Greetings;
As leaders, we don’t just lead in Christian values. We are called to lead others in an obedience to the faith. Faith is not a belief system, but a supernatural result of hearing God in our hearts. As leaders we must live our lives in a walk of obedience to the faith. We must be an example to follow and we must lead those given to our leadership in a walk of faith also. That walk is one of an intimate relationship with God in all things. We are called to discover the path that God has for us in every season of our lives. This is true for us as individuals as well as for us in our various expressions of corporate community. The church is a joined together community of Christ identity, Christ inheritance, and Christ purpose in the earth. Prophetically, I declare that this year is a year to navigate the paths that God has set before us for His story and His glory.
Last week I presented that we cannot navigate this present season if we observe the wind or consider the cloud. If we observe what resists us, we will not sow. We will not move forward into things seen by God, but not by us. If we consider the cloud, we will not reap God’s purposed harvest in our lives. We will be bound to the harvests of the past and end up being dwarfed in our destiny. The circumstances around us do not determine the paths that God has for us in this season. When we find the paths of the Lord, our circumstances will come in line to serve our purpose and destiny in Christ. In my own life, and in the lives of many in church communities that I am connected to, 2018 ended in a storm and 2019 began in a storm. For me personally, there was a lot of pain in 2018 and even more as I have entered this new year. I believe this is a birthing year of new things. Birthing seasons include the delivery path of pain. As the year began, God reminded me of the prayer of Jabez. The prayer of Jabez is very relevant for 2019.
1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So, God granted him what he requested.
The name Jabez means, to grieve or be sorrowful. Jabez was born in a circumstance of great pain and could have been bound to a life of sorrow and pain. Like so many, he could have been an influence of pain and sorrow to others in the path that was given him to walk. Jabez did not let his natural circumstances or his natural experiences determine his footsteps in life. He knew that God is the One who determines who men are. It is not in ourselves, but in God to make us become all that we are meant to be in order to be a blessing in the life that has been given to us. This little baby Jabez, was born to a woman and there is great pain and trouble when he was born. He was birthed in an environment of great pain. If the Bible says someone was born in pain it must have been great pain. We all know that birth is a painful process for a mother so if the Bible said it was with great pain it must have been tremendous. Many of us have closed the year of 2018 in an environment of great pain. That could cause us to navigate 2019 from great pain. Jabez prayed to God and he asked God to …. bless me, enlarge my territory. Don’t let the things that have happened to me in the past determine how I influence the world you have given me.
What are you going to do in 2019 that will give you a 2020 that is full of God’s love, life, and life-giving purpose? What are you going to be? What is 2020 going to be because of you. I don’t believe that God is in control, I believe He is in charge and you are in control of many things in your life. What are you going to do to get from today into tomorrow with a testimony of the kingdom of God that is relevant, fresh, and new? You cannot do what you did in 2018 in 2019 and expect a different 2020. To navigate the path that God has for us, we must forget our pain and ask God to bless us for the sake of others. We must be willing to accept more responsibility for living for the sake of others. We must be willing to embrace the kingdom of God that is within us to be transformed in our identity, our testimony, and our purpose for the such a time as this. We must pray that we are kept from evil and that we do not cause any harm to others in our path of life. God has hidden the kingdom paths of life before us. We cannot allow what circumstances say we are to stop the destiny of who and what God says we are by His heavenly grace.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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Thank you to those who have contributed to our path of 2019. Some donations have been coming in and for this we are VERY GRATEFUL. We have managed to purchase our tickets through March, but still need funds for April, May, and Junes as soon as possible. If you can make a donation it would be greatly appreciated. Donations are payable to House of Bread Ministry. You can donate at the link on this page or mail your contribution to:
House of Bread Ministry, 3210 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225
Thank You So Much – Ted J. Hanson
