Day 18 —The Timing Isn't Off

Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

Here we are, a third of the way through 2020 - the year of vision and clarity – and we find ourselves in what feels like a total wilderness wondering how it is all going to play out.

And yet, I can’t help but look around to where we find ourselves and note the timing; we have just come through the season of Lent, which is a remembrance of Jesus’ time the wilderness. And before that was Jesus’ baptism, where the Holy Spirit came upon him. The heavens called out his name, the Holy Spirit filled him and the audible voice of the Father was heard, affirming significantly and publicly the identity of his beloved Son:

‘As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”’ (Matt 4:16-17)

In the next chapter we see the one thing the enemy goes after is Jesus’ identity, the very thing his Father had affirmed.

The Father always prepares us for what is ahead.

As a church family, we recently had a word around ‘re-wilding’, which was spoken by Nick Herbert at the beginning of this year. Suddenly life looks like a wilderness in many ways. Rewilding to the wilderness. Not only that, but we have just journeyed through Lent and had Jesus’ example of what to do in the wilderness. Jesus fasted and prayed, he focussed his Spirit. And the enemy’s attempts to derail him were refuted instantly.

Today, if you find yourself in a wilderness, firstly know that God has been preparing you for this. Look around to see where he has been already working in your life and situation. Secondly, go on being filled with the Spirit and let him remind you of who you are: a daughter, a son of Almighty God. Thirdly, focus your own spirit on the truth of who God is.

The wilderness can be daunting, but who we are in the Father runs deeper than anything that will try to derail us. Just maybe… this is our path to vision and clarity in 2020.

Prayer: Father, today I focus on the truth that I belong to You alone. You go before me and You are always making a way. Help me see things the way You do. Amen.

Song: God I look to You

Anna Hellebronth
Worship Pastor