One of the challenges of transition is understanding how to exit one phase or stage of life and enter the next one. Jesus was tested in the wilderness while going into His ministry and tested even more in Gethsemane when transitioning out.
You are the most vulnerable during strategic times of transition.
There are 3 powerfully clarifying questions we’ve learned to use in times of transition:
- “WHO will I need to BE NOW, that I’ve never been before?”
And the next key question:
- “WHAT will I need to DO NOW that I’ve never done before?”
Which leads to the ultimate question: In light of who I need to be and what I need to do…
- “WHO will God be for me now that He has never been before? What aspect(s) of God do I need to draw upon?”
Now, what does this mean?
- You must tap into parts of yourself never previously developed. The moment you enter into a real transition, one in which the phase of your life is going to shift, you’ll really have to show up in a whole new way. This means tapping into everything you’ve ever learned and everything you’ve ever done. You’re exercising new muscles, new awareness; you’re exploring new space. It’s the extension of your authentic self. It’s your heavenly identity at a whole new level. It’s a place you’ve never been before. Give yourself permission to be uncomfortable.
- You will face opposition from spiritual forces. When you begin to step into your season of transition, the spiritual world will try to lock you up in the old pattern. This is like the children of Israel trying to cross over into the Promised Land. There was a very real demarcation between where they were and where they were going. Only after they made the shift would a new beginning unfold. What was it that inhibited that transition? It was the old habits that didn’t die in the wilderness! What was waiting for them? A land of prophetic promises; their Promised Land.
How does the devil attempt to hold you back from transition? He does this by imposing outside resistance from some source aligned with his evil intent. This could be political, legal, or even occultic. But this is not an easy option for the devil and requires a lot of resources. Satan would much rather have you self-disqualify. He will aim his arrows at you personally. He will bring up your history, your old patterns, old fears, and old iniquities. Sometimes the very people you need to avoid start crossing your path.
Jesus warned His disciples to “watch.” This word involves watching what is coming up in you as well as what is developing in the environment around you. He is sympathetic to your battle, which is why He told His disciples to pray because “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
This could be translated as “Your spirit man wants to do the right thing but your emotions and your untrained senses will overpower your spirit. Your natural man is weak. Fail to pray and you’ll be frightened and intimidated and will want to run.”
Friends, let nothing keep you back from your transition! “Watch” what’s coming up in you and watch what’s going on around you!
Question: Are you entering into a new season? What are some tactics that the devil is using to block you from your Promised Land? What words of the Lord are you standing on for victory? Perhaps you were previously unaware, but now your eyes are open to the importance of being on your “watch.” Comment below!
As One!
Lance
Thank you so much Lance! I’m so amazed by your wisdom and teachings. There is so much life in what you say… ” The Holy Spirit in you!” I have a few things by you and I love the truth ! It will take time but I want all your teaching and would love to come to your conferences! I speak BLESSINGS to you and your family and ministery in JESUS NAME! Thank you so much for impacting my life
He’s bringing up old hurts.
Thanks for your article. I didn’t use to recognise them because I was too focused on me. I’m beginning to recognize his strategies and give an answer of love from God’s word because I can.
Be thou an example of the believer.
Hey Lance,
This couldn’t have been more right on for me and my husband. Thanks for sharing.
We love the way you think. It makes our brains feel like a million bucks. lol
We have been in a full time ministry position at an Outreach Center in Pennsylvannia for the past 6 years and feel the Lord leading us out. We are looking for open doors. Thought it would be worth a shot to ask you if LanceLearning ever had job openings.
Thanks and Blessings!
Further up and further in,
Nick and Britt
Thanks for the right message at the right time. We’ve recently moved into a whole new season, and have encountered a lot of opposition. I was ready to run, but you’ve opened my eyes to what’s going on in the spiritual realm.
Rob, see Ephesians 6:10-18. Comes to mind for you.
This was good for me tonight! Encouraging and confirming and instructing. I look forward to digesting it further. Definitely in transition, and enemy has been trying to put old “clothes” back in me. Don’t crack the door to the enemy by questioning what your spirit has heard from the Spirit, despite the mouth through which a counter word comes.
This is exactly where I am. God is pointing to things that need flushing out.
Some of them were root beliefs that gave an idolatrous root a hiding place.
I am currently in transition…I’ve never been in a place where I am now. I have nothing except my personal belongings. I was pushed to leave my place of employment. I’ve never been without my own home..I absolutely am on a faith train…..I’m standing on Jeremiah 29:11…….Psalms 30:11 Isaiah 61:3 to name a few.
Thank you Lance, this is right where I am. I pray I can let go of the past and look forward with eyes of the spirit to into the future for what God has planned for me and my family in ministry and for our housing situation.
This was so timely so needed,
My youngest is headed to Oral Roberts University we live in Canada and the empty nest has started, this is transition in real life. Many tears … And feeling unsure walking by the empty bedroom is the hardest ever.
So I will ask myself to exercise muscles never used before as I transition?⛈☔️?
Fear Not! Some of my best years were at Oral Roberts University, was led there by the Spirit of Christ, but if could go to any school it would be in the top few schools available. Tulsa is an excellent city to live, but most of all it is a safe place, hopefully your child will be hunger for the things of the Lord. It is not a one slant of one belief there, the professors are the Body of Christ, they come from many different slant that make up the whole, if your child is going into ministry, tell them to go into the Library and utilize the upper room with the archive of the past moves on the earth, if i could do it over, that is were i would have stayed, there is not another place on earth. Excellent ministries there too.
A good thing to read just before I sleep on this my 53rd birthday. I’m going to read it again now and when I wake up. GBY ✌??☝