While I was praying for someone the other day, I saw a vision of a hand pulling a piece of tissue out of a golden tissue box, wiping the tears from that someone's eyes. And then I heard these words, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy'.
I would interpret the 'gold' color in the 'golden tissue box' as 'the divine touch of God', coming from the very throne of God directly to those who need it.
Let's go back to Psalm 126:5-6 now. The background of these two verses is about 'being set free' from bondage and captivity, as God's people began to see their weeping being turned into rejoicing. Here's what Psalm 126:1-4 (the verses prior to Psalm 126:5-6) says, 'When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed (i.e. dream came true). Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations (Gentiles), "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the South (Negev)'.
Indeed, this is a time of reaping and rejoicing for many of you who have been 'sowing in tears'!
Last Sunday morning, I heard and released these prophetic words to the congregation regarding the current time and season they are in:
"There's a new strategy that I am releasing to My people in this time and season! A strategy for My people's breakthrough and victory! And I am releasing a new way, a new approach, even a new formation! The wind from heaven is blowing to bring forth such in the physical realm. The old is gone, and the new has come! This is a day to declare your reaping time has come! For those who sow in tears shall reap in joy!"
And then I heard and released further:
"And I am releasing a new sound, a new rhythm into your life and spirit today. A new sound, a new rhythm for a new season! Allow Me, and watch how I am going to bring you into the next level you have been asking for!"
The word 'reap' in Psalm 126:5 is 'qatsar' in Hebrew, meaning 'to harvest (grains)', from the same Hebrew root as 'qatsats', meaning 'to cut off, to chop off'. As a matter of fact, when you use the sickle to 'cut' ('qatsar') in the harvest field, you are effectively separating the 'useful' from the 'useless'. The grains (i.e. the useful parts) would then be used to make bread (i.e. food) to feed (bless) many, while the useless parts would be burned. So, 'separating' here is a 'picture' of your 'consecration before the Lord', or 'being set apart for His works'. In other words, a harvest time (or reaping time) would always come together with a time of consecration before the Lord, or being separated (set apart) unto God!
People of God, if you ask me what is the time and season at the moment in the spiritual realm, I would say we are in the time and season of crossing the 'threshold'. A 'threshold' is 'a piece of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway', and is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as 'point of entering or beginning something'.
Get ready therefore! And get yourself consecrated before the Lord! For the Lord will begin to do great things for you too, just as it is written in Psalm 126:1-4!
In this new season of the Lord, there's also a new sound and a new rhythm that the Lord is breathing into you. Receive by faith! Flow with this new sound and new rhythm from Him, and you will see there's no struggle in everything you do. Why? Because it is the Lord who sets it! Interestingly, right after Psalm 126:5-6 comes this verse in Psalm 127:1 that says, 'Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it...' The word 'build' here is 'banah' in Hebrew, meaning 'to appoint, to set (things) up'. In other words, 'unless the Lord is the One who appoints (it), or sets (things) up, God's people will labor in vain'!
Your part is to flow with His plan and in His direction, and you will begin to see your breakthrough and victory!
Some old 'set up' and old 'strategies' that used to work in the old season may not work anymore. In this season of 'change' and 'crossing the threshold', there's going to be a new way, a new approach, even a new formation being released from heaven. In fact, for some of you, there's even going to be some re-positioning. Be willing to adjust, and allow Him to change you. To put it simply, be willing to embrace the change He has for you!
Bear in mind the Lord doesn't change things for no reason. He changes things for you (at certain junctures of your life) so that you will always be at the cutting edge, effective in all that He has called you to be (or do)!
This is also a time He is releasing many new strategies for His people! Take time to listen for His voice as you read the Word and pray in the spirit. By the way, 'a strategy' can be defined as 'a plan and direction in a war, a battle, or an operation'.
For some of you who have been feeling 'overwhelmed' by the 'tasks' that you have in your hands, take heart, because the battle in this end-time is not yours, but the Lord's, just as in the days of Jehoshaphat (read 2 Chronicles 20:15). Meditate on 2 Chronicles chapter 20:1-30, and allow the Lord to re-assure and encourage you.
Last but not least, I would like to bring to your attention Isaiah 6:1-8, a key and crucial 'threshold' for Isaiah's life and ministry. These verses describe how the Lord brought Isaiah into his new season, and from that time on, he (Isaiah) never looked back, and went on to become a great prophet of the Lord. Again, it all began with a time of consecration before the Lord!
Isaiah 6:4-7 says, 'So I (Isaiah) said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal... And he touched my mouth with it, and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged."'
People of God, likewise, allow the Lord to burn away the 'useless' as you prepare yourself for His new appointments in your life!
Isaiah 6:8 then says, 'Also I (Isaiah) heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I (Isaiah) said, "Here am I! Send me."' Interestingly, the word 'send' here is 'shalach' in Hebrew, which actually means 'to appoint, to use, to bring (on the way), to shoot forth'.
May you also say the same to the Lord today: "Here am I, appoint me, use me, bring me (on the way), and shoot me forth (to where you want me to be, and what you want me to do)!" In Jesus' name. Amen.
