As a Church we are always open to hear from God and follow His direction. Below are the things we beleive He is highlighting to us in this present 'season'.
We recognise that this is a new era in the plans and purposes of God. We have never been this way before, so we need to depend upon the Lord familiarise us with our new environment and to guide us through unknown terrain.
Let Jesus Lead you by the hand
As we have entered into 2023 we have felt a clear sense that Jesus is inviting us to take His hand and to trust Him as He leads us through this year and beyond. We may not know what is coming, we may not see or understand everything we are experiencing, but we trust the One who is leading us.
In the words of Minnie Louise Haskin “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.” – Read the full poem here.
We are taking time to Wait, Watch and Pray.
Wait
'Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD'. (Psm 27:14 NIV) - We are to wait, not in drowsiness, boredom or sleep, but fully alert, looking out for the Lord and what He will reveal. We are to be strong - not in our own human strength, but in God's mighty power. We are to 'take heart', not to be fearful or anxious, but full of courage and faith. This new era may be unfamiliar, but our God is constant and faithful.
Watch
'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls'. (Jer 6:16 NIV). As we wait we are to watch for the path the Lord would highlight for us and lead us into. He will lead us on ancient paths through a new and unfamiliar land.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41-42 NIV). We are to watch and pray that we might not fall into temptation, which can come from human weakness and frailty.
Pray
'And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.' (Eph 6:18 NIV). - We are to pray 'in the Spirit' - that is inspired by and at one with the Holy Spirit. We are to pray 'on all occasions' - not just in our quite time, not just in church gatherings, but at all times, at work, in the car, at home, walking the streets, eating our dinner. We are to use 'all kinds of prayers and requests' - this is about natural, ongoing communication with the Lord, sometimes with formal and well known words, sometimes with spontaneous thanksgiving and praise, sometimes with urgent cries for help (not just for ourselves but more especially for others) sometimes with quite reflection and enjoyment of God's presence.
