We have often heard the inspiring words of the Lord to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” However, there is a tendency to lean on our strength so as to portray this attitude of boldness and courage. This evening in our time of prayer, the Holy spirit revealed the divine exchange that happens when our spiritual poverty meets the richness of His grace. As it is written “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The struggles, the weaknesses and our failure to measure up highlights the need for His grace in our lives and keeps us dependent only on Him.

As we grow and mature in the Lord, we tend to gather methods and shortcuts on how the Lord moves in our lives. Unknowingly, our vessel fills up and leaves no room for the new thing that the Lord is doing in the moment.  The Holy Spirt is prompting all of us to empty ourselves of all that we have gathered along our journey for He is doing a new thing and in a new way. 

Paul the apostle knew of this and said, “…. forgetting all that is behind …”, (Philippians 3: 19 ), ….that’s why I take pleasure in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). The more you decrease the more He increases in you and the more of His power flows through you.
​Because you have surrendered your will to the Lord for this year, you are going to go through a season of purging where the Lord removes the old and brings the new(John 15). Mindsets, attitudes and false confidences that we have garnered to deal with the issues of life are being removed and replaced with a vulnerable poor spirit. Afterwards, the will of God will be done in your life as it is in heaven and all the aspiration for 2017 will be made manifest. 

Ask the Holy spirit to reveal areas of your life where there needs to be more emptying and consequently, the divine exchange will take place; beauty for ashes, expressive praise for the spirit of heaviness, joy unspeakable and full of Glory (Isaiah 61). Your destiny is on higher grounds, do not settle where you are.