YOU HAVE NOT PASSED THIS
WAY BEFORE
Ceitci Demirkova,
Missionary to Bulgaria
.
http://www.ceitci.org/index.htm
As the children of Israel stood at the edge of the River of
Jordan, their hearts were filled with excitement and at the same time
anxiety. It had been three days since
Joshua announced that they would be going into their promised land - Canaan. The time had finally approached. After their triumphant deliverance from
Pharaoh and the crossing of the Red Sea, to the 40 years of wondering and
fighting off giants on the wrong territory, they were finally going to put
their feet on God's Promised Land. They
were going to cross into the final fulfillment of the covenant God established
with Abraham.
I can only
imagine what it would be like, to wake up on the third day and to see the
long-waiting promise in front of your eyes; to know that only in a matter of
hours your life would never be the same again.
Before a promise is fulfilled, there will always be an obstacle that
only God can resolve. In their case,
during most months, the river of Jordan would be only 100 feet wide, shallow
and easy to cross. However, during
spring, when it was their time to cross over, the river had become very
boisterous and in the natural impossible to conquer. God specifically instructed them to let the
Ark of the Covenant be carried by the Levitical priests and for a 3,000 ft.
distance to be established between them and the Ark.
The word,
"You have not passed this way before" was of great significance. They were not to compare the new things that
God was doing, through their old 'lenses' of experience. Not only were they to leave their old mindset
of complaining, hopelessness, and fear behind, but they were not to compare
God's new leading to His previous ways.
During a late
night last month, God dropped that sentence "You have not passed this way
before" into my heart. Below is an
excerpt of what God placed in my heart for this coming year in accordance to
the story from Joshua 3:
"You have come into a new season. A season of crossing over. The years 2007 and 2008 were a part of your
preparation years. There was a
completion in 2007 that unfolded into new beginnings in 2008. Your completion seed was to be planted into
the ground during year 2008, in order for fruit to begin to grow. However, every beginning is associated with
hard groundbreaking work, pain and watering.
You have prayed and shed many tears over the new beginnings of your
life. Perhaps, you have even wondered
how a new beginning could carry greater pain than ever before. Don't be discouraged; your seed has been planted
deep into the ground where no one can uproot it. That seed is you. During your new beginning you had to
completely surrender and die, in order to be able to absorb the nutrients of
the ground, which is My word and My presence.
Because you are now hidden in Me, I know you can mature and have the
ability to handle the promises I am about to give you. This is the third season of your
preparation. I am asking you to cross
the river of impossibilities. This will be
a year when the 'rivers of Jordan' will overflow: natural and economical
disasters will escalate; the hearts of many will become hardened and full of
deceit and evil desires. Just as I spoke
to Joshua, I am speaking to you today.
You have to make the first step into the 'river' and you will see the
parting of the obstacles taking place.
You are a royal priesthood, and you are a carrier of My presence. Do not compare old disappointments with the
new beginnings that I am opening before you.
As you choose to step over the old preconceived ideas, and the fear of
the unknown that keeps you on the shore, I will give you new authority to fight
the battles. I am going ahead of you,
just keep your eyes on Me, and your feet will be on a dry ground. Everyone who chooses to follow me will be
spared from drowning. This is not a
time for looking back or hesitation, it's time for crossing."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prayer Requests:
· Ministry: For the Lord to open doors of ministry
during 2009 - locally and across the USA.
· Inspirational
writing: To receive creative ideas and
God's wisdom in preparation for the discipleship training program, scheduled to
commence summer of 2009; God's leading and inspiration as Ceitci completes
"A Cup of Inspiration - Vol. 3" during the month of January.
· Audio Books: Financial
provision for the release of the newly recorded audio books of "A Cup of
Inspiration" Vol. 1&2
· Changing a
Generation: God's continuous provision
of finances for our three sponsorship programs (Bulgaria, Ghana, Uganda).
· Travels: God's protection and divine health during
Ceitci's upcoming travels.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ceitci Demirkova
