I know you have been through a lot lately. I have too! It’s been a time of testing and trials during the 3 Weeks of Sorrow. On the Hebrew calendar, the three-week period ended July 18th, which is also the 9th day of Av.
During this time, the Jewish people remember a few things: how the Israelites worshipped a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai, how he broke the 10 Commandments in anger when he saw their idolatry, and how the temple was destroyed once by the Romans and again by King Nebuchadnezzar on the same day but in different years!
The 9th of Av is a very solemn time. It’s also a time to repent and ask the Lord what you may be worshipping instead of Him. It’s a time to pray and fast, to re-consecrate yourself to Him and to following His will.
Did you know that your body is a temple? You are a holy temple, and the Spirit of the Lord lives within you!
Do you feel attacked? Destroyed? You may be wounded, heartbroken or experiencing a great trial right now, but let me tell you – new wine is coming forth in the midst of this! God is bringing forth something new that will carry you into your next level of promotion, coming in August!
You’ve endured this time of testing, but I don’t want you to be discouraged. YOU ARE CALLED to wear a mantle of splendor. Your mantle doesn’t change in the trial. You are part of the body of Christ. You are the Kingdom of God made manifested in the earth. Keep your eyes on Him, stay steady and remain firm in knowing that HE is going to bring you through! A great glory has come upon you, and you are being filled with new wine, a greater presence of the Lord, and fresh glory.
Now let me give you some scriptures that the Lord laid on my heart about staying in proper alignment during this time. You have got to keep your focus. The Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Take time today to set aside all evil desires or anything that could mess up your relationship with the Lord. Stand in the knowledge of His love and beauty. It will be a great place of freedom for you and the foundation you need to stand on His precious promises.
In 2 Peter 1:5-9 it says, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”
You see, when you truly come alive in Christ, you develop great compassion and remember how the Lord cleansed your heart and life. You know how to stand in the divine promises of the Lord and grow in His virtues. Determine in your heart to grow daily and increase in the attributes of Jesus.
Share this with a friend and encourage them to stand firm in their faith. The Lord will bring them through!