Resolution or Revelation
It was only the second day of January and my heart was flooded with joy and anticipation as I drove to my first Touching Hearts Gathering of 2017. When I arrived the coffee was brewing, the lamps were glowing, the worship music softly playing. A perfect atmosphere welcoming the presence of God and the women about to enter in. The six of us sat in a circle like little girls waiting for a surprise party. Prayers were uttered and tears began to fall as we expressed our gratitude for another new year to freely gather in His name. A year to stand rooted and grounded in His love and in His powerful life transforming truth. This little prayer circle is not a quick “thank you God, bless you Lord, bless us Lord, ” kind of prayer circle. We worship Him for who He is, we thank Him and we seek His heart for this day we now stand in. We have been given the incredible privilege and responsibility to lead women to Jesus. The circle quickly transforms from little girls anticipating a surprise to a circle of mighty women similar to the Israelites encircling the city of Jericho asking for walls to fall down.
The words of her prayer dropped deep into my heart. “Lord we don’t need a new resolution, we need new revelation.” Revelation, not resolution!
The phrase still rings in my ears this morning as I turn to Webster for more understanding. “Resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” This reminds me of the numerous lists I have made year after year, with little change, accomplishment or success. Get Organized, Loose Weight, Exercise, Get Up Early, Pray More, Memorize Scripture, Serve More, Etc. Of course I am not saying these are not good goals to reach for, but the list nor the resolution brings any change. Only dependence on Jesus in me brings any change.
Webster defines revelation as “an act of communicating divine truth, something that is revealed by God to humans.” No wonder the words gripped me! Is this not what we all need in 2017? Not another list of New Year’s Resolutions, promising what I will or will not do, but daily revelation that supernaturally comes from God. Resolutions drive me like the law of the old covenant, but revelation leads me by His grace. Grace that is sufficient for all my weakness.
If only we would daily sit in our powerful, private, prayer circle, seeking divine revelation for each day. Circling around those that we love, praying for their walls to come down. Asking daily to see what is in His heart for my day; asking for truth to come alive within me. His Spirit waits to impart truth, to open our spiritual eyes, to reveal His will to our hearts. Then He gives the grace and the ability to do all that He asks of us.
But just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.." (1 Cor. 2:9-11)
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13)
"Spirit of the Living God, we long for divine revelation each day of this New Year."