YEAR OF SHIFTING SEASONS AND SUDDENLIES

I read this article titled '2016: the year of shifting seasons and suddenlies' by Jennifer Leclaire and it bore witness in my heart. When she talked about the suddenlies, it sounded like acceleration to me. Like God is doing a quick work. You have been waiting, standing in faith for a while then suddenly things turned around. Even what she wrote about 2015 being the year of new beginnings also ministered to me because it was exactly what the Lord impressed upon me in Jan 2015. He said to me 'A new beginning from now on.'

2015 was the year of new beginnings. That rang true in my life and in the lives of many people whom God called from the waiting room to the delivery room. 2015 was a challenging year in many ways, a year of stretching and transitioning from the old to the new – and now we're going to the next. With regard to 2016, I heard the Holy Spirit say it's a year of "shifting seasons and suddenlies."

Merriam-Webster describes a "shift" as "to exchange for or replace by another; to change the place, position or direction of; to change gears; to go through a change." When the Holy Spirit said, "Shifting season," it's easy to discern that He meant changes are ahead. Some of you are going to shift from a time of sowing to a time of reaping. Others will shift from weeping to laughing. Still others will shift from lack to prosperity.

I'm reminded of what God told Jeremiah: "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11). God has good plans for us in 2016. He wants to shift us out of what has held us back from His best and into His good, perfect, and acceptable will (see Romans 12:2).

When you change your climate unto a season shift, it will lead to a "suddenly." Merriam-Webster defines "suddenly" as "happening or coming unexpectedly; a changing angle or character all at once; marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste; made or brought about in a short time." After weeks of praying in unity, "suddenly (there was) a sound like a mighty rushing wind," and the 150 in the upper room were filled with the Spirit (Acts 2). When Paul and Barnabas experienced persecution for Christ's sake, suddenly an earthquake rose up and opened the doors to the jail (see Acts 16:26). Suddenly. 

Suddenly you may shift into a promotion. Suddenly you may shift from sickness to health. Suddenly you may shift into greater authority in the spirit. Suddenly you may shift from a dark night of the soul to greater revelation of Christ. Suddenly you may shift from feelings of oppression to new levels of freedom. Suddenly.

Believe for the suddenlies in 2016. Expect them to happen. Wait with anticipation, but understand that you have to do your part. Like the disciples in the upper room, you need to pray. Like Paul and Barnabas in the prison, you need to praise. In other words, you need to create a spiritual climate over your life that invites the Holy Spirit to work in your heart, in your life, and in your circumstances.

Your climate change will eventually lead to a season shift that will bring a suddenly you could never make happen in your own strength. Take heart in Isaiah 48:3: "I have declared the former things from the beginning and they went forth from My mouth, and I announced them. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass."