A Season of Preparation

"What may seem small or unseen, what seems quiet or unrecognized, could be the birthplace of promise if we can grasp it.

We are in a season of preparation, we are being given the opportunity to protect and value the flame that He has lit in our hearts. The world may not see it, your best friend may not understand, your brother may mock you but Mary was able to treasure it in her heart and in that space a promise began to grow.

It’s in closets, living rooms, on the floor of our kitchen or crying out in our car, that this seed flourishes. Signs and wonders don’t come from grand gestures but from a life that has treasured His words, His breath, and have let them take root. This is a life that has forsaken all other options and given themselves to Him. We don’t need a crowd, we just need faith in what Jesus has deposited in us. He has made the way, He is the way.

If you find yourself feeling the tension of “there must be more” and “why don’t I see it,” know your heart is being wooed into the secret place, to prepare you. It doesn’t make sense, but you have already given your yes. It doesn’t look big but He is waiting… in the quiet, the uncomfortable… will you allow Him to ready you." Hayley Braun

As I was entering into 2022 I felt God talking to me about being in a season of preparing my heart. See this original post from an account I follow on Instagram. 

We have a grapevine in our backyard, today as I was inspecting all the new life in our spring garden I was reminded once again of this promise God has given me. 

As I was watching the kids play, I was looking at the new little buds coming out of the vine, I thought about how in Matthew 9:17 Jesus spoke of the new wine v.17 "Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

In this season of preparing, I am trusting in God's promises for this next season of my life, I'm fully giving my life over to Him. 

In John 2:10 we read about how God has reserved the best of His Holy Spirit's outpouring for a season of new wine. v.10 "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."  

God has reserved the new wine of the Holy Spirit until now for a reason. The new wine produces the same results in every age and time. If we ask for Him, He will produce the same result with us now. 

Looking at this new life coming out of our vines reminded me of how amazing our God is. He created this life, he is making things new. He can make new wine out of you and me, all we have to do is ask.

Written in March 2022