ROOTED RENEGADE

Have you ever been going somewhere and thought you had plenty of time to get there, then all of a sudden traffic comes to a screeching halt? Your GPS now says it will take an extra 15 minutes to get there, which will make you late.

Unexpected delays happen all the time. There are times when God holds us back from rushing into something and there are times when it is a giant standing in our way. And others, well we cause the delay. Below are some differences:

Delays caused by God:

1. You can’t walk through the door you want because He has not opened it for you yet.
2. You can’t get yourself out of the Valley of Baca because you are in a season of healing.
3. You are in a season of discipline and can’t walk up the mountain in front of you because He has blocked the way.
4. You have tried to start that business but haven’t succeeded because God has you in season of preparation that you may not see or understand yet.
5. You are in a holding pattern because God is teaching you to wait on Him.

Delays caused by giants:

1. God has given you the green light and you keep hitting the red ones.
2. You hit roadblocks every time you move in the direction God has sent you.
3. You heard the Lord say go and when you try doors get slammed in your face.
4. Areas of your life start falling apart as soon as you step out in faith.
5. You are so unnaturally exhausted you can’t do what God has asked you to do.

Delays we cause:

1. You ran with the vision without asking for directions.
2. You spent money you didn’t have on the vision before the Lord gave the permission.
3. You partnered with people God didn’t send because they said they could help you.
4. You put the cart before the horse and the horse ran away.
5. You became impatient in the waiting and thought you could nudge God by acting on your own.

We are in a critical hour where we need to know how to distinguish between a giant holding us back, God standing in our way, or where we have been our own worst enemy.  Discernment is key during these times.  Without it, we will not walk according to all God has for us.

I have been guilty of blaming giants for something not happening when in reality it was me.  Learning self-control is not an easy gift of the Spirit to learn.  It takes continual practice and we must exercise it daily.

When I lack self-control and want to rush ahead, I have to stop and ask myself some key questions:

1. Why do I want to rush into something?
2. What do I need to re-evaluate?
3. Where have I missed interpreted what God was saying?
4. How can I pause, reflect, and realign?

Knowing the answer to these is very helpful in determining what we are facing. When God blocks us, it is strategic and full of grace. He doesn’t want us to get ahead of Him because He knows what is waiting for us. He knows the blessings, the struggles, the tests, etc. He isn’t one to just let us flail about like a fish out of water. He wants us to succeed, in the right way.

When we face giants who are blocking us from moving in the direction God has given us, we have to know how to defeat them, by relying on Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. We can’t go rouge and do battle.

We have to test the spirit by the Spirit and then proceed with clear understanding and direction.  Because we may end up hindering our own process if we battle in our own understanding.

I encourage you to sit with Holy Spirit and ask for the discernment to know if you are causing your own delay, if it is God holding you back, or if it is a giant standing in your way.  And then, be willing to receive the answer.  We can’t blame everything on the enemy.  But when it is him, Holy Spirit will give us the right ammunition to use against him.And remember the giants will fall!

Here are some key scriptures to pray and meditate on:

Psalm 70:50 NLT

Psalm 27:14 ESV

Psalm 40:1-2 TPT

Psalm 130:5-6 NKJV

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