These Times Require Strategic Moves
When I think of strategic moves, I see a football player on a field dodging the other players trying to get in the end zone to score points. He’s moving fast pace turning and putting his hand out to get past the oncoming traffic that’s trying to sack him. While he is shaking them, they can’t touch him. They can’t seem to tackle him or slow him down. He’s literally unstoppable and can’t be touched. Even when they grab his jersey their grip is released because he’s like wind moving and shaking.
In these times we need to know how to move, where to move and when to be still. When I say be still, I mean still in Jesus to hear his voice. See, Jesus speaks to us telling us about his instruction in gentle ways. In gentle little nudges along the way.
“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by, And behold, the LORD was passing by, and a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind, [there was] an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, [there was] a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, [there] a still small voice. When Elijah heard the sound, he wrapped his face in his mantle (cloak) and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:10-15)
Elijah heard the still small voice which he heeded and heard instructions from the Lord.
We need:
Instruction that is from Jesus.
Instruction should become our necessary posture and position
Instruction should become our necessary tool
Instruction should become our necessary fuel
We’re called and equipped for the assignment already here for us to accomplish. God knows our end before our beginning. He already made the plans, they aren’t new to him, maybe to us.
The beautiful thing is He has considered our mistakes and still includes us in His plan.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4)
This is his promise among so many others toward us Hebrews 8:12 states,
This is part of the new Covenant.
God found fault with the people of Israel and Judah.
“It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
And then He say’s I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”( Hebrew 8:1-13)
The new Covenant was established through Jesus Christ building a new relationship with humanity, and with this new Covenant comes responsibility.
Paul states, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. (Phil 3:13-15)
God wants to make things clear to us. The only way we can walk out his plan is to know his plan. The assignment can change but the ultimate goal remains the same. In the center of His will, that is where we find our Strategic Moves.
See, there are seasons for everything under the sun.
You may be in a season…
-helping your children, grandchildren
-supporting a loved one through a health crisis
-raising and training your children
-working diligently and faithfully on your business
-taking care of your elderly parents
-supporting someone you love
-extending grace for those who need it
-building your marriage
-sustaining healthy balance between family, work and leisure
-transitioning between jobs / career changes
-supporting your college students
-accepting and coping with retirement / financial changes
-dealing with financial stress
Wherever you are and whatever Jesus has allowed in your life in this season, embrace the changes and find support.
Not only through others, but through trust, and the faithfulness of a “Loving Father”.
Paul says, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites. (Phil 3:12-19 amp)
Strategic moves require alignment! Aligning with the will of God! When were guided by Jesus our moves are intentional not haphazard.
We serve an intentional God, one who is concerned with every area of our lives. In his intentionality, he may commission us to say, go or do somethings we aren’t necessarily comfortable with; however, we’re called and capable.
Questions to Ponder?
Where is he calling you this season?
What is Jesus expecting from you in this season?
-trust Him, rest in Him, abide in him, rule in Him
Where is He needing you to show up?
If you were to consider where you are currently what can you do right now that will change your perspective not the situation, but your perspective?
Part of strategic placement is finishing and completing where you are at this moment. He’s aware you want movement and He will do what He has promised, however in the midst of no change what can we do right now that will be a huge asset to our next move.
Position yourself for it…
Prepare for it…
Pray for it…
There is nothing like receiving the blessings and not being prepared for it. Because I promise you it will come with challenges. It will not be all easy street.
Blessings come packaged with work in the details.
When the Israelites crossed over to the promise land, they had to till the land, they had work to do; instructions to follow, battles to fight; lessons to learn and land to recover. Ironically, the old generation didn’t inherit the promised land, but the new generation did. The murmuring and complaining hindered some from entering the promise land.
Mindset is huge. What we’re thinking on, mediating on, believing for matters to God. He has promise lands for each of us, but He is not obligated to give it to those who aren’t going to follow His instruction when they arrive there.
It’s hard but it’s truth.
Again, Alignment is key. “How many people do you know who prayed for things and never received what they asked.
Were they in a position to receive it?
Were they ready to receive it?
Were they in direct proximity to inherit the promise?
What do we need to release, revive, trust, forgive, and let go of.
The word speaks of, “You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a small amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. (Gal 5:7-10)
God told Joshua in the midst of His pursuit in tearing down the walls of Jericho with his troops to silently walk around the city for six days. On the seventh day to walk around seven times, they were instructed to sound the ram’s horn trumpets (shofars), and they were to make a great shout (praise) on the final lap. After doing so, the walls collapsed and the Israelites ran in and took the city collecting great treasures. They devoted the city to the Lord. But, Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua sent as spies to Jericho. (Joshua 6:1-27)
See, this is strategic movements.
1) God spoke to Joshua and told him the city is yours, I will deliver them into your hands ( it was already done)
2) He gave Joshua specific instructions “march around the city 6 times silently and on the seventh time, they walked silently 7 more times than sounded the trumpet with a shout of praise. They Praised God before the victory was won.
3) Because they followed the instructions given, the walls fell down they ran in and took over the city, gain great treasure, victory and blessings.
Strategic movement require, God’s intervention, God’s timing and God’s victory.
God’s plan are already done, it’s just a matter of our obedience and surrender.
Proverbs 14:15 “The Prudent give thought to their steps”