Investing in Destiny

“The Lord is also releasing you to a high tower as a watchmen, and in the tower, you’re going to receive incredible revelation”

“I see you writing a book”

“Sermons are being given to you and I hear God saying he’s going to bring an apostolic mantle upon your life”

“There’s a psalmists’ anointing on you, and the Lord is going to release a new life within you, and you are going to see an increase of songs, prophetic worship, songs, prophetic worship flowing through you….”

We all love getting prophetic words don’t we? That encouragement and that sense of being known and valued and called into something new or different or fun . The words above are some of the things spoken over me, and even re-reading them to find exact words for this blog, something in me stirs.

But what do we do when it happens? What happens next?

Often, if it’s not something we’re already walking in, I find it tends to ‘sit on the shelf’. Something for ‘One Day’. And it’s true, there’s a need to wait for God’s timing, and a training and preparation often. We also know to pray. Intercede. Call it in and declare it. I’ve been thinking recently again though about what we do to show our agreement with it through our actions.

This isn’t something new or profound….just a current reflection. And actually, scripture is FULL of people showing agreement with prophecy through their actions. Noah building the ark BEFORE the waters. The people of Egypt feasting and painting their doors BEFORE the angel of death passed over, and before any of them had any understanding of the coming Saviour, represented by that Passover lamb. Anna, waiting in the temple day after day, positioning herself to be in the right place when the Savior did appear. Some of the examples in scripture were demanding, some were simple, but they all had power, because they all demonstrated agreement with what God was saying. They were all saying they believed what he had said, and were preparing. And I believe there’s power when we do the same.

Several years ago I was dress shopping and saw a gorgeous dress and bought it to wear to the wedding of a specific friend - a friend who wasn’t yet dating anyone. Crazy? Wasteful? Perhaps. But I believed the words spoken over her and therefore believed I would need one, and my action was a way of agreeing not just with my words in prayer, but also agreeing with my time and money.

Earlier this year (January), the YWAM base where I was serving was going on the market and we were praying and believing for a quick sale. I specifically felt the Holy Spirit stir me with the words that we needed to start acting like we believed it – something he had also said and had been recorded during a prayer day at the end of 2016. That meant starting to sort, throw out, give away and pack. Being a sensitive issue for those whose lives had been almost totally committed to that place, I simply asked if I could start on a little-used area. Practically it turns out to have been a good thing I did, but also I believe that agreement with God’s word that we WOULD have a buyer and sell, released something and was every bit as important in calling it in as the verbal prayers.

Most recently, I felt God instructing me I was supposed to step up into worship again despite the challenges and decline of capabilities due to my health. In agreement with this, I began asking for the money for an ipad as I believed it to be a necessary tool so I would have OnSong. Sure enough, money for a second hand ipad came in, and, in agreement with what I felt God was saying I was to step into, I bought it. Since then it’s already been used more than a dozen times, and doors are opening. In fact, having it on me one day, opened a door to spontaneously lead a worship set in the middle of the local hospital! At the time there were no obvious doors except at the base, but I believed and agreed with what I’d heard with my actions (time, money, effort) by getting ready. It may not make sense and there may be something else that time, money, or energy could be used for, but the agreement is powerful, and that time, money and energy is an investment in your destiny. And as the (often misquoted) line goes, “If you build it, he will come”. Often, if we take the steps, if we make the investment, he can open the door, or, as I’ve found, we are able to say ‘yes’ when the door is presented. Yes, I am ready for your wedding. Yes, we are ready to move. Yes, I can lead right now with no preparation time – but no problems because my music is all right here with me.

Side note – for those doubting the validity of this, in terms of photocopying etc the ipad will pay for itself in around nine months of my current usage/worship – less if I do more events.

I truly believe that agreeing with the prophetic through our actions, and being ready is just as important as agreeing through our prayers and willing attitude. I love that this has surfaced now too, because it ties in with one of the 'themes' God has given us for our upcoming Discipleship Training School, which is "Hear, obey, pursue".....is that not exactly what this is? How great that it isn't something in isolation, but something God is doing in our community!

And so, my question is this. What can you do to be ready for the words you’ve had? What actions can you take that will say ‘yes God, let’s do this?’ Not to push ahead of his timing, but to make yourself ready. Is it learning that language? Reading that book? Buying that clothing? Learning that skill? Taking that course? Connecting with those people? Let’s let our actions agree every bit as much as our hearts and words, and see the breakthrough it brings!