I believe we could all tell stories of times that we went through great struggles. I have heard from several people recently who are also in various kinds of "squeezing". In those times, we pray for the Lord to deliver us from those struggles, whatever they may be. We often feel it is an attack of the enemy and “blame the devil”. But in those times, we should also seek the Father for wisdom and discernment as to the actual reason for this season. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:2-5
For the past three months, I have been in a season of what felt like a relentless attack on my physical body. One thing after the other, things I’ve never experienced before. It led me to many times of prayer for healing, but also for wisdom as to what was happening, why and what my part was in this season. One day the Holy Spirit put the image of a funnel in my mind. Strange as it may sound, that image stayed in my mind, along with “a season of squeezing”. Then He began to show me that I’ve been up in the bowl of that funnel but now was being “squeezed” through the spout to prepare for a new assignment in my purpose! Once I got that revelation, this season of squeezing began to fade away and things returned to normal. Here is what I have learned:
We are born with a God given purpose and assignments, but the body and soul (mind, will and emotions) aren’t yet ready to fulfill that purpose. They require growth, preparation and maturation. Joseph is a great example of time and trials to fulfilling the Lord God’s purpose. God gave him dreams when he was only 17, but he did not become governor over all of Egypt for over twenty years! He spent thirteen of those years in slavery and prison. Genesis 37-41
We have a tendency to believe that because God loves us He only wants us to be happy, blessed, prosperous and without the trials and challenges of life that prepare us for His purpose and assignments! But that sounds more like a weak submissive parent than a loving Father. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Hebrews 12:5-13
Our happiness is not His first priority for our lives, but being equipped to carry out His assignments in our purpose for being here! God doesn’t give us trouble, but uses what comes to us to refine and mature us. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. Romans 8:28-30
When troubles and trials come your way, pray for wisdom and discernment and lean in to the Holy Spirit for answers: Is this an attack of the enemy? Have I sown bad seed that has caused this? Is this an area of my life that needs correction and growth to fulfill my purpose and assignments? When you are able to answer these questions, you will know how respond.
If it is a season of squeezing, submit to His Will and you will mature and obtain all that is necessary to walk in His purpose and assignments that are divinely ordained for your life. Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:12-15
Everything worth doing is hard, for a season. But in God's time you will reap the rewards. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
For the past three months, I have been in a season of what felt like a relentless attack on my physical body. One thing after the other, things I’ve never experienced before. It led me to many times of prayer for healing, but also for wisdom as to what was happening, why and what my part was in this season. One day the Holy Spirit put the image of a funnel in my mind. Strange as it may sound, that image stayed in my mind, along with “a season of squeezing”. Then He began to show me that I’ve been up in the bowl of that funnel but now was being “squeezed” through the spout to prepare for a new assignment in my purpose! Once I got that revelation, this season of squeezing began to fade away and things returned to normal. Here is what I have learned:
We are born with a God given purpose and assignments, but the body and soul (mind, will and emotions) aren’t yet ready to fulfill that purpose. They require growth, preparation and maturation. Joseph is a great example of time and trials to fulfilling the Lord God’s purpose. God gave him dreams when he was only 17, but he did not become governor over all of Egypt for over twenty years! He spent thirteen of those years in slavery and prison. Genesis 37-41
We have a tendency to believe that because God loves us He only wants us to be happy, blessed, prosperous and without the trials and challenges of life that prepare us for His purpose and assignments! But that sounds more like a weak submissive parent than a loving Father. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Hebrews 12:5-13
Our happiness is not His first priority for our lives, but being equipped to carry out His assignments in our purpose for being here! God doesn’t give us trouble, but uses what comes to us to refine and mature us. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. Romans 8:28-30
When troubles and trials come your way, pray for wisdom and discernment and lean in to the Holy Spirit for answers: Is this an attack of the enemy? Have I sown bad seed that has caused this? Is this an area of my life that needs correction and growth to fulfill my purpose and assignments? When you are able to answer these questions, you will know how respond.
If it is a season of squeezing, submit to His Will and you will mature and obtain all that is necessary to walk in His purpose and assignments that are divinely ordained for your life. Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:12-15
Everything worth doing is hard, for a season. But in God's time you will reap the rewards. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
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