And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (Act 16:26)
I wanted to write about something else, but God sent me back to yesterday’s scripture primarily to focus on the earthquake. An earthquake is a sudden movement of the earth’s crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults. Let’s stay right there. It’s caused by a release of accumulated stress. Today, I am writing to someone who has been shaken. You have experienced a sudden shift in your life and it feels like everything is falling apart. But while you feel as if everything is falling apart, God wants you to know that everything is falling into place. God did some groundbreaking in you.
As you know, a shifting happens with every earthquake. He sent a heavy vibration through your life to generate a shift in your position. You may have experienced a shift in your relationships, career, or have physically been shifted into unfamiliar land. You are merging into places you never thought you would be connected to. While this may be uncomfortable and very UNSETTLING, God wants you to know that this is not to destroy you, but it is to release you. It is a shaking to release you of some of the stress that you’ve been carrying over the years. As much as we hate stress many of us will let it accumulate year after year to the point where we are comfortable and miserable at the same time. We allow stress to become so normal that God has to say ENOUGH.
The earthquake referenced in Acts was the catalyst in causing the prison doors to fly open. As a result of the shaking, the chains of those who were in bondage came loose. Sometimes we run from the shaking because it moves us in ways we are not ready for; but the shaking is sometimes necessary for breaking strongholds.
Do you know that earthquakes move mountains? God will move mountains for you and it is not guaranteed to feel good. Some strongholds can’t be broken until God sends a shaking through your life. There are some relationships and/or jobs we would not have been strong enough to walk away from if it were not for God shaking us out of them. As you move into the next year, I pray that your ground begins to settle. I pray that the shaking you’ve gone through will release you to do amazing things for the glory of God.
Challenge:
Reflect on some things that shook you by surprise this year. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing. However, it could just be something that pushed you into an uncomfortable position. What did you have to let go of in the process? With the new year approaching, how do you plan to embrace this new land you’re in? How do you feel God will be glorified in this shifting?
That’s all for tonight. Please keep sharing your testimonies. We are so encouraged by them! Happy Seeking!