin to set our sails for the rest of this year and the year to follow, we can be assured that something powerful is on its way for us and for the ones we love.
For my family and I, the halfway point of the year usually means vacation. Vacation, to us, is all the things that are mentioned in the beginning of this post. But, vacation is also a time of reflection over the last six months–and especially a time to think about the approaching months. It is always a time of prayer for my husband and I, as we are praying about our girls, our immediate families, our Dwelling Place Church family, and so many other things.
I believe the year 2020 is going to be a pivotal year for the Kingdom of God.
Really, I believe it will be pivotal for all of our lives. I sense, as you do, that 2020 will see many things begin to fall into place prophetically–such as we have never witnessed before. This is a time of preparation for what I’m sensing the Holy Spirit is saying to all of us who have been praying and believing for an awakening.
I love to go into the harbors that surround a beach area and observe the huge, mammoth yachts, boats, and water toys. The sailboats, in particular, always look so relaxing and peaceful to me. Those sailboats seem to just say out loud, “I’m not in a hurry. I’m just here to lay back and let the wind take me into an oblivion of rest, relaxation, and peace for you.”
I believe that God’s promises and Word can absolutely take us into that oblivion of rest, relaxation, and peace. However, prophetically speaking, I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to set our sails for some of the greatest miracles we have yet to experience.
I want to encourage you today to “set your sails” in four different areas:
1. Set your sails toward “looking to Jesus.”
As we approach the second return of the Lord Jesus, there will be many distractions that tempt you to turn your sails away from your Savior. The apostle Paul had many such distractions. Both people and circumstances tried to interrupt his mission.
In his letter to Thessalonica, Paul told them how he wanted to come and see them and visit them–simply because he knew the refreshment and encouragement that it would bring to him–but, he said, “satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
However, Paul strengthened himself in the Lord. He had the resolve to recount the great heroes of faith (see Hebrews 11) and the generals who had gone before. This habit was so pivotal for his life and mission!
Paul also reminded himself that, since we have these kinds of people cheering us on, we should throw off all the things that entangle us and run with endurance the race that is set before us. Then, he told us how. He stated in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.”
In order to set your sails and stay on the course of the Holy Spirit, we must keep proper perspective. We have to remember that we are His children, and we have to keep looking to Him. He will always keep you on course!
2. Set your sails toward promises and prophecies received.
There are many things that you and I know God has said; things He has promised; and many prophecies that are yet to be realized in the natural. We know in the supernatural they are already done, but they just haven’t been manifested in the natural as yet.
My encouragement through the Spirit’s leading is to “set your sails.” Be determined that you are going to:
write that letter;
lose that weight;
get out of debt;
join that prayer team;
support the vision of your pastor;
go on that mission trip;
reconcile with your son/daughter;
slow down more and let God speak to you; and
be determined to fast and pray more in the coming months.
The lists go on and on. What I have found is that, if I will take one step, God will take 25 steps! However, invariably, I have to go first. Why? Because “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14)! You move, then He moves!
3. Set your sails and be determined that people and their decisions will not affect you.
I love what Acts 20:24 declares: “… None of these things move me,” and here’s why: “so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus …”
You have to be very careful how much power you give to people.
Many people carry around so much negativity that, when you get around them–or if you are in the same room, car, or work department with them–that negative junk will get on you. But, you have to be determined to say:
“I have set my sails today. The Word of God says, ‘You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.’ No one is stealing my joy today. Nobody is going to rob me of my peace. I choose joy over anything that the enemy throws my way.”
I am not saying to leave your husband, quit your job, or anything else that is foolishness and not using wisdom. It doesn’t mean that you will not show love, patience, and genuine care for people.
What it does mean is that you will not do things the way other people expect. Instead of, “Oh, let’s talk about it, sulk about it, gloat about it, talk negatively about the negative things,” … NO! I’m talking about being determined that you’re going to respond differently.
The “different” response looks something like this:
“Oh wow! I tell you what, let’s pray about that. As a matter of fact, let’s pray right now!” I guarantee, in the future, you will not be the person they pick to spew out gossip, negative attitudes, and venom to.
Be very careful who you allow in your inner circle. It is usually a matter of spiritual life and death.
4. Set your sails and decide that you are going to see what you have never seen before.
As the coming of the Lord draws closer and closer, I feel as if I am running out of time to make sure that I continue to “fight the good fight, finish my course and keep the faith” (see 2 Timothy 4).
I still remember the vision that God gave me several years ago while on vacation. To be quite honest, every time I come to the spot where we vacation, I think about that vision. I wonder: “When, Lord? When will we see the tsunami of glory that You showed me in the vision, as I saw it on the shores of the beach that day? When will we see the people groups of the nations baptized in the Holy Spirit? When will we see the youth of our day surfing on top of the glory tsunami?”
I believe we are going to see what we have never seen before. I believe we are going to experience glory that will be only described as unimaginable. I believe we are going to see such a great harvest of souls come into the Kingdom … and I really feel we are ever so close. We just have to set our sails and be determined that we will not settle.
I will not settle for the status quo. I want ALL that God has for us.
Do you?
If you will not settle for the status quo–if you want all that God has for YOU, too–then get those sails up! I feel a great wind starting to blow!
What are you setting your sails for the rest of this year, and into next year? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!