LETTING GO

'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.' Isaiah 43:18

When God is about to do a new thing in our lives, a divine shift is about to happen. Usually He will tell us to let go of certain mindsets, certain baggage from the past, disappointments, hurts or bitterness. Sometimes we even have to close some doors behind us before we see the doors open in front of us. Transition is such an uncomfortable time. Not only do you have to let go of what is comfortable, you have to take a step to walk into the River Jordan before the water subsides. 

Sometimes we are stuck in that bondage or stronghold for such a long time that we don't even want to be liberated from it. We can get so used to darkness and reject the light totally. So when God comes and tell you that you have circled this mountain long enough, it is time to move on, then you better move on. Know that the transition is only temporary. Just press through the uncertainty and very soon you will find yourself crossing over to the new place and settling into a new season. Everything will be worth it. 

Do you remember the butterfly which emerged from its cocoon. I didn't show you the video of it coming out back then. But now I felt impressed to share. You will find it surprising that even the butterfly couldn't let go of its cocoon. Perhaps it was scared and the cocoon was the only thing that gave it security. It didn't know it has become a beautiful butterfly and now can fly. It probably is still trapped in the mindset of a crawling caterpillar. I learnt that it will take hours for the butterfly's wings to be dry and strengthened before it can fly. It wasn't something immediate. But just give it some time and it will surely take flight.

How about you? The metamorphosis is complete. It's time to spread your wings and fly! 

PATIENCE

'Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God...' Hebrews 6:12

I was reading the notes I had taken from Joyce Meyer's book 'Battlefield of the Mind'. There were more nuggets of truth that I would like to share. Impatience is the fruit of pride. The proud man says 'Please don't make me wait for anything; I deserve everything immediately!' Patience is not the ability to wait; it's the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. We actually spend much more time in life waiting than we do receiving, so it's better to learn to enjoy the waiting, not just the manifestation.

Pride prevents patient waiting because the proud man thinks so highly of himself that he believes he shouldn't be inconvenienced in any way. Patience is brought out by trials. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. The proud man runs in the strength of his own flesh and tries to make things happen in his own timing. A humble man waits patiently; he actually has a 'reverential fear' of moving in the strength of his own flesh. But a proud man tries one thing after another in his strength, yet all futile.

As we wait on God and refuse to move in our fleshly zeal, there is a 'dying to self' taking place. We begin to die to our own ways and timing and become alive to His will and His way for us. But on the other hand, if God told you to move on yet you stayed put, there isn't a sign of humility either. It's disobedience to His word resulting in unnecessary delays. Sometimes it could be due to fear of the unknown or unwillingness to leave one's comfort zone. But in any case, if you stayed put, you are not flowing in His timing and His way.

This was something new to me. I knew it was a form of self-righteousness when I felt indignant that those who waited for a much shorter time received their miracles before me. I didn't connote such thinking to pride. Now I see that as I waited on the Lord, there was a dying to my flesh, as I chose to die to my ways and timetable and yield to His timing for my life.

How about you? Is there something the Lord has told you about? It could be to move on from this mountain instead of to wait some more. If that is the case, congratulations because the waiting has finally come to an end! Just cooperate with the Lord and very soon you will see your manifestations!

TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK

'The Lord settles the barren woman as a happy mother of children at home...' Psalms 113:9

I just watched a TV program that talked about the dilemma of a stay home mum trying to return to the work force. The program also interviewed two ladies and a guy on their opinions of what is blessedness to them. One lady is a mother of three kids and her hubby is a pilot. Even though she was ambitious and wanted to have a career of her own, circumstances made it difficult for her to balance work and family. After the birth of her third child, she decided to quit and stay home full time. Her hubby was very busy so someone needed to be at home to take care of the family and it had to be her. 

Then another guy was saying in the past he used to think it would be good for his wife to stay home and take care of the kids, rather than leaving them to the care of a maid. But after their second child was born, finances were tight so his wife had to go back to work. The kids were to be taken care by his mother-in-law. But they had to tell with her what parenting methods to use, how to teach their kids etc. Somehow I feel that the couple may have to compromise a bit if they leave their kids to the care of grandparents.  The couple will have to make the best of that situation by communicating to the grandparents about their parenting preferences. But the husband believes that it is possible for a mum to balance work and family. 

Actually when I went back to part time work in 2013, I could do my work well and take care of my family. But there was one problem. I overstretched myself. I was burning the candles on both ends and I was at risk of being burnt out. I didn't think I could do this for long. Something would eventually give way and I didn't want it to be my family. Eventually I decided not to renew my part time contract because I really couldn't manage work and family well. 

But even so, staying home wasn't exactly a bed of roses either. From a career woman to a stay home mum, one could suddenly feel a loss. Loss of identity, loss of self-worth, loss of purpose in life, loss of a sense of achievement etc. Or one could get so bored at home and yearn for some work to do. It then occurred to me that even though I thought I welcomed my stay home season in 2011, I wasn't quite adjusted to it. It was a good respite from the hectic working life, a kind of release, but I realised I wasn't that ready to stay home. 

It was like it took only one day for the Israelites to leave Egypt but it took the Israelites 40 years to get Egypt out of them. I always thought I was ready for a stay home season but actually I wasn't. I didn't know what to expect and I wasn't prepared for it. Hence after a while, I got bored and started thinking about work again. I asked God to let me go back to work, any part time work will do. Just to kill time and to have some social life. 

And so, God released me to go back to part time work in June 2013. I was really excited and happy to be working again. For a while, I felt very fulfilled and happy. I felt like my life finally had a purpose. I would look at those stay home mums in my community and feel 'superior' to them. At least I had a job. It didn't matter how many kids they have or that I was still waiting for my promise. The excitement and fulfilment in my work actually made up for it all. 

But this bliss didn't last long. In fact, the next month I was beginning to feel the strain. Those feelings of fulfilment and happiness soon faded away. And as time went by, things got tougher and I began to regret my coming back to work. Why was I so foolish to give up my leisurely time to work? Why did I make myself work so hard and end up so tired? It wasn't even that I needed the money. Now that I was already in it, I couldn't even get out of it. I just got to bite my lips and press on toward the end. It wasn't my nature to give up halfway. Thank God He strengthened me to complete that assignment. 

So right after that work stint, I was finally happy to be back staying home. From then on I didn't feel bored and I never asked God to let me go back to work. I was learning how to enjoy my stay home days. It took three years to get working life out of me. Can't believe it right? After all, I have worked for 15 years, so don't think that I would get used to staying home in a short time! From this, I realised that change takes time, especially changing of a person's direction and lifestyle. We need to give God time to work in our lives, to get the Egypt out of us through the daily renewal of our minds. 

Again it was after that stint that I renewed my desire to stay home for another season, without pining for work this time. Actually I think that renewal of my desire was important because God was moving me on to a childbearing season. I was just wondering if I had conceived straight after leaving my full time job and given birth in 2011, I might still not be fulfilled in my role of taking care of my baby. I might be hoping for baby to grow up quickly so I could go back to work or ministry. In the end I might not enjoy parenting. I am so grateful to God for preparing all things for my enjoyment.