DAY TWELVE: It’s Graduation Time!

My Dear Child,

You might feel you’ve being shaken, abandoned or rejected. You may feel dazed, confused, in unrest, lost – but you must understand, this is not a time of rejection or neglect – this is the arrival of GRADUATION Time!

It’s a good time. The fulfilment of years of work in your soul!

In recent times I have crushed you to cleanse you ready for the coming glories. Did you not think this would take place?

My dreams settled in your heart many years ago, and became the prayers and longings of your own soul. And there we began the journey to cleanse and prepare you for them to come to pass.

I have allowed you to fail, I have placed limitations on you, I have crafted and shaped you through human rejection and sometimes even ruin. I have hidden you, allowed man to overlook you, caused others to shift you from pit to prison. But it was all to ensure that when your promised times and promised lands arrived, you would be strong enough to stand in them steadfastly for the rest of your life!

Purging Before Promise

Before my people entered their Promised Land by conquering Jericho, I instructed them to be circumcised (Joshua 5-6). Before entering in, there must be a cutting off. The flesh has to go, or it will kill you even in the Promised Land.

So in recent times I have been cutting off all the clutter, the burdens, the sins, the religion, the wrong perceptions and the associations that will hinder you from fully occupying your land of promise. It’s a purging to release greater power.

I have been cutting away your tendencies for empire and ego, envy, competition and comparison. I have been drawing you to love, patience, trust and grace, through trial, rejection and waiting. And it’s felt like a long time hasn’t it?!

Dependant Disciples, Not Big-Headed Heroes!

So, rejoice that the season of preparation is ending! Allow me to wash your weary soul, as the cutting away and crushing time has been deep and you are tired, I know. Let me wash you in my presence, my grace, my love, my Fatherhood. Though the lessons have been tough, my purpose was not to cause a loss of confidence in you – just a loss of pride. While you might feel weaker, more broken, a little lost – the truth is you are actually stronger, cleaner, more humble and more ready than ever. I need dependant disciples, not big-headed heroes, for my purposes! And so I have made one of you. Thank you for sticking with me!

It’s now time to stand up straight, and start to confess my promises and your royal sonship over your life. To speak words of mercy over yourself. To utter words of triumph again, even while your heart feels slightly broken. To wash your heart in worship. To bathe your soul in kindly truth.

And as you do, watch closely – because the seasons are changing around you. The winter, when everything dies and lays fallow, is coming to an end. The purging is finishing. Spring is here. Grace for change is lifting you to new days. Old habits, and even some old relationships, are falling away. Tears are turning to joy. Confusion to clarity. Exile is turning to homecoming. Turbulent waters are turning to open seas…

Yes…the seasons are changing – it’s GRADUATION TIME! Well done, my child! I’m proud of you.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES

“The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” Song of Songs 2:11

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:5-12