New Directions

This morning God showed me something interesting. In my dream I was in a hospital corridor and was returning to see my friends-- my cancer buddies-- when I came across a hole cut in the wall. On my left, the drywall had been removed and the bare concrete of the exterior wall exposed. The wall, ceiling, and floor were each marked with red chalk, showing where the concrete had to be cut. I immediately understood the broad meaning of the the vision- "NEW DIRECTIONS."

Okay God, cool. But there is a lot implied in this scene!

Have you ever cut concrete? I have. It is done with a special gasoline powered circular saw with a diamond blade. It is LOUD, and it is MESSY. Concrete dust fills the air. The whole work space must be blocked off with plastic sheeting to keep the dust from filling the building. If you fail in this, people will be complaining, the smoke alarms will be going off, and you will NOT be looked on with favor... (Truthfully, people will complain anyway. As my pastor David Nelson likes to say, "people gonna people.")

But how does this correlate with spiritual changes, especially in direction? Changes in direction, even God prompted ones, are messy. There is noise, and lots of confusion. Well-meaning people want to help. They want to watch to make sure you are doing everything properly, but the dust and plastic hung for their protection inhibits their view of the proceedings. Others DON'T care about helping you. They're just grumpy because your changes- your work in progress- are disturbing their peace and their comfortable plans for a normal day. Both will inhibit your progress and you will have to deal with these disruptions.

I noticed also that the cuts were marked with red chalk. In construction, red chalk stains, but blue chalk will wash away. Red chalk is PERMANANT. The cuts being marked in red chalk showed that the architect is determined. God the Planner is NOT going to change his mind. These are cuts he intends to make, because he is determined to expand my life in this direction.

Notice that this is an expansion, a new direction, but I am not leaving the hospital. I am still on the hospital grounds, still a partner with God in the business of healing people. But I think He wants to expand me by pointing me in a new direction. And no, I don't know what it is. So please pray for me for understanding. A couple of days ago, I opened my Bible at random to Zechariah 1: 16, quoting from The Message:

" 'I've come back to Jerusalem, but with compassion this time.'

This is GOD speaking.

'I'll see to it that the temple is rebuilt.'

A Decree of God - of - the - Angel - Armies.

'The rebuilding operation is already staked out.'

Say it again- a Decree of God - of - the - Angel - Armies.

Some time ago, God showed me a path for a sidewalk staked out in the grass with 2x4 stakes. They were pounded into the grass in two parallel lines. They marked where the future sidewalk was going to go. This hole to be cut in the wall has the same meaning. The rebuilding operation is already staked out. The new direction is marked on the concrete in red chalk. God is telling me that he is about to redirect me, so I need to get ready. Where will this expansion go? What will it look like? I have no clue. Ask me again tomorrow?

So maybe this is also for some of you? Maybe God wants to expand your life, your ministry, or perhaps your career in a new direction in this new year. Pray about it.

May God lead you, and may He cover you with his grace for the mess you're about to make!

Things are about to get messy!