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Make room for God to do something new
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 19 June 2023
Source: TCN / Shannon-Leigh Ntshikose
Date Added: 2023-06-19
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
Date Added: 2023-06-19
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
Many of us pray for more to be added to our lives, but do we honestly make room for the increase?
We can liken it to a cellphone – so integral to many of our lives.
My phone’s memory is full.
It has been full for a while.
It is easy to go in and delete some things so I can add more.
The content could be photos, videos or screenshots.
I keep saying to myself that I just need a day to get some time to do a spring clean and delete random stuff from my phone to make space for new things, and for my phone to function effectively.
You cannot update the software version on your phone when it is full.
It needs space to download or update.
Everyone knows when you spring clean your house and start decluttering, you are so surprised by how many things you simply do not use or need anymore.
So, you let go of things and give them away or sell them.
In the same way, God wants to do a spring clean in our lives.
He wants us to make room for the new.
A cellphone with too much information or a cluttered house is an analogy of our minds, our bodies and how that affects our beliefs.
In order for God to put new into our lives, He is asking us about our capacity to steward more.
We cannot have minds cluttered by faulty thought patterns and expect change.
Romans 12:2 TPT: “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes”.
Many times, people pray for a job, promotion or success in their business.
Then comes the demand of that new thing and the amount of time taken away from friends and family.
Sacrifices that have to be made.
A blessing becomes a burden when we do not make room for it.
We ask for more but if we do not make room for more in our lives then something breaks down.
Arguments soon start at home.
Relationships start taking strain. People say, “I hardly see you now”.
You cannot please everyone.
You need to listen to God first.
He is the one calling you out of familiarity and comfortability and saying “make room for me. Make room for me”.
What are you asking God for?
What are you seeking?
If you want more of and from God, then make room for more of Him.
Spend time in worship.
Try a new Bible translation.
Try to still yourself and really think what is taking up room in your life and ask yourself whether it is really a priority.
It is never about God coming to us.
It is about our ability to capacitate His arrival.
God is always willing to bring the change we need.
Mark 2:22: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins otherwise the wineskin will burst, and the wine will be lost and the skin as well, but he puts new wine into fresh wineskins”.
When new wine was poured it had to be poured into a new wineskin because the old wineskin simply could not stretch. It could not change its shape.
New wine needs to breathe and because of that breathing process it causes the wineskin to expand.
We cannot stay the same yet keep asking God for new.
Newness brings change. Wine comes from harvesting in a certain season.
If you don't transition in season, you will miss your opportunity and ultimately miss an opportunity for God to pour out His goodness in your life.
New situations require new structure.
New jobs require new skills.
New relationships require new ways of relating.
For new people to be attracted to Christ's church new wineskins will have to be created and for that we will require change.
Prayer Points
Shannon-Leigh Ntshikose
We can liken it to a cellphone – so integral to many of our lives.
My phone’s memory is full.
It has been full for a while.
It is easy to go in and delete some things so I can add more.
The content could be photos, videos or screenshots.
I keep saying to myself that I just need a day to get some time to do a spring clean and delete random stuff from my phone to make space for new things, and for my phone to function effectively.
You cannot update the software version on your phone when it is full.
It needs space to download or update.
Everyone knows when you spring clean your house and start decluttering, you are so surprised by how many things you simply do not use or need anymore.
So, you let go of things and give them away or sell them.
In the same way, God wants to do a spring clean in our lives.
He wants us to make room for the new.
A cellphone with too much information or a cluttered house is an analogy of our minds, our bodies and how that affects our beliefs.
In order for God to put new into our lives, He is asking us about our capacity to steward more.
We cannot have minds cluttered by faulty thought patterns and expect change.
Romans 12:2 TPT: “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes”.
Many times, people pray for a job, promotion or success in their business.
Then comes the demand of that new thing and the amount of time taken away from friends and family.
Sacrifices that have to be made.
A blessing becomes a burden when we do not make room for it.
We ask for more but if we do not make room for more in our lives then something breaks down.
Arguments soon start at home.
Relationships start taking strain. People say, “I hardly see you now”.
You cannot please everyone.
You need to listen to God first.
He is the one calling you out of familiarity and comfortability and saying “make room for me. Make room for me”.
What are you asking God for?
What are you seeking?
If you want more of and from God, then make room for more of Him.
Spend time in worship.
Try a new Bible translation.
Try to still yourself and really think what is taking up room in your life and ask yourself whether it is really a priority.
It is never about God coming to us.
It is about our ability to capacitate His arrival.
God is always willing to bring the change we need.
Mark 2:22: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins otherwise the wineskin will burst, and the wine will be lost and the skin as well, but he puts new wine into fresh wineskins”.
When new wine was poured it had to be poured into a new wineskin because the old wineskin simply could not stretch. It could not change its shape.
New wine needs to breathe and because of that breathing process it causes the wineskin to expand.
We cannot stay the same yet keep asking God for new.
Newness brings change. Wine comes from harvesting in a certain season.
If you don't transition in season, you will miss your opportunity and ultimately miss an opportunity for God to pour out His goodness in your life.
New situations require new structure.
New jobs require new skills.
New relationships require new ways of relating.
For new people to be attracted to Christ's church new wineskins will have to be created and for that we will require change.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the renewal of your mind and for God to change faulty thinking patterns that you have held on too and for discernment to come in areas of your decision making.
- Pray for the ability to let go. Whether that is past hurt or dysfunctional relationships. Maybe you struggle with the need to control everything. Letting go makes room for the new.
- Pray for new wine (a refreshing of God's spirit) to pour out in your life, family, career, church or business.
Shannon-Leigh Ntshikose
Source: TCN / Shannon-Leigh Ntshikose
Date Added: 2023-06-19
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2023-06-19
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
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