Terry Casales - September 12th, 2021
(Photo: Daniela Barroso, 9/4/2021)
Beloved, enjoy the ride! The Lord gave me a picture recently of a group of people white water rafting. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the guide was very confident as he guided the ones on the raft through rapid after rapid with great precision and skill. He would see what is coming up ahead and he would give specific instructions to his passengers when to paddle and when not to as he would steer the large raft using large oars. He would tell them when to change gears in a loud voice, “First gear!” “Second gear!” “Third gear!” as they approached each rapid.
The guide not only had great skills but He was so well acquainted with that river (which he gained from having gone through it many times before over time), that he knew exactly where each rapid would be, like the palm of his hand. He knew the importance of knowing what was ahead so that he could implement the right strategies to help steer his team through them smoothly to safety.
Early that morning, he gave his team specific instructions on how to row forward and backwards in the calm parts of the river. He also instructed them on what to do in case any one of them would fall out of the raft. He told them, “If you fall off the raft it is crucial to keep your feet up!” Keeping your feet up is very important so that your feet do not get accidentally caught on the river rocks below by the strong currents. He said as you keep your feet above the water just relax, enjoy the sunshine and float because help is on the way.
Beloved, it is human nature to want to avoid the rapids in life. You are tempted to do everything that you can to avoid them, but they are part of the river. They are part of what makes the waters stirred up and flow. It is what causes currents to make rough rocks smooth. It is part of what maintains the ecosystem. Water flow is what helps keep the ecosystem balanced, moving and changing.
The flow of water in a river can be affected by sudden water input from snowmelt, rain and groundwater. It can alter the shape of riverbeds through erosion and sedimentation, creating a variety of changing habitats. The amount of light received in a flowing waterway is variable, for example, depending on whether it’s a stream within a forest shaded by overhanging trees or a wide exposed river where the Sun has open access to its surface. Deep rivers tend to be more turbulent, and particles in the water increasingly weaken light penetration as depth increases. (Source: sciencelearn.org.nz)
Beloved, if it feels like you are going through intense rapids, it is because you are going deeper and deeper into My heart. It is in the deep waters where you can feel the most stirring and turbulence. It is also where you can feel the power of the river and its push. Beloved, you were created to ebb and to flow with the river of My heart. A river cannot help but carry everything that is in it and on it. It is the river’s primary function to flow — to push things along. Rivers are not called to be stagnant. Notice that a river does not stop and the more water it takes in the greater the energy it receives to push larger things down it. Rivers are the main source of water for the people who live by them. Have you ever noticed that rivers produce fresh water? Fresh water is drinkable - it is pure. Rivers are constantly cleaning themselves through their currents, filtering out the debris, removing impurities and carrying it all downstream.
And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. - Ezekiel 47:9 - NKJV
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” - John 7:38 - NKJV
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. - Revelation 22:1 - NKJV
Beloved, most fish tend to remain close to the bottom, the banks or behind obstacles, swimming in the current only to feed or change location. This is what it has looked like for you and for so many in the wilderness, just reacting to what comes your way. You have been operating in “survival mode” — coming up to feed and then going back down to the bottom - to the hiddenness of the cave, afraid to come up into your destiny. Beloved, it is time for you to swim! It is time for you to come back up to the surface and swim because I Am about to change your location. If you want to stay in My rapid flow, you will need to take that step of faith and swim with Me, trusting that I will give you the energy, the strength, the balance and the grace to let Me take you to where I Am leading you.
Beloved, do not be like those who never go into the current and stay stuck, hiding behind obstacles, living in fear of the unknown. Come up with Me and let me show you how to swim above the obstacles placed there by the enemy for self-protection. The enemy wants to make you believe that you are safe at the bottom — in those dark places. The enemy wants to keep you in the place of a false sense of security - of false peace - living far below your potential — believing that you can’t survive, let alone thrive, if you decide to swim up to the light. Beloved, believe Me when I say that all that the enemy has meant for evil, I meant for your good. The time the enemy has meant for you to spend in the dark has actually been a time where I have been growing you, molding you, and preparing your heart for the journey ahead. You may have felt weakened at the bottom by the enemy, but know that I have been strengthening you, providing for you and protecting you in the middle of it.
Beloved, as you swim to the surface, do not fear, for I Am with you. You may not feel strong enough to swim against the current. Know that it will not be by your own strength but by My Spirit. Allow the power of My love to restore life and energy to you.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. - Psalm 1:3 - NKJV
Beloved, there are times where you will be called to swim against the current of the enemy’s world system, and to stay in the flow of My river. As you have learned, it takes a lot more energy to swim against the current, so you will need to allow My strength to be made perfect in your weakness. Take heart and know that I Am the God that makes the impossible possible in and through you. My grace is sufficient.
Just look at the example of the salmon. Did you know that they live in the river for about two years before making their way out to sea? Did you know that salmon return to the place of their birth to mate and to give birth? What is it that drives the salmon to swim upstream? Think of it this way – the salmon know the place where they were born is a good, safe spot for their offspring. It was enough to keep them alive, so it will work well for their offspring as well. There’s no point in spending valuable time searching for a random river that might not be suitable for the young salmon. By returning to their natal site, the salmon are able to guarantee that the birthing location will be safe and have the tools needed to support this new life.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4 - NKJV
Beloved, it is time to get back to basics. Come back to Me, Jesus Christ — your First Love. Allow Me to bring back to your remembrance who you really are in Me and who I Am. Allow yourself to fall in love with Me all over again and to teach you how to flow in My Spirit — where you come from — from the place of your spiritual birth — seated in Heavenly places with Me — abiding in the heart of Our Heavenly Father!
How does each migrating species know which direction their destination is, and what the best path to take is? For some, they’ve been doing it for years and have memorized the journey (very much like the aforementioned, river-rafting guide). For others, like the salmon, it’s all about their sense of smell with a little help from the magnetic pull of the earth. The latter applies to ocean salmon as it helps guide them between destinations. When they return to their natal sites, the pull is stronger. (Source: catchandfillet.com)
Beloved, just as Mary and Joseph were called to swim against the current of the religious culture of that day, to birth something I gave them, so you are called to do the same. They both understood the price they would pay for no longer aligning themselves to the world system and its mindset. It was time for them to come out of what was familiar and into the unknown. What drove them to obey Me was their faith in something much bigger than themselves — their faith in Me. The eyes of their understanding were opened as they received the revelation of My eternal purpose in it and they gave Me their “yes”, regardless of everything they had ever been taught up to that point.
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. - Luke 1:35-38 - NKJV
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.- Matthew 1:24 - NKJV
Beloved, it is time to leave the familiar ways behind and enter into a new adventure with Me. Keep your eyes on Me and set your heart and your mind on the things above so that you have new eyes to see everything from My perspective. I promise you that I shall not only help you to steer through the rapids in this new era, but you shall do it with the confidence that you shall make it to the other side in safety and with fullness of joy! Beloved, the life I gave you is meant for you to enjoy. Usher in each day in the spirit of thankfulness and with great expectation of My goodness. Life is meant to be lived, beloved, it is not meant to be spent in the regrets of the past. Choose to live the life that I created you to live in the power of My love, beloved. A new day is dawning before you, so partner with Me. Be intentional and resolved to make each day count, staying present with Me and enjoy this journey of discovery with Me. Your best years are ahead, beloved, so enjoy the ride!
Because of you, I know the path of life, as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence. At your right side I experience divine pleasures forevermore! - Psalm 16:11 - TPT
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