Royalty Realm – It Is Finished

Advent – an arrival or coming, especially one which is awaited…

A week ago I completed a 23-year chapter in my life.

I spent the week of December 10 engaged in an 18-hour counseling intensive. Immersion was deep as I spent hours in addition to the counseling sessions on daily homework assignments designed to write on my heart that which the Lord was accomplishing. Advent was a long time in coming to this part of my life story but I did not wait in vain. The Lord is never late, and few things are more meaningful than hearing Him say, “It is finished.”

At the same time, left in the melted wax of Holy Spirit’s sealing of my heart was His firm impression that the new season – also long awaited – has arrived.

For 23 years I worked outside the home until a year ago when I finished with my last employer. Throughout those years I changed jobs from time to time, though I remained in the same career path. Then, everything changed.

This past year has been what I’ve coined my ‘transition year’ as I came alongside my husband and began working in Shammah Ministries to aid in expanding what we offer for the healing, equipping, and building up of the body of Christ. It has felt a bit like the tortoise and the hare. Husband – little to no white space; me – lots of time unchained from a desk! Now, everything seems to be changing again…

At the beginning of 2012 the Lord clearly gave me two words that would mark this transition year – ‘release’ and ‘increase.’ During the past eleven months I have often held these two words before Him, desiring clarity. One thing I knew, there was a release from and a release into contained within. As for increase, faith keeps its eye on the lookout for evidences of that which is more than that which has been.

***

Another Advent occurred 2,000 years ago. Without it, mine would not have been possible.

Though he arrived as a baby, unable to speak, Jesus’ appearance spoke volumes. His earthly life may have just been beginning with Mary’s final push of birth pains, but hidden within those helpless eight pounds of flesh was an eternal King proclaiming, “It is finished!”

With his arrival, everything changed. His coming would one day make everything new.

Like every human ever born, eternal Jesus had to live life one day at a time set to the pace of an earthly clock. The months, the years passed by. He grew, studied, learned. However, the day of His release into the purpose for which He came was yet out in front of him; the clock set for a specific time in history.

But it came. His purpose would not be annulled. All that He was sent by his Father to do was done. And this time, He could speak. “It is finished!” became the marriage covenant between Heaven and earth.

***

I listened, engaged, and processed diligently throughout the intensive week. In keeping with the blog theme a few posts back, I guess you could say I reported to the front lines – with shovel in hand.

I don’t just write this stuff for entertainment. It comes from a heart that has both with pain and joy identified with Christ – in family; in the workplace; in relationships; in Gethsemane; on His cross.

Why did I go through the time, expense, and deep heart work of a week-long intensive at this point after twenty-three years? Why did Jesus spend thirty years in concealed discipline before His purpose-filled season arrived?

I think it’s because we both knew it was not yet time. But then, the clock struck and…

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6 NIV)

Earlier this month, God gave me two new words for 2013: ‘receive’ and ‘record.’

To receive meant that there must yet be less of me so there may be room to receive more of Him and His expression. In that regard, the intensive was successful. It hurts when flesh is put to death. As a result, though, the spirit of the scribe that my Father has placed within me is stirring anew.

My prayer is that God will be pleased to resource Wellspring of Life with limitless access to the spring of the water of life for the thirsty.

“It is finished.” The closing of one long chapter and the opening of a new, more glorious one.

Merry Christmas, dear reader! May your personal Advent be every bit as meaningful and complete.

In Christ’s love,

Gracefully Free