Out Of the Old and Into the New

Sometimes we're asked to leave certain things behind in order to progress into a new season and allow God to stretch and expand us. But, why must we do this? And what does it look like to leave things behind?

About a week ago, God showed me an image where I was walking from one place to another – from one season into the next. As I continued to walk, I unzipped my skin (you could think of it as though I was wearing a hazmat suit…but it was my skin), wriggled it down my body, stepped out of it and kept on walking.

…Yeah, it’s a bit strange now that I’ve said it aloud.

Since receiving this image, I have been pondering what this all means. What does it look like to leave certain things behind and keep walking forward? What does it look like to hold on to some things, and let go of others? Why must I leave things behind, and what do I need to let go of?

Why We Must Shed

As I sat and meditated on this insight, I began to ponder the process of ‘shedding our skin’. I began to question and think deeply about the animals that shed, specifically a snake or lizard. In my pondering, I completed some research and discovered the reason why these animals undergo this process…as I continued to delve deeper, I found that this physical process was way more prophetic than I thought.

So let's jump in!

There are two main reasons why a snake sheds their skin. Firstly, as snakes grow, their skin does not. As the snake develops, it's skin becomes tight and worn, and a new skin grows just below the old, awaiting the shedding in order to be revealed. Secondly, over time, dangerous bacteria and parasites can become attached to the old skin and the process of shedding allows these animals to remove these microscopic threats that may be harmful to them in the long run.

As I continued to ask God for wisdom regarding what this image meant for me and what he was asking me to leave behind, I heard him begin to list certain things. He said,

“Ange, I want you to leave behind rejection, control, worry, doubt, fear, insecurity and small faith.”

Woah! HUGE! 

If we think of these habits in alignment with the process of shedding, we can see the prophetic start to shine through.

In our faith, God is constantly growing and developing us. However, there are certain things that we continue to ‘wear’ and carry that are inhibiting us and keeping the new skin – the new life – trapped beneath something that is uncomfortable and old. Not to mention, some of these habits are like a parasite - microscopic and hard to identify. Yet, they suck all the life from us, infect us and make us unhealthy. And when we refuse to let go of these harmful things, we allow them to slowly kill us and smother our hope, our faith and our joy.

Don't Waste the Wine

;)

Soon after this revelation, I was led to think about Luke 5:37-39: you don’t put new wine into old wine skins. Here, have a read for yourself:

37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.

38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins.

39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

The process of fermentation (which occurs in the wineskins), is intended to increase health benefits, enhance the flavour, preserve the food/drink and increase the shelf life. Ultimately, fermentation is intended to bring a newness that sustains, satisfies and benefits.

If God was to do a new work within us, without us shedding our old skin - poor habits, thought-patterns and traits –, we wouldn’t be able to handle it. Let me make this idea clear for you. In my case,

• my doubt would inhibit the expansion of my faith;

• my fear of rejection and insecurity would limit me from building Kingdom relationships that are key for my calling;

• my need for control would have ruined relationships and kept me, at times, from complete surrender to God's will;

• my worry and fear would keep me in a place of comfort and safety and would stop me from chasing God’s plans for my life;

• and, my small faith would stop me from praying and believing for the miracles that God wants to do in my life.

If we remained in the old skin, we would not have the capacity to withstand the positive pressure and development, and thus, we would burst and all the wine – blessing, provision, growth – would be wasted.

That is why many Christians continue living with small faith. Or, why many Christians revert to their former way of living or exit the faith completely. It is because the work that God wants to do in our lives requires discomfort and stretching, and many cannot handle it. Therefore, they convince themselves that the comfort and safety of their ‘small faith’ is just fine. But it’s not fine, it’s lukewarm.

Revelation 3:15-16

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

We Must Have the Capacity to be Stretched

 

You see, an important piece of information to know about the fermentation process, is that as something ferments, it expands. A new wine skin is tight, fresh and strong, meaning it has the capacity to be stretched. 

Whenever God wants to do something new in our life, He will stretch and expand us. And, this stretching will feel uncomfortable. At times, it may even feel as though we’re going to break. However, if we remove our old skin - take off and leave behind all that is harmful and worn out - the new skin will be able to expand and have the capacity to stretch with us, without breaking. But, if we do not do this, the old skin will lack elasticity and will tear very quickly.

Another crucial insight is that snakes often shed between 4 and 12 times per year. However, as the snake grows older, they will shed less often. In the early stages of our faith, we are constantly required to endure seasons of refinement, to remove our worldly inclinations and lay things down at the altar. Why? Because we are growing at a rapid rate, learning more about God, ourselves and the world around us. However, as we progress in our faith, our capacity and growth changes. We begin to be able to handle and be entrusted with more, our minds – including our faith and trust in God – are expanded and (hopefully) we have learnt to trust before we doubt or worry. Now, I'm not saying that we will be exempt from the shedding process, but as we grow in our faith and become more wise, righteous, pure and holy, we may shed less frequently.

The key to growth in the Spirit is to leave your worries, doubts and fears at the foot of the cross. Stop going and picking it back up!

God is Doing a New Thing

I truly believe that God wants to do a new thing in our lives. In fact, prophetically, right now is the season for rebuilding, replanting and restoring, and it involves the Holy Spirit equipping us in the secret place for His Kingdom works. God is currently in the process of fighting for His sons and daughters and is about to perform mighty miracles that bring tremendous breakthrough! He is about to breathe new, resurrection life on situations where all hope seemed lost. He is about to show us that the enemy is His footstool. He is about to make a way, when there seemed like there was no way. And, it will all happen suddenly - in one, single, miraculous moment.

These plans don't just require big faith, but rest on having God-sized faith and living in the overflow of His Spirit. Romans 12:2 tells us not to "conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds." We cannot live with small faith any longer. We cannot live according to what we see. We must be transformed to know that He is bigger than our pain, our circumstances, our weakness, and to be able to "test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." These plans require us to make room for the new, by shedding and letting go of the old. Only when we remove our old ways, can we develop the capacity to have a faith that is big enough to believe that His will is possible.

But of course, it is important to remember that our strength is found in Him. If you need greater faith, ask Him. Don't strive for it on your own or put excessive pressure on yourself to believe more!

Romans 12:2

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In this time, He is calling His sons and daughters to trust Him more than ever – without any doubt, fear or worry. He is asking us to rise up in order to send us out into the nations to proclaim His Good News; meaning there is no room (LITERALLY! We are expanding rapidly!) for insecurity or the fear of rejection.

A new dawn is breaking, and with that comes a new season where we cannot be limited by our old habits or ways of thinking. We must choose to shed our skin and make room for the new life in Christ to break through. It may feel uncomfortable, and you may feel stretched, but with it will come great promise. With it will come a faith and trust in God that exceeds the boundaries of our human minds, an anticipation for miracles beyond what we see, feel or our circumstances tell us, and a peace, joy and knowledge of His goodness that is so deeply rooted that we will praise Him even in the darkest valley!

Isaiah 43:18-19

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

A Future with God is Worth the Sacrifice of Today

Do you have dreams that feel scary? Perhaps, God has revealed to you some of His plans for your future. Maybe these plans require sacrifice - letting go of and leaving behind the things you hold dearly. Maybe, they require you to walk by faith and not by sight because a miracle (or multiple!) is required to fulfil these plans. Maybe, you feel alone in holding the promise because everyone else around you doesn’t seem to match your level of faith, causing you to doubt. Maybe, you feel more mature, either physically or spiritually, than the people around you and feel misunderstood. Maybe, you’re hungry for more of God, but you feel limited, or inhibited, by the place or season that you’re in. Maybe, you hunger for more of the Spirit or for your dreams to come to fruition, but continue to encounter roadblocks and red lights. Maybe, you’re scared of what the future with God might hold and uncertain of whether you’ll succeed or fail.

Well, friend, today I want to encourage you to leave behind these fears and doubts and to “step out of the old, and into the new (eh-oh, eh-oh).” A future with God is worth the sacrifice of today, because we know that in all things He will never leave us or forsake us. A sacrifice might be to let go of fear and doubt, impatience and pride, worry and anxiety, control and knowledge. But when He leads us to make these sacrifices, please know that He has your best intentions at heart and wants to take you to new heights that you could have never imagined.

On the other side of sacrifice, is a blessing that is greater than you ever could have thought or imagined. The fear, doubt, anxiety or reluctance to obey God that you're experiencing today, is the enemy trying to stop you from reaching the perfect plans He has for you. Because he knows, once you surrender to God, you'll be unstoppable and will have power beyond the grave!

So, in your longing for more, I leave you with this song.