Join us for the National Day of Prayer 2024!

 

Dearly Beloved of the Lord,  

 

For some time I’ve been hearing the Lord speak to me about TRANSITION and it began at the beginning of 2024 with Isaiah 43:19 ESV, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

 

And as the days, weeks and months have passed, more and more transition has been happening in the lives of individuals I know, in ministry settings, in churches and The Church, in government and the world…so much TRANSITION is happening quickly which can be very challenging, unsettling and overwhelming!

 

The night of my second child’s birth was a roller coaster when I began the final phase of my labor at home. I was transitioning and it was intense and not pretty! We were speeding to the hospital about 25 minutes away and I hoped we would make it there in time. Once we arrived, I asked a nurse to check in on me to see how much longer I had. Initially, they delayed thinking I was overreacting, but I urged my husband to go and he insisted they come and check me. After examining me, they quickly prepared me for birth and our son was born 19 minutes from the time of our arrival! Phew, what an emotionally charged experience this was for us…stressful, exciting, and wonderful, but the process was challenging and couldn’t be avoided.

 

What do we do when we’re in a TRANSITION? What does our Lord desire us to do in TRANSITION?

 

I was reading through the Psalms and noting some repetitive thoughts and statements that the psalmist was making in his own situations. His words brought my heart great encouragement, peace, and strength. Then, I turned his words into a prayer for me, for those I love and the people/world we’re all connected to which needs so much help & healing. It’s so good to invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate our understanding every time we read God’s Word. Then, we can tell Him, “Holy Spirit, teach us how to pray. Give us Your heart and words for those we’re praying for.” It’s both beautiful & powerful to pray from a heart united with His.

 

Here are the psalms which I read that reminded me of the higher authority and truth that reigns over the various transitions we are experiencing in our lives: Psalm (31, 61, 91, 121, 32, 62, 92, 122. I encourage you to read them in a meditative manner in the order I’ve listed and see the repetition of words, phrases, and sentences. Let us allow our hearts and minds to be washed with the Word of God. Allow it to bring correction and alignment to help us have a right perspective as we navigate these days. For example, you will see the frequency of words like “refuge, trust in the Lord, shelter, dwell(s)(ing), fortress, rock, rest, watch over you, praise the Lord.”

 

I encourage you to set aside a block of time with the Lord to be still and know He is God! …“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Remember the truth of Isaiah 26:3 ESV, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”‭‭ In addition, Psalm 112:6-8 NIV is a great reminder of how God’s people should stand established in Him, “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”

 

In these days of TRANSITIONS, let’s be a people who feast on the Bread of Life and partake of the Living Water throughout our days, every day, until Jesus comes for us!Then, we will be found ready when our Bridegroom King arrives!

“...to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

In closing, I’d like to share from JESUS 3-6-5, a daily devotional from Michael Koulianos. He writes about “True Wealth” for November 1…“Moses had nothing in his hand, but a staff when he climbed Mt. Sinai and remained there for forty days and nights with no food. ‘The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.’ (Exodus 33:11, NLT). All Moses had on the mountain to sustain him was the presence of God. And when he came down, that’s all he wanted. God granted his request, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ (Exodus 33:14, NKJV). That is true wealth. True prosperity is found when we depend on nothing but Jesus. How I long for Your presence, Lord! Let Your presence be the source of my life.” In addition, Lord, let Your presence be our confidence, our peace, our strength. Thank You for Your wraparound presence! Amen.

 

“God’s glory is all around me! His wraparound presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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The Lord bless & keep you,

Veronica Leach