AUDREY DICKEY MINISTRIES
Glory International Center
"A Center for God's Presence"
Psalms 66:12 says,
You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water;
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
I Peter 5:10 says,
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Whom imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
Philippians 1:6 says,
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Many of us have suffered great persecution and loss over the last few years. Well, God’s response to loss is always restoration in some form. We have left the last season, the wilderness season because God had a time for us to rise up out of it. The season has changed! But then we were launched into a transitional season for a short period. “A transition is what moves us from the wilderness into our restoration. Transition means crossing over to a new place or passing from one condition to another and we often have to travel through a ‘narrow place’ as we pass through the process.” It could prove to be very difficult for most and where many, because of their choices, usually give up and go backwards, back into the wilderness.
The narrow place is where He tests us in the difficult places so He can trust us with new stewardship, new responsibilities on the way to our destiny. “During the narrow place of transition, the Lord often redefines and adjusts whatever rules are necessary for us to get to our new place and/or new level in Him. A good example of this is when Moses died and the mantle of authority was passed on to Joshua. Up to that point in the journey, the Israelites had learned to follow a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night. But now the Lord commanded them to follow the ark… What a shift! …They had to become more focused in their place of transition. We too must become much more focused on the Lord in order to make it through to the place of restoration that God has for us. God has a strategy for you to make it through. The only way to clearly know His strategy for your particular situation is to spend time with Him.”
Another example of a narrow place of transition is how a woman may give birth. That is the most difficult time in the birthing process. It is the most intense, painful part. It is not surprising that at this point one may feel exhausted, emotional, vulnerable and overwhelmed as you reach the end of your transition or narrow place. Some of you may even feel discouraged, irritable, disoriented and restless. Depression may try to set in or a feeling that you are about to loose your mind. These are signs that you are being attacked by the enemy who is attempting to stop you. But if you continue God will show Himself strong and faithful!
“Many people ‘lose it’ during this time. Satan loves to hit God’s people with great force when we are in a season of transition because that’s the time when we feel weakened and vulnerable. But if we come to a greater understanding of the process of transition, we can make it through transition with victory.” Transition is a hard place but we can make it through.
For those who choose to continue and trust God to keep them as they continue to seek His will and instructions through spending time in His presence and in His Word, will now find themselves coming to the end of their transition and entering the next phase of their next level and new beginning. They now find themselves in a position where the Holy Spirit will have to open the door and bring them through. A place where the Battle is now the Lords, 2 Chron 20:20; a place where suddenlies and miracles will take place in order that we can continue to move forward gaining entrance to the other side. Psalm 46:10 says, “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
“There is an Ending: God does not leave us in the narrow, pressed place longer than is necessary. He does have a time for it to end.” The Word says, “…for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,” Jerm. 29:10-11, (also see the opening scriptures of this writing). Realize that transition is temporary and that God has abundant seasons ahead for each and everyone who will seek Him in the narrow place.
Also, during this transition, if that old method or mindset is no longer appropriate for where God is taking us, but we refuse to give it up, confusion can easily grip our minds as well. “Confusion in the process is normal. If we will spend time with Him, remembering the promises He has made to us and inquiring about those things that cause us confusion, He will be faithful to bring us clarity. Our new clarity will not only lead us out of transition, but will also give us what we need for our new place. This is how we put on the mind of Christ – how our minds are renewed,” Romans 12: 2.
“There is a new beginning because transition does not last forever. When we can sense a new beginning on the horizon, we know God is preparing a season of restoration for us; we may begin to experience God bringing times of refreshing and restoration. We must remember, however, that moving into the new season is not automatic. Moving forward into the restoration God has depends on how we respond in the time of transition.”
“One day we find that the shifting has occurred and that we have moved solidly into the new season. Also, coming into the new season does not mean that we are exempt from difficulties or issues to resolve. The refining process we go through as Christians never ends, but the dry, hard seasons do. We can take a deep breath and look at the future with more peace, clarity and confidence.”
Try not to lose sight of your purpose on the way to your destiny as so many do. When some are in the midst of their destination and find how hard it is there is so much concentration on the path and its giants that it is easy to grow weary and desire to give up on their purpose and destiny. They begin to just sit and settle, avoiding all battles and some will even try to prosper in the desolate place where there are thrones and desert. They will try to make the old wilderness season their “new season” but that will not work because the desert cannot produce the type of prosperity God has in mind for you. Prosperity being, wholeness which includes a peace of mind, provisions taken care of, good health, good relationships in your life, finances, businesses for some, needs met in the abundance and so forth.
If the Lord gave you a portion and there are giants (problems or people there to hinder you) He is already aware of it and has given you the strategies and/or spiritual weapons to deal with it. This is called spiritual warfare. And as long as you stay focused and continue in His presence seeking Him daily and keeping your eyes on the finish line, you will make it through and acquire your portion (your inheritance) the promises of God for you. The purpose is so you can be a greater blessing in the Kingdom of God and help someone else do the same.
Remember, God will always give you the right to war for your boundaries, your land, your family, and so forth. With Him on your side you will always be victorious! So press forward and finish the race and claim your prize, I Co. 9:24, in the Mighty name of Jesus, the Christ, Amen.
Compiled by Audrey L. Dickey, PhD
Christian Love Fellowship Church, Inc.
Reference: Possessing Your Inheritance Book
By Dr. Chuck D. Pierce
TRANSITIONING THROUGH YOUR NARROW PLACE
Dr. Audrey L. Dickey, Los Angeles, CA