Stopping Point

January 2021

What is stopping you from doing what the Lord told you to do in this New Year?

Along a journey, there are many stopping points, red lights and road signs. At each stopping point we have a choice to keep following the directions to our destination, pause, take a different direction, or stop altogether.

“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46 ESV

The Lord can only use us to the point in which we’ve made room for Him by surrender and obedience. Many want to follow Jesus and surrender but don’t take the steps to actively obey what He has instructed them to do.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV

Many times at each stopping point, we get afraid and second guess which way we should go. We question the voice of God by throwing out every excuse in the book as to why we should turn around, go back, or go a different way. Many times when we face resistance, we not only stop, but turn back and therefore never make it to the destination God has called us to and continue to remain stuck in our old stuff. We then get frustrated that we don’t see the results we want from God. Instead of surrendering, we try to fit Him into our box and old life instead of breaking free, letting go, and following after Him no matter how scary or crazy it seems.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 ESV

In this new year, I encourage you to ask the Lord to identify what is holding you back from doing all He has created and designed you to do. As you seek His face and get direction, begin to actively take the steps to move into the direction and plan He has called you to and not just sit in the comfort of last year's call.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 ESV

Those who take off toward the commission the Lord has sent you on in this season, I encourage you to keep moving forward and don’t stop. At every stopping point, there is a choice to be made. The enemy is waiting at each fork in the road. Keep your eyes glued to the “Jesus’ Will GPS” for your directions and don’t look back, to the side, or for quick detours. Fix your eyes on the prize and follow Him with everything in you. There is a purpose for your journey, God's purpose—to bring Heaven’s will into the earth.

“...Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 ESV

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Mathew 6:10 ESV

Along the journey, at the stopping points, there are traps set out in hopes you will fall into them. Bravery is needed in order to fly past the traps.

The liar will use anything and anyone to try and convince you to stop short of what the Lord has for you this year. Be mindful and aware that you have an assignment from the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and there will be attacks to stop you, but do not fear, for God is with you. The only thing you need to fear is stopping. Keep moving! Don’t stop!

“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” Exodus 23:22 ESV

What God says is true and what He promised shall come to pass.

At every stopping point, dial in closer to Jesus and fix your eyes on Him. Focus to see nothing else but His will and design—His blueprint. Rest when needed and get fuel daily by locking away with Jesus, but then get back on the road.

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6 ESV

I feel many are getting assignments and commissions for this new year and I want to remind you to take action. Go when He says go and don’t stop. Accept, surrender, and obey!

Don’t allow yourself to fear or remain in the past season. You must be brave, step out, and trust that the Lord will not let you fall. He provides for what He calls forth. Fear not and rise up! Stand, I say, stand and go!

“But I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” John 14:31 ESV

If you are in a waiting period, I encourage you to prepare now for what is coming. Get ready for the assignment He has commissioned you to. If it is to pack up and move but you can’t move yet, then pack up in faith and live out of boxes. If He has commissioned you to travel but hasn’t given you the go, then pack your suitcase and get ready in faith that what He says will come to pass. Create those business cards, build the kingdom business plan—actively prepare in faith during the waiting.

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.” 1 John 3:22 ESV

Prepare now, for the time is coming. Many are being sent and commissioned for a great mission for the Kingdom. It is vital you hear and obey in this hour as alignments are key right now.

Be spirit led with eyes ablaze for the King and follow the cloud at all cost. Rise strong and with a brave heart that is only found in Jesus.

Many may not understand or think you’ve lost your mind and that is perfectly ok. God didn't tell them to do the assignment, He told you. He is the one you are accountable to.

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Acts 5:29 ESV

I often think of the story that changed and marked my life forever about Kathryn Kuhlman. She said that the Lord had commissioned others before her, but they did not accept the call, and therefore she accepted, surrendered, and obeyed. She went on to do great things for the Lord. I’m sure she had many stopping points in her life with the choice to go in other directions along her journey, but she didn’t stop—she kept moving forward, falling more and more in love with Jesus. She made the Holy Spirit her best friend and didn’t allow anyone to lead her but Him.

The Lord is commissioning many right now in a fresh, inventive way (like nothing we have seen to date) and you do not want to refuse the blessing and chance to be His hands and feet in this earth just because it looks or sounds different than you’re used to. You don’t want someone else to accept an assignment that you refused.

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21 ESV

As I began to write this, I was reminded about an encounter I had a few weeks ago. The Lord showed me in detail how He is looking for people to send out to do commissions/missions for Him. In the dream-like vision, I watched as He went and commissioned a person. I had an inner knowing they would not accept, but I watched as He loved them enough to allow them to choose. He offered them the opportunity and waited for them. He waited and waited in love. When they did not answer, then and only then, did he go to someone else. The process was delayed, but out of love and hope they would say yes. Even though He knew they would not accept, He still offered and waited. He spoke and said that, He is searching for those to say yes and obey; take the call and do His commission. I said that I would accept the call He was presenting in this encounter, but He told me He needed me elsewhere. He said that I could watch the process of searching, finding, and calling the ones commissioned. He said that, “It is hard to find someone to go do My will.”

“But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28’ESV

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25 ESV

He explained that many love Him, but He needed them to go and obey the call. The overwhelming joy I felt from Him was intoxicating as the people He was commissioning spoke of their love for Him, but I soon felt sadness when they only spoke about Him and didn’t obey. I watched as He searched to find a pure vessel. He sent an angel that held a scroll type roll to a lady I didn’t know while she slept. The angel put it up to her nose like nose-spray and as she inhaled, I saw it light up her brain as a type of knowing or dream. She awoke later with the understanding of what she was called to do and then I was swept away.

I was told she would say “no” and not go where He needed her to go. But yet, we still waited for her to not answer the call. We waited. Waited out of the love He had for her and desire for her to say yes. Then the same process shifted to another person with the same commission the lady previously denied. The second person also denied the call, but He still waited. Waited out of love to yet have another delay.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 ESV

Finally, I saw the one who said yes. They accepted and began making plans to go about and do what they were told to do. I could see the yes in their eyes and the word over their head. I had a knowing they understood the commission. Oh the joy on the Father’s face and love in His heart. Happiness filled the space as they said yes. I asked, “Why would you not go to the one you know will say yes first, skip the others, and not delay the process.” He said,

“Because it is My will that they accept, yet they turn from My desire. I still give them the option to say yes because I adore them. Even though they love Me, they still do not choose to follow Me in obedience. That causes the delay. But, I give them the chance because of My love. Someone will answer the call and obey, but it is getting harder and harder to find ones who will go with Me and for Me. They are fewer and farther between. Many commissions are going out, My child, and are up for grabs. Ones of old that have yet to be fulfilled and new ones in the here and now. I am giving out the orders, but who will listen and obey? It’s time for My few to arise and grab hold of the commissions I have before them before I have to find someone else to fill the role. I sure do love that they love Me, but I need them to obey Me as well. But them loving Me is My favorite part.”

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV

Because I wasn’t fully understanding the concept, He went on to explain to me and said, “If you love someone, you will go out of your way to show it.” He asked, “Would you buy them a good gift, wrap it, and surprise them if you love them? (Yes) Would you do what you could to give a good gift they desire? (Yes) But some only tell Me they thought about giving Me a gift or were going to buy the gift, but forgot. Some figured I didn’t need it and that someone else would give it to Me. They were going to give Me a gift, but didn’t take the effort and do it.”

“You are My friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:14 ESV

“I am looking for a people I can trust. Who not only love Me, but go above and beyond to show Me and follow Me. Not just give a gift, but wrap it. I am looking to see how well did they obey, how fast did they obey the call, and how well did they listen to the instructions? That is what I am looking for in a people I can commission and trust. Those are My friends. They stick closer to Me than a brother and for that I am grateful and will spend eternity with. I am searching and calling. Who will answer and obey? Who am I commissioning? The ones who know Me and follow My voice––the ones I can trust.”

“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’”

John 14:23 ESV

I feel that not only fresh commissions are being presented to His people, but new oil is being poured out. Not all callings from last year will be transferable into the new year. Catch the wave, the new directions and commissions for this year, and follow them to the tee—at all cost.

Young or old, it is never too early or late to follow God’s direction, align to His will, and do what He created you to do before the foundations of the world. His will and plans are perfect and we are safe in His hands. Following His blueprint, line for line and word for word, is the safest place to be.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

John 8:51 ESV

“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’”Jeremiah 7:23 ESV

Obedience to the King is what you were created for—to love Him, fear Him, and chose to follow Him. He is worth it! Listen for His call, surrender to His will, and obey. It’s time to activate (actively step out into) the will of God on the earth. Be brave in this hour and don’t stop!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV

Don’t let anything stop you!

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1 John 2:3-4 ESV

“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Acts 13:1-4 ESV

“...While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”

John 15:10 ESV

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.”

Isaiah 1:19 ESV

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

1 John 3:24 ESV

“Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

Psalm 119:60 ESV

“I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.”

John 14:23 ESV

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

Philippians 2:8 ESV

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Romans 5:19 ESV

“For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Psalm 112:1 ESV

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments!”

Exodus 19:5 ESV

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine.”

Hebrews 5:9 ESV

“And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

Psalm 119:112 ESV

“I incline my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the end.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

John 13:17 ESV

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

1 John 2:17 ESV

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”