Wilderness to Promised Land

We have been travelling the wilderness for a while - parched and in need of refreshment. We stand on the banks of the Jordan river and God is ready to lead us forward into the land of promise. However, we must lay down our lives to follow Him. Are you prepared to give up everything to enter the Promised Land?

An Unexpected Season of Testing

Recently I have been traversing the wilderness in a season of testing. During this time, God has grown me in ways that I didn’t even think were possible and doing works within me at a rapid speed. Every day He has ministered to my heart, given me instructions – manna – for each day, and led me faithfully through the dry land.

Before the season even began, He gave me a word in season that was my anchor to help me keep going. What was it? Well, it was a promise of refreshment from Isaiah 43:

Isaiah 43: 18-19 

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

When I first received the verse, I believed that it applied to another area of my life and involved God bringing breakthrough in a different way. But what came next, was completely unexpected.

Only a few short weeks after He dropped this verse into my mind, it felt like my entire life – everything I loved and wanted, everything that was familiar and safe – was ripped out from underneath me. However, as it happened God gave me His unexplainable peace and provided me with a prophetic word to lead me through the season that lied ahead. Without sharing the complete word, here is a glimpse of what the Lord promised.

Angie,

My darling girl. My beloved child.

I have no doubt that the road ahead will present difficulties. There will be times when you will want to give up on hope and the promises I have given to you. There will be times when you grow weary and impatient. There will be times when you feel lost and confused. But, remember my daughter, in those times I will be with you. I will never leave or forsake you. I will never break my promises, nor will I forget about them. I will go before you, like a pillar of cloud and fire, leading you through this foreign land, guiding you towards the promised land. Keep looking towards me. Do not lose sight of the promises - cling onto them, tightly. More tightly than you ever have before.

There will be trials and troubles, but I promise I will never stop ministering to your heart. You are well-equipped for the battles that lay before you. I am not sending you empty-handed.

My precious girl, the days ahead will require you to pray and fast like never before. You will need to intercede for… [others] and be obedient to my Spirit’s promptings in the moment. Remember that you are fighting more than flesh and blood. This is a spiritual battle. But don’t fear, for you are a mighty warrior my girl, and I hold the victory. You are safe with me. So, don’t lose hope. Be patient, on guard and always listening.

…

We will make it to the promise soon and the plans I have for you are far beyond anything that you could ever think or imagine. You will soon be refreshed.

I am SO proud of you my dear - you have no idea.

He promised that He would lead me through the wilderness and never stop ministering to my heart. However, He warned me that this road ahead would be difficult and that I would have to fight in the Spirit like never before. As I entered the season, the number ‘40’ continued to come to my attention – 40 signifying testing or new life, growth, transformation and change.

Throughout the previous two months, the Lord has given me His strength despite anxiety-inducing situations. He has told me ‘not to despair’, ‘to hold onto hope’ and ‘to not give up’ when I have come to the end of myself. This often meant that instead of crying and sorrow, He gave me radiant joy amid heartbreak and loss, and His presence sustained me. For a girl who typically cries a lot, I did not shed many tears during this season! Which only meant one thing - God was with me!

If I’m completely honest, I did not want the testing to end (now that's an unpopular opinion!). The intimacy that I had developed with the Lord and the growth that I was experiencing was unlike anything that I had ever experienced before. If I wasn’t working, I was spending time in the Secret Place, sitting in His presence, worshipping, praying and fasting. I literally did nothing else for two months straight! His goodness covered me in every moment. He never stopped speaking to me in the entire two months. I drew near to Him and He drew near to me - He was closer than my very breath.

The whole time I persevered with the destination in sight - the Promised Land - and I held tightly to the words and promises that He gave me, which all aligned with Isaiah 43 and rivers, refreshment, rebuilding and restoration.

Get Up!  

However, a few nights ago, my heart felt heavy and burdened and so, I came to sit with the Father. As I sat before Him, I cried a few tears – weary and tired of the journey I had been on for the past two months. Eventually, I laid on the floor, without any words to say. I was exhausted and ready to give up. I had a sense that the old season had ended. I knew that there was a new instruction for me, but I wasn’t sure what it was. From this place, I wanted to give up on the promise and I began to question the possibility of it actually coming to fruition. I had faith, I was just so worn-out that I didn’t want to keep going. I said to God, “What if I don’t even want it anymore? What if I can’t see myself in that place anymore? What is my new instruction?”

As I laid there on my back, listening to some worship music I heard Him command, “Get up!” I ignored it. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to stay there, in a position of mild defeat, despair and self-pity. In this place, I began to feel sorrier for myself and for the disappointments that I had faced and opportunities that I had missed out on. I was mildly angry and frustrated. Again, He whispered, “Angelique, get up!”  

Suddenly, I listened to the voice and recognised the unhealthy places my mind was travelling to. Holding back my tears, I commanded, “I will not curse You! I will not curse my God. He is good and He is kind!” And I stood up from the floor, watching as the burden fell off my shoulders.  

The next day, I began to see this command, “Get up!”, everywhere that I was reading in the scriptures. It began to capture my attention. It was no coincidence that I was seeing it in multiple places. What was God trying to tell me? I wondered. 

I began to press into the command and research what it meant. I realised that it meant to take action, to rise above defeat and despair, to not be afraid, to take a step of faith, to stand up and to not to stay in this place any longer – to leave this place you’re in. I was led to passages such as Matthew 17:7, Exodus 8:20, Judges 7:9, Ezekiel 3:22, Luke 8:54, Acts 26:15b-16, Joshua 7:10-11, Jeremiah 1:17 and Mark 2:11. These instructions resonated as I had felt that the time for prayer and intercession had ended and had grown a bored in my season, as I felt like I was just waiting aimlessly in the in-between. I felt like there was something new - something more to enter into. But I wasn't sure what it was. Whilst I researched, it was still vague what He meant. I still didn't entirely know what the new command was. What was I to action? Suddenly I stumbled across a random TikTok video – a prophetic word which spoke directly to my heart.

It is Time, Time to Enter the Promised Land

Look Forward, Don't Look Back

As I listened, I felt the Holy Spirit fall upon me, and I had a radical encounter with the Lord. I knew that God was asking me to get up and to walk into the Promised Land. The dry season had ended, and without realising it, I was standing before my destination. But there was one catch…

I wept because I knew what God was asking me to do. He was asking me to enter the Promised Land. However, to do so, I needed to lay down the promises God had given to me and leave behind everything that I desired most. This meant people I loved and dreams that I held tightly!

As I knelt before God, I was immersed in a vision from Heaven. Before me was the river, Jordan. Jesus was standing before me, the river behind Him, with His hand outstretched, asking me to cross with Him. I could see a glimpse of the Promised Land behind Him. It looked so pleasing - abundant with blessing. But behind me stood everything that I had known. I wanted to stay. I wanted to remain on the riverbank. I didn't want to say goodbye or leave the things that I loved, the things that I wanted and felt that I needed. But I wanted more than anything to follow Jesus. After all, I had been travelling to the Promised Land for so long. It was my future – a land flowing with milk and honey.

I knew I had to face a difficult choice. If I was to stay in the wilderness, God wouldn't be with me, and I would miss out on everything that He had for me. But if I was to go, I would have to let go of the desires that I had held closely for so long. If I was to go, I was laying down the promises of the past that God had given me, and exchanging them for new, unknown promises.  

It was excruciating to stand on the bank of the river in the tension of wanting to go forward but being fearful to leave behind everything I knew and held dearly: the familiar, my own desires and the things I loved. But I knew God was calling me – deeper - into the Promised Land and that I had to let go of these things if I wanted to enter. I knew that He was saying “You are strong enough to do this alone. You don’t need anyone but Me. I have equipped you, my girl. Trust Me.” 

So, I had to face the question: What did I want more? My own desires or to follow Him into the land of milk and honey? Of course, I wanted to choose Jesus. I didn't want to miss out on the goodness and the abundance of His new promise just to stay in the wilderness. I knew I had to let go, no matter how much it hurt, how much I wanted to lead my own life or how much fear I felt surrounding the unknown.

I began to walk out across the riverbed, following as Jesus led. As I crossed, it was hard not to look back. I felt the burning urge to turn around and look towards the people and promises I had left on the bank, but I felt Jesus say, “Don’t look back. Forget the former things and look towards the new.” I fought the desire to turn around, knowing that if I did, it would be more difficult to follow Him. I knew that I had to choose to be obedient and release my desires to the Lord. I had to trust that Jesus had better things in store for me, even though I couldn’t see them! God was leading me into the new – and when I say new, I mean the old is being completely left behind. 

Matthew 16:24 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:62 

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” 

Philippians 3:13 

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 

Luke 17:32-33 

Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 

You Will Be Blessed

After I made this choice, I felt the Lord smile at me and remind me of Genesis 22; “Because you have obeyed me and not withheld anything, I will certainly bless you.” He understood the difficulty I felt to follow Him and had grace for my struggle to lay things down. However, after I laid my desires down, I felt Him remind me of Abraham and his obedience in sacrificing Isaac – the fulfilment of God’s promises to him.

God wants undivided hearts, and this action of surrender was the culminating moment to my season of testing. Jesus was asking me, “Ange, will you trust me with your whole life? Do you value Me more than the promise? Do you trust that I will provide you with another fulfilment of the promise? Do you believe I am capable of resurrecting the promise? And even if I don't, am I enough for you?” God wanted me to show my obedience to him and lay the things I treasured most on the altar – sacrificing people, desires and all the promises that He had given me. As I did this, I felt that God could pour out His healing upon me and allow me to move on from the former things – to shed the old skin – and make room for the new. 

Genesis 22:16-18 

This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me. 

Joshua 1:16 

They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us.” 

A devotion I read a few days later, by Charles F. Stanley, says:

“God will never ask you to sacrifice anything without giving you a greater blessing in return. Of course, the moment he asks it of you, it may be difficult to remember that. It certainly was for Abraham. When he and Sarah were well beyond childbearing age, the Lord miraculously provided them with Isaac. But then God commanded something very difficult, indeed - that Abraham offer his only son as a sacrifice. Abraham willingly complied, confident that the Lord would keep His promise to provide many descendants through Isaac. Though he didn't know how God would do so, Abraham absolutely trusted He would - and the Lord spared Isaac. And because Abraham was faithful, God blessed him beyond imagination. Likewise, the Father may ask you to give up something important - not to wound you, but to make sure your trust in Him remains firm. No matter how difficult it is, do it. He will bless you in amazing ways that will both surprise and delight you.”

Surrender can be difficult, but God will certainly bless us when we lay down our own ways for His.

A Timely Prophetic Word

As I was writing this post, I checked my inbox and saw my daily prophetic word (from Global Prophetic Alliance) had come in. When I read it, I just smiled at how timely it was. The Lord works in beautiful ways. And so, I thought to share it with you as well.

Open Hands

My child,

In this season I want you to come to Me with open hands. You have to have open hands in order to receive all that I have planned to give you.

My child, this requires that you have to let go of things that you are currently holding in your hands. You can’t receive new things if you are holding on to old things.

My child, let me examine your life and show you what is no longer worth holding on to in this season. Are you holding on to control, past successes, relationships or old ways of thinking and problem solving? You won’t be able to move forward if you don’t let go of those old things. 

Beloved, when you lay down what you are holding in your hands right now, you will receive something immeasurably better. Am I not the God who gives generously to His children? Am I not a God who knows what is best for you?

Trust Me, My child, that I will not disappoint you when you open your hands and let go of what you are holding onto right now.

Application:

Sit quietly before the Lord and look at your hands in the spirit. What are you holding onto right now? Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to let go in this season. Place everything that He shows you at His feet and let Him take care of it. Then ask Jesus to give you something new for this season.

Our Future in The Promised Land!

And so, with all that said, I declare the old season has passed away and the new has begun! In our obedience and surrender, we will reap a reward.

God has been speaking to me in the lead up to moment, revealing to me that there is a downpour of blessing on its way. In just a few moments, we will recognise that the atmosphere around us has changed.

Friends, we are now in the Promised Land! Soon, we will be dancing in the downpour. We will be reaping a harvest so abundant that we will not be able to handle it alone – where the seeds that were buried in sorrow will rapidly break forth in unusual acceleration. We will be receiving an overflowing blessing and notice the rivers break forth from the parched ground to refresh us. We will see every promise, every word and every dream come to fulfilment. We will begin to witness the Lord restore everything that was lost and more!

Here in the Promised Land, "Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true." (Joshua 21:45). And the same applies for us today! Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 8:6-10

“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

Joshua 1:3-5

I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

A Prophetic Word and Some Songs to Cling To...

A few days ago, only a week after I had this encounter with the Lord. I came across this prophetic word, again from Global Prophetic Alliance. It aligned perfectly to all that the Lord had taken me through and explained that He was cutting the ties to the past - including nostalgia and sentiment. I encourage you to watch this video if you feel that you are entering a new season and wait expectantly for the things to come.