God is Near in the Day of Decision

by Jennifer A. Miskov, PhD (originally posted on May 23, 2015)

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

Blessings over each of you during this time of transition! I want to encourage you to dive into this glorious yet beautifully dangerous path to the season ahead. I use the word dangerous because we are about to embark on a wild adventure where we must throw off all constraints and cling fearlessly to our Father in heaven. Many of us are being led by the Spirit onto the edge of a cliff where there is nothing but an unknown abyss welcoming us below. The wind of the Spirit is coming behind and leading us closer to the edge. As we are about to jump into the unknown, our only option is to cling to Jesus and trust that He is going to give us wings to fly or will catch us. This movement into the unknown is good and is actually the Lord leading us into a new level of intimacy and trust with Him.

This is what it felt like for me nearly 1 year ago when I set off for the San Francisco airport without a plane ticket. It was at the airport that I experienced God move mountains to get me to England for my friend’s wedding the following day. Next week, I celebrate the 1 year anniversary of that miracle flight. It is not surprising to me that nearly everyone I speak with is experiencing major transition right now. People are moving, transitioning jobs, graduating, birthing babies, or getting married. God is very near in the day of decision and in the midst of transition. Hold tight to Him and trust that all this shifting and change is actually Him working to align you to be perfectly positioned for what is coming next. Press into Him and trust that He is for you and working on your behalf behind the scenes (Romans 8).

As I enter into this new season ahead, the Lord has been speaking to me a lot through Joshua 3 to encourage me. Joshua was leading his tribe into a new season and into a new land. Right before Joshua was about to do the impossible and part the Jordan (in a similar way that his predecessor Moses parted the Red Sea), he encouraged his people to be led by the presence of God into this next breakthrough.

“After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before…’”  Joshua 3:2-4

We, too, are being led into the depths of uncertainty in order to enter a place we have never been before. We are about to go deeper in the Spirit, in relationships, in seeing God’s Kingdom come, and in being a part of an outpouring of the Spirit greater than we have ever experienced or even heard about before. We must stay true to the Word but also listen to His voice and follow His presence wherever He leads, even into unusual places.

In preparation for this great breakthrough, Joshua also called his tribe to wholly and totally consecrate themselves so they could focus on stepping into the impossibility before them.

Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’” Joshua 3:5

It’s time to focus and be totally set apart so we can step into all that God has for us in this upcoming season. Don’t be distracted from what God is really doing all around you. And don’t be surprised if God leads you into unlikely places or takes you somewhere you have never been before. Something beautiful and marked with destiny is on the other side of this challenge, trial, transition, fight you are facing. Put your hope in God, fix your eyes on Jesus, and be completely led by the peace in your heart and presence of God during this time. You are about to step onto ground and go places that you have never ventured to before. I bless you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, worship Him even more fiercely, be knit together in the tribe He wants you to run with in this season, and be filled with courage to cling to Him always. Enjoy the ride and know always that He is right there with you, positioning you for greater destiny, glory, and synergy.