Old Lies, The New

“But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you. When you came out of Egypt, I promised that I would always be with you. I am still with you, so do not be afraid. “Before long I will shake heaven and earth, land and sea. I will overthrow all the nations, and their treasures will be brought here, and the Temple will be filled with wealth. All the silver and gold of the world is mine. The new Temple will be more splendid than the old one, and there I will give my people prosperity and peace.” The Lord Almighty has spoken.” ‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭

Last night God brought to mind four lies that I have allowed to shape my life. I know it was His revelation because I’ve been trying to identify the lies that limit me for the past three months. It’s a lot harder than it should be! These lies are so deeply ingrained that I have just accepted them as truth. Not only did He reveal to me the lie; He also showed me the root of it, which is generally where the work begins, searching for that root.

As I wrote out this passage “do not be discouraged.” “Do the work.” “I am with you.” stuck out to me. It is hard to do the work when you don’t really understand what is holding you back. As He revealed these lies to me, I could see how each one is tied to where I feel God is leading me. He showed me, reminded me, how much I used to put myself out there for the world. Honestly, it is not something I have thought about. I’ve been on stages since I was a child, I’ve been writing for decades. I’ve been in newspapers, magazines, on television. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people, despite being less qualified in the world’s standards than I am now.

It was never about me though; it was always to serve a greater purpose. It was about the people who would be impacted. Well, what greater purpose than God’s Kingdom? I need to stop being discouraged by my past and do the work He has called me to do. He is with me! I don’t have to be afraid, He never left me.

When I first read this passage, what stood out to me was the old and new temple. I am the temple of Holy Spirit. I’ve spent so much time looking back at what happened that until this year I’ve really been frozen. On the outside looking in, maybe it didn’t always appear that way, but I know where my mind has been stuck. Even as I push forward in the natural, I’ve been stuck spiritually and emotionally. It is easy to stay busy and appear to be productive, as a task oriented person and still not be doing what God called me to do.

The reminder took me to a message I heard before moving to New Mexico based on Ezra 3:12. As I skimmed the words I thought it might have been from the same story.

Many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of clans had seen the first Temple, and as they watched the foundation of this Temple being laid, they cried and wailed. But the others who were there shouted for joy. Ezra 3:12

I have spent too much of my focus mourning what I thought I lost because things didn’t look like I thought that they would or should. Which “should” is a whole other limiting belief.

I can rejoice because I know God doesn’t waste anything. He is doing something new and the past is not now. My God is the God of now! It is time to stop being disappointed. It is time to do the work. He is with me now and He is Doing something new in me and thorough me.

Prayer – Lord I thank You that nothing in our lives has ever wasted. I am sorry for the lies that I have allowed to keep me stuck in the past but I am ready to do Your work. I know that You are with me. I will continue moving forward and allowing You to use this temple now for whatever new that You have for me. Continue to break off old lies from my life that hold me back from the full purpose that You have to accomplish in and through me and bring the new plans and purpose You have. In Jesus name I pray amen.