First and foremost – this is NOT doom and gloom, unless of course, you want to see it that way. – What a way to start off a post ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Don’t you just love hindsight? Here in our offices, and home, it continually slaps us in the face with could-a, would-a, should-a condemnations. We need to learn from hindsight, but never let it condemn, or your soul will come into bondage to it. We don’t want that now, do we.
The Lord provides us with insight, some spot on, others the prophets get from their fortune cookies at the local Chinese palace. Insight into His plans and future drive us forward, clinging to hope, but sometimes, just sometimes, we would like to also know what to prepare for.
2nd Chronicles 20:20 says, “They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”
Chuck Pierce of Glory of Zion Ministries said, “tighten your belt” and it appears to be related to a time span until 2026.
At the beginning of 2020, the Lord said to me to “TIGHTEN YOUR BELTS!” This is the same principle as “girding up your loins.” The Lord said this would be a hard financial year. However, if we would gird up our loins, then we would end up doing exploits… .
The Free Dictionary says, To be more frugal; to undergo adversity with patience. The analogy here is to tightening one’s belt after losing weight from going hungry. The London Observer of 1927 described “A traveling troupe who quoted Corneille while tightening their belts.”
In 2008 a similar word was prophesied, “prepare for adverse circumstances”. We read it, studied it, and mediated on it, but did not PREPARE for adverse circumstances. It gave us the biggest could-a, would-a, should-a condemnation of our lives. Repentance took away the pain, but not the memory, and we learned!
So, as we head forward over the river, out of the wilderness, and into promise, I offer one of our favorite songs. It is WELL!
It Is Well with My Soul | Horatio G. Spafford
When peace like a river, attendeth my way, (in good times)
When sorrows like sea billows roll (and in bad)
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Source: LyricFindSongwriters: Philip Paul Bliss / Christopher C. C. StaffordIt Is Well with My Soul lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Music Sales Corporation
