Good Morning Friend!
Are you ready for the next round?
Have you ever been in a place where you've said to yourself "I've been here before?" There are times in life when you will feel like you keep experiencing the same situations, problems, circumstances, etc. It may even seem like you could close your eyes and walk through it blind folded because you have been in this particular place or juncture so many times before. I don't know about you but it frustrates me to all ends when I have to constantly repeat myself to someone and it definitely irritates me when I have to repeat test and trials…especially when I felt like I got the lesson from the last test. Whenever we find ourselves on the "merry-go-round" of life it's usually because there is something more for us to learn out of the current situation or it could simply mean that we ourselves are being defiant or "hard-headed" about the will of God concerning our life. Either way, to those who God has given great giftings, promises and anointings, i've come to realize that he expects more out of us no matter what situations we find ourselves in. He expects more praise, more worship, more prayer, more fasting, more studying and living out of His word and more giving of ourselves. The same goes for every situation or facet within the life of the believer. Usually the proceeding stages in our lives causes for greater commitment, determination, and long-suffering than the stages before because they ultimately will yield greater returns and results in our lives. Are you willing to go through the processes necessary in order to reach your greater levels and dimensions in life?
I remember hearing this catchy phrase so many times growing up in church as a child and you can still hear these words emanating throughout sanctuaries, conferences, etc., today. It wasn't until I heard these words sung by a dear friend of mine about a week or two ago that the revelation of EVERY ROUND GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER really hit me. You see we should learn lessons from whatsoever we face in life. There should not be one event that happens to us and we just let it fly by like "oh well that's life" or "oh well everybody else is going through it too." Whatever we face in life there are nuggets waiting to unfold to teach us something in order for us to ascertain to greater levels in life with an experience and some knowledge. There will be times as I stated earlier that you will see similar landscaping throughout life that will resemble past experiences, hardships, etc. Its at that time where our experiences should place our thinking on higher levels so when we experience situations that we may have in the past, we can experience them with GREATER understanding and knowledge. This is what makes every round really go higher and higher! You see, if I can look at trouble that I've faced before with just a little more faith than I did the last time, that shows growth and maturity. When we face familiar trials with an elevated and renewed mindset is when God can truly open greater doors and raise us to greater levels because he sees that we are ready to go a little higher in Him.
We see it so many times within Holy writ. We see Abram go through his processes until he becomes Abraham the father of many nations. We see David go from being a sheep herder to being anointed [while he is still a child] to be the next King of Israel by Samuel and then he is sent back to work with the sheep. He's called to live with and serve the King Saul and slew a great giant by the name of Goliath. He then has to run for his life because of the anger and jealousy of his leader. Years later having made it to where he was anointed years prior to be his problems don't stop there. David had many trails and situations to go through but just like Abraham, within every test he faced he seemed to sit a little higher and have a little more wisdom than he did within previous tests.
One thing that this year has taught me is that EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING has to go through a PROCESS! So often we are anointed, prophesied to and even see glimpses of our own future only to have to start back at the beginning after seeing a preview of our promise. This can be very disheartening, especially when the processes that we have to go through look nothing like the future we are to ultimately have. I want to encourage you this week, that no matter how hard it gets to remember the promise! No matter how long it seems like you have been in the same place—remember what the Lord spoke to you to do! If you keep your mind stayed on these things while experiencing your process, it makes everything a whole lot easier. Take it from me, I know it can be easy to want to quit in the middle of the process but you have to remember the promise. You have to remember all of what you have gone through thus far just to get to this place. You have to remember the countless numbers of people who are waiting for you to come out so that you can be an inspiration to them that its possible to make it through struggle and/or hard times.
So take off your blind fold, open your eyes and embrace this next round—because there is a blessing in the experience. I see God raising you up right in the midst of your adversities! I see him lifting you to greater dimensions in your business, ministry and marriage. I can see God raising some single mother up off of welfare! Get ready because you are about to tell welfare FAREWELL! I can feel God breaking chains and setting the captives free! Stand strong! Don't give up and don't give in! I know its hard right now but we can make it! And we will make it! In closing there is an old song that goes "nobody told me, that the road would be easy and I don't believe He's brought me this far to leave me." Don't give up now—your next round just may be the round that you have been waiting for!
God Bless,
Clyde L. Webster
Song of Encouragement for the Week
"Don't Give Up!" by Kevin Hobson (The Overcomer's Project)
"Expectancy" by Stephanie Pride & Ernest J. Lee
"Take Me Higher" by Stephanie Pride & James Shelton
(Incredible Worship: The Project...COMING SOON!)
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