THIS IS NOT A SET BACK, IT’S A SET UP

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THIS IS NOT A SET BACK, IT’S A SET UP

 

I have been in a place of discouragement, due to many occurrences of “problems” in my life over the last months that had to be dealt with – financial (car problems), career (publisher going out of business and having to deal with all that entails – more money and lots of time), family, illness – all seeming to indicate attacks by the enemy leading to setback and in direct conflict with words of promise I have heard from Him and been standing on. It has been a real battle. Lately I had been hearing these words, “Maybe God didn’t really say all those things to me; maybe I imagined it; maybe I misheard or misinterpreted what I saw and heard.” Then, a few days ago, I heard the Lord say, “This is not a set back, it’s a set up.”

 

He told me to go back to what He told me six weeks ago during a consecrated time of seeking; I needed to read it again! This is what He told me six weeks ago:

 

“This is a time of expansion of horizons. Many things will be changing as I make way for the new. Many things will be uprooted and eliminated that in the previous season brought you great enjoyment, but in this season they would be a hindrance to your vision and perception. You must be ready, in the natural and in the spirit, to know that I am sovereign and that “this thing is from me.”

 

“Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.” (1 Kings 12:24, KJV)

 

Many events will surprise and even shock you as the shifting continues. I am moving hindrances out of the way for my work to be done. What was a blessing in the days before would keep you from my best in the days to come.

 

You may experience feelings of loss and pain. Do not let attachments to transient, temporal blessings bring a hardening to your heart towards me, or an offence causing you to stumble.

 

I am the Lord. There is no other, and I am a jealous lover. Know that I am good, always, and trust me even when you don’t understand my ways.

For there is coming a time in the days ahead

when things may happen to fill you with dread.

Turn your eyes to me, look ahead.

Eyes single, focused on me, instead.

It will be as I have said.

I uproot and I tear down

structures and mindsets of others’ renown.

The day is coming and is today.

Look again, seek and pray.

Have I not said I will show you the way?”

 

I was hearing and seeing an arrow pulled back to go farther. I was reminded of a word by Chuck Pierce recently about arrows – that the Lord is pulling us back so that we can go farther, and hit the mark. What I heard this morning is that I (and many others) are in that place of tension when the archer is pulling back on the bow as it is being readied to catapult the arrow to it’s intended mark. As I meditated on this today, I heard the Lord say,

 

“The bow is pulled back so that the arrow can go forward with greater force. While pulled back, you will feel the tension, at times it will be intense. I am using this place of tension to cause you to seek Me and to examine your heart once again, as we enter this time of Purim, a time of purification. In order to “hit the mark” in the spirit realm, there must be a fullness of My Spirit to overpower and overcome the forces of darkness, to take down the enemy where he currently has the land. You are being readied, set to go forward in the power of My Spirit. You cannot allow evil thoughts of Me – doubting my purpose and plans, i.e. “Did God really say?” during this time.

 

“Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece…” (Jeremiah 15:19, AMPC)

 

You must enter with a Caleb spirit – fully believing I AM with you and I AM who I said I AM and I AM fully capable of performing all that I have promised.

What seems a set back is actually a set up

to position you and ready you

to carry more of my presence,

to take up residence

in places the enemy has had precedence.

Be alert, be ready,

Allow no hesitance.

I AM and my ways reveal my greatness

And excellence.”

 

For those in a place of discouragement, take courage! It is not a set back; it is a set up! You are being set up by the Lord and He is faithful to do what He has promised!

March 5, 2017