ETERNAL REST IN WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF PROMISES

ETERNAL REST IN WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF PROMISES

I sensed Holy Spirit prompting me to share this word as a gift to you in your waiting period, as many have contacted me recently regarding the trials they are experiencing, and the difficulty of staying in faith. It is a chapter from my book “Too Many Voices – My Journey from Confusion to Clarity.” The book is laid out by timeframes in my life, in my journey of coming into my true identity, and THE ETERNAL VOICE is the culmination, where I share writings birthed from the place of seeking His Eternal Presence and hearing His Eternal Voice. I pray this blesses you. I am thankful for your support and am honored and blessed by each and every one of you.There is always a waiting period, waiting for the things God conceives in our spirit (through the Word, a prophecy, or a dream or vision and the subsequent revelation of meaning). During a waiting period in late 2016, I had been reading the first two chapters of Luke and the Holy Spirit had been highlighting Simeon. When Jesus was brought to the temple for dedication (in the book I said circumcision, which was an error on my part), Simeon was led there also by the Holy Spirit and immediately recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One, the One who was the consolation of Israel and a light to the Gentiles. Simeon had been waiting. Why? Not just because of the ancient prophesies that all of Israel was awaiting the fulfillment of, but because the Holy Spirit had told him that he would see the Messiah before he died. He was waiting in expectation for the fulfillment of that promise, trusting that God is faithful to His word. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my habit of worrying.The next morning as I lay in bed, awake but not ready to get up yet, I noticed that the longer I lay there the more my mind went into worry. I realized I was filling the space of waiting with worrying. I took a step of determination to shake off worry, choosing to pray instead. Faith began to rise up and Holy Spirit brought to mind Mary’s situation. I felt Holy Spirit prompt me to consider how Mary must have felt during her time of waiting and what she did.I knew that during the waiting time there had to be some kind of doubts and fears trying to take hold, as the devil certainly wouldn’t have left her alone. Also, she lived in a culture where it was shameful to be pregnant outside of marriage, let alone saying the Holy Spirit was the one who impregnated her! They didn’t have pregnancy tests back then, so I am certain there were at least a few weeks of choosing between wonder and worry. Plus, in any pregnancy, there are always things to worry about, or stay in wonder over the miracle of creation and birth! Not that I, or any of us are Mary, carrying the only begotten Son, but we are all carrying some Word of God that the Father desires to see birthed through us.As I pondered this, I felt Holy Spirit prompting me to notice the similarities and differences between Mary and Zacharias in the book of Luke. In Luke Chapter 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she was highly favored, that the Lord was with her and that she was blessed among women. Mary was troubled at his saying, and “cast in her mind” what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel repeated that she had found favor with God and not to fear.She was troubled and “cast” in her mind. “Cast” in the Greek language (New Testament writing) means to reckon thoroughly, to deliberate (by reflection or discussion), to consider, dispute and reason. It’s okay to deliberate about something, to dispute in our minds and try to understand. After all, an angel appeared and told her she was highly favored, blessed among women, but didn’t say why that was so. Yet I know from my experience that reasoning usually brings fear, and this must have been the case with Mary because the angel told her not to fear as she was reasoning in her mind.Zacharias had also been visited by the angel Gabriel, and what happened in his situation? He was afraid. The angel also told him not to fear, explaining that he came in response to the prayers of Zacharias for a child. The angel then expounded the prophetic fulfillment that would occur through this child whose name would be John (Luke 1:13-17). Zacharias had been praying for this, yet didn’t believe it when it was told him that it would happen, because of natural reasoning – (Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years). He was told that he would be dumb, unable to speak, until the fulfillment of God’s word.His child’s conception was not an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, a virgin birth. This was a birth from the union of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. I can only imagine how Elizabeth must have felt to be approached by a mute husband at her old age and then find she was pregnant, but she knew it was God’s blessing and to take away her reproach at being barren. What happened when the baby was born? The people asked what the name would be and when Elizabeth said, “John,” they were astonished. There had been no “John” in their lineage. It was the custom to use a family name. Zacharias beckoned for a tablet and wrote, “His name shall be John” and his mouth was opened.When our hearts come into alignment with what God says, the chains of past pride, tradition and fear of man (Luke 1:57-66), will be broken and our tongue will be loosed. There may be chains on us not from the enemy per se, but because we have gone into agreement with the enemy – laughing and mocking (maybe in our hearts) at what God says – it’s unbelief! The chains are on until we get into alignment with Truth.Mary, after she was told what would happen, said, “How can this be, seeing I have not known a man?” Her heart was one of trusting, but in wonder, and the angel explained the prophecies that would be fulfilled through Jesus, then further added to her faith by telling her about her cousin, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, that “With God nothing shall be impossible.”Luke 1:37 (KJV) Mary’s response? “…Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word….” Luke 1:38 (KJV)There are similarities with Zacharias and Mary; what are the differences? Zacharias had been praying for a child. Mary had not been praying for anything. Zacharias was a priest and well along in age, implying he would be a man of faith and know the prophecies, certainly aware of angels appearing as spokesmen of God. His response was unbelief and mockery in his heart. He had become hardened in his heart. It was a gracious act of God to render him dumb until such time of fulfillment of the word. The prophecies would be fulfilled, and the priest would not be speaking unbelief and faithless words in the process.Mary responded with willingness to allow God to use her. Then came the waiting period. What did she do during that time? She went to Elizabeth. She went to one that the angel told her was also in process of a miracle unfolding, a manifestation of God’s word. Mary chose to move into an environment of faith. Certainly, she had questions!"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"Luke 1:34 (KJV)She was a virgin, pregnant with a child of the Holy Spirit!I am not Mary, and what God has shown me is not the miracle of a savior being born through me. Yet I am carrying great and precious promises that He has given me, things that I have not experienced before and I have no idea how this can be, how He will do it!God is so good; He sends confirming words through others to encourage us if we stay in faith during the waiting process.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)

Mary received confirmation on what was told her by the angel as to the purpose of Jesus. She pondered all these things – thinking on them, considering all that had occurred and seeing the hand of God in her life as the path unfolded.Our paths are continuing to unfold as we wait for the fulfillment of His promises. I know what the proper response is for the fulfillment of His promises – faith! Faith, believing, is a matter of our heart towards God. Our hearts direct our seeing, our perceiving, and out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak. Be it unto me according to your Word, Lord.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” I Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)

We serve an awesome God, an amazing, magnificent Creator who loves to show off. We are to wonder, but not worry. He is omnipotent, faithful and true; His eyes are on you! Be filled with wonder that He loves us so greatly and desires to use us for His great purposes in the earth! Rest in the knowledge that He that has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! (Philippians 1:6) Let it be done unto us in accordance with His word!alanehaynes.comI sensed Holy Spirit prompting me to share this word as a gift to you in your waiting period, as many have contacted me recently regarding the trials they are experiencing, and the difficulty of staying in faith. It is a chapter from my book “Too Many Voices – My Journey from Confusion to Clarity.” The book is laid out by timeframes in my life, in my journey of coming into my true identity, and THE ETERNAL VOICE is the culmination, where I share writings birthed from the place of seeking His Eternal Presence and hearing His Eternal Voice. I pray this blesses you. I am thankful for your support and am honored and blessed by each and every one of you.There is always a waiting period, waiting for the things God conceives in our spirit (through the Word, a prophecy, or a dream or vision and the subsequent revelation of meaning). During a waiting period in late 2016, I had been reading the first two chapters of Luke and the Holy Spirit had been highlighting Simeon. When Jesus was brought to the temple for dedication (in the book I said circumcision, which was an error on my part), Simeon was led there also by the Holy Spirit and immediately recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One, the One who was the consolation of Israel and a light to the Gentiles. Simeon had been waiting. Why? Not just because of the ancient prophesies that all of Israel was awaiting the fulfillment of, but because the Holy Spirit had told him that he would see the Messiah before he died. He was waiting in expectation for the fulfillment of that promise, trusting that God is faithful to His word. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my habit of worrying.The next morning as I lay in bed, awake but not ready to get up yet, I noticed that the longer I lay there the more my mind went into worry. I realized I was filling the space of waiting with worrying. I took a step of determination to shake off worry, choosing to pray instead. Faith began to rise up and Holy Spirit brought to mind Mary’s situation. I felt Holy Spirit prompt me to consider how Mary must have felt during her time of waiting and what she did.I knew that during the waiting time there had to be some kind of doubts and fears trying to take hold, as the devil certainly wouldn’t have left her alone. Also, she lived in a culture where it was shameful to be pregnant outside of marriage, let alone saying the Holy Spirit was the one who impregnated her! They didn’t have pregnancy tests back then, so I am certain there were at least a few weeks of choosing between wonder and worry. Plus, in any pregnancy, there are always things to worry about, or stay in wonder over the miracle of creation and birth! Not that I, or any of us are Mary, carrying the only begotten Son, but we are all carrying some Word of God that the Father desires to see birthed through us.As I pondered this, I felt Holy Spirit prompting me to notice the similarities and differences between Mary and Zacharias in the book of Luke. In Luke Chapter 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she was highly favored, that the Lord was with her and that she was blessed among women. Mary was troubled at his saying, and “cast in her mind” what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel repeated that she had found favor with God and not to fear.She was troubled and “cast” in her mind. “Cast” in the Greek language (New Testament writing) means to reckon thoroughly, to deliberate (by reflection or discussion), to consider, dispute and reason. It’s okay to deliberate about something, to dispute in our minds and try to understand. After all, an angel appeared and told her she was highly favored, blessed among women, but didn’t say why that was so. Yet I know from my experience that reasoning usually brings fear, and this must have been the case with Mary because the angel told her not to fear as she was reasoning in her mind.Zacharias had also been visited by the angel Gabriel, and what happened in his situation? He was afraid. The angel also told him not to fear, explaining that he came in response to the prayers of Zacharias for a child. The angel then expounded the prophetic fulfillment that would occur through this child whose name would be John (Luke 1:13-17). Zacharias had been praying for this, yet didn’t believe it when it was told him that it would happen, because of natural reasoning – (Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years). He was told that he would be dumb, unable to speak, until the fulfillment of God’s word.His child’s conception was not an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, a virgin birth. This was a birth from the union of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. I can only imagine how Elizabeth must have felt to be approached by a mute husband at her old age and then find she was pregnant, but she knew it was God’s blessing and to take away her reproach at being barren. What happened when the baby was born? The people asked what the name would be and when Elizabeth said, “John,” they were astonished. There had been no “John” in their lineage. It was the custom to use a family name. Zacharias beckoned for a tablet and wrote, “His name shall be John” and his mouth was opened.When our hearts come into alignment with what God says, the chains of past pride, tradition and fear of man (Luke 1:57-66), will be broken and our tongue will be loosed. There may be chains on us not from the enemy per se, but because we have gone into agreement with the enemy – laughing and mocking (maybe in our hearts) at what God says – it’s unbelief! The chains are on until we get into alignment with Truth.Mary, after she was told what would happen, said, “How can this be, seeing I have not known a man?” Her heart was one of trusting, but in wonder, and the angel explained the prophecies that would be fulfilled through Jesus, then further added to her faith by telling her about her cousin, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, that “With God nothing shall be impossible.”Luke 1:37 (KJV) Mary’s response? “…Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word….” Luke 1:38 (KJV)There are similarities with Zacharias and Mary; what are the differences? Zacharias had been praying for a child. Mary had not been praying for anything. Zacharias was a priest and well along in age, implying he would be a man of faith and know the prophecies, certainly aware of angels appearing as spokesmen of God. His response was unbelief and mockery in his heart. He had become hardened in his heart. It was a gracious act of God to render him dumb until such time of fulfillment of the word. The prophecies would be fulfilled, and the priest would not be speaking unbelief and faithless words in the process.Mary responded with willingness to allow God to use her. Then came the waiting period. What did she do during that time? She went to Elizabeth. She went to one that the angel told her was also in process of a miracle unfolding, a manifestation of God’s word. Mary chose to move into an environment of faith. Certainly, she had questions!"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"Luke 1:34 (KJV)She was a virgin, pregnant with a child of the Holy Spirit!I am not Mary, and what God has shown me is not the miracle of a savior being born through me. Yet I am carrying great and precious promises that He has given me, things that I have not experienced before and I have no idea how this can be, how He will do it!God is so good; He sends confirming words through others to encourage us if we stay in faith during the waiting process.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)

Mary received confirmation on what was told her by the angel as to the purpose of Jesus. She pondered all these things – thinking on them, considering all that had occurred and seeing the hand of God in her life as the path unfolded.Our paths are continuing to unfold as we wait for the fulfillment of His promises. I know what the proper response is for the fulfillment of His promises – faith! Faith, believing, is a matter of our heart towards God. Our hearts direct our seeing, our perceiving, and out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak. Be it unto me according to your Word, Lord.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” I Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)

We serve an awesome God, an amazing, magnificent Creator who loves to show off. We are to wonder, but not worry. He is omnipotent, faithful and true; His eyes are on you! Be filled with wonder that He loves us so greatly and desires to use us for His great purposes in the earth! Rest in the knowledge that He that has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! (Philippians 1:6) Let it be done unto us in accordance with His word!alanehaynes.com