I have always loved the story of Esther. I’m amazed by how calculated every move was that positioned her to be in the right place at the right time so that she stepped into the destiny that not only changed her life, but was instrumental in saving her people from the wicked plots of Haman. One day, as I was reading this account of Esther’s life, God said to me, “It’s time to BE what you’ve been becoming!” He continued, “The story of Esther is often preached from the perspective of the preparation process that she went through. It was the process that positioned her, but there came a time when Esther had to step into the destiny for which she had been prepared.”
There is a process that we all go through that prepares us for things that God intends to do in and through our lives. This process takes place as we live and as we walk with the Lord. However, our lives are not meant to be just a perpetual process. When we cross over into the timing of God—our “such a time as this” moment—there is a thrust that accelerates us into position for the revealing and the release of the purposes of God through us. We never come to the place where we stop growing and learning, but we do eventually come to those moments, as did Esther, which launch us into the position of BEING!
Recently, the Lord was speaking to me from Luke chapter five in which we read how Jesus boarded Peter’s boat and instructed him: “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Peter was a professional fisherman. On that particular day, he was counting his losses for an overnight fishing expedition that had failed miserably. So, when Jesus said, “Go deeper and let down your nets for a catch,” Peter’s response reveals that this request seemed quite senseless. “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” However, in this moment, Peter allowed his honor for the Lord to override his professional opinion. “Nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” He unfurled the nets and went deeper. They caught so many fish their nets were breaking, and they had to call others to help bring in the haul.
That act of obedience on Peter’s part, positioned him to be launched into the destiny of his life’s calling: to be a fisher of men.
These defining moments changed everything for Esther and for Peter. The timing of God provoked the revealing of the destiny each of them carried that was necessary for what He was doing in that moment.
God sees and knows what He has placed in us that is necessary for what He is doing in this moment, and when what we carry becomes necessary in His plan, we step into a defining moment. Defining moments are critical points that are strategically placed along our path for the purpose of propelling us forward to accomplish God’s will and intentions for that time. I believe, for many within the Church, we have entered a defining moment. The destiny of God in us has met up with the timing of God for us, and we must be willing to obey His leading and to trust that, by His Spirit, He has equipped us with all that we need to advance effectively with His purposes.
I once had a vision that made this truth very clear to me. In the vision, I saw myself standing in front of a wall with only a window in it. I was looking out that window, and the Lord spoke to me and said, “You’re standing in front of a window of opportunity right now.” As I continued looking out, I saw a hand come through the window and put a key in my hand. And then the Lord said, “But the window of opportunity is about to become a door of access, and I have given you the key.”
Suddenly, the window turned into a door. I used the key that I had been given, and started to open the door. Immediately, a very strong wind blew in! I grabbed hold of the door, trying to hold on with everything I had in me. The wind was so strong! I cried out, “Jesus, help me!”
The Lord said, “This wind is My Spirit, and you must learn how to BE in it and how to walk in it.”
The wind was taking my breath out of me. I said, “Jesus, I can’t even breathe!”
He said, “You’ve got to learn how to breathe in My Spirit.”
I said, “But, Lord, I can’t even move. How do I learn how to walk in it when I can’t even let go of the door?”
Then, four angels came—one on each side of me, one behind me, and one in front of me—and the Lord said, “You have to learn how to BE in My Spirit.”
In this vision, I realized that even before I went through the door, God had already equipped me with all that I would need to BE and to walk in the Wind. Now, I must learn to focus on Him—not on myself—and to confidently utilize all that He has made available to me.
For many within the Body of Christ, the process is now giving way to the purpose. The window of opportunity is about to become a door of access, and He has given us the key to open that door! The key is faith in God. He has gone before us to provide everything necessary for us to walk in the fullness of His purposes. So, move into this defining moment with confidence and courageous faith in God.
It’s time for us to BE what we’ve been becoming. Take your place, step into the Wind and watch God launch you into the destiny that He has been seeing all along.
Let’s pray:
Father, we recognize this is a “for such a time as this” moment. Your destiny in us has met up with Your timing for us, and we access the door of this defining moment, yielding ourselves completely to You. At Your word, we will advance. We take our place in Your plan. We will trust Your leading, walk in Your Spirit, and BE what we have been becoming. We know that our obedience to You in this moment is not just about us, and it is not just about here and now. What You do in and through us now will impact others and even the future that is yet to unfold. So, we take our focus off ourselves, and we confidently utilize all that You have made available to us by Your Spirit, and we say “Yes” to You. Launch us! Lead us, and we will follow as You accelerate us into position for the revealing and the release of Your purposes through us! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Our decree:
The process is giving way to purpose, and at His Word, we will boldly take our place in God’s plan. We will move into this defining moment with confidence and courageous faith in God, and we will see His Kingdom come and His will being done in us and through us.
