Something new... eh?

Back in the Civil War one northern general rose to be commander of the whole U.S. operation only reporting to the Secretary of War and the President of the United States. He had one objective with and underlying directive, “win the war and remember mercy.” The man was Ulysses S. Grant. The President was Abraham Lincoln. The objective was to end the war successfully and re-integrate the south back into the union.

Grant’s battles were one precipice built on another. He knew many of the men leading the opposition and understood their tactics. In one of his first commands, Grant realized the enemy had just as many fears, nerves, and questions as he and his men did. He took that as a pillar throughout the remaining campaigns.

God fights on our behalf.

You’ve heard the stories, the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army destroyed under the collapse of the walls of water. Then many of the offspring of those same Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for 7 days straight… and when the horns blew, and a shout was lifted, the walls came tumbling down. Amazing feats where the Hand of God was undeniable.

In my spirit I hear the words from Jeremiah “The LORD hath created a new thing in the earth (31:22)…” Yes, the Lord has done something new! “Now is the time it will spring forth (Isaiah 43:19).” Yes, the Lord is causing the new to populate on the earth! He has done something different and He is revealing it. “New things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them (Isaiah 42: 6).”

God in His goodness is revealing a new thing on the earth. The whole world is in a state of flux or transition. Each continent, no matter how remote, is under the same movement. The LORD once directed Noah to build a boat. It took 20 years, but Noah, by faith, did it. Then he and his family rode out the storm on top of the waves… something new had been created when the boat settled.

Once the Israelites left Egypt, they began to walk into something new. It eventually was the promised land God had spoken of to Abraham. No not Lincoln! Each time God fought for His people or did something ‘new’ the old way was no more. “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before (Philippians 3:13).”

Even after the walls collapsed around Jericho, a battle ensued, but the victory was the Lord’s! Even today as we get to our knees in prayer, or spend time reading and listening to the Bible, or participating in life and our localities… God is in the midst of it all and has given you the preferred outcome. We have to engage, just like Noah and build a boat, or like Israel and march around a city, but in the end God wins the battle for us.

General Grant on the cusp of victory would often be met by a courier for a meeting on terms of surrender from the enemy. They would ask for stipulations or certain constraints, but General Grant would say the following, “I’ll accept the full and unconditional surrender of your men.”

That was it.

What Grant knew is what we need to know today, we have the victory. There is no need to capitulate or negotiate anything when you stand on the victory. It’s a slight of the enemy to retain some face and get you to acquiesce your position. The LORD has used His prophets to tell you of such things for years. Today, those words are being carried out. Stand on the Word of the Lord. Do not capitulate anything that He has given you. He has a purpose for you to have it and use it.

Take His peace and do not be troubled by the battle (John 14:27). The boat will shake. The waves will roar. The wind will whistle. But in the end of it, you’ll be found sitting on the Rock.

Godspeed, The Journeyman

Ps. Today’s entry comes from a bevy of encounters with people and scenarios that have sprung up over the past few weeks. May it be a blessing for you. And may, when He comes around, find you standing on His Word!

Isaiah 42: 6 KJV “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Isaiah 43:19 KJV “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the dessert.”

Jeremiah 31: 22 KJV “How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.”

John 14: 27 KJV “Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart

be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Philippians 3:13 KJV “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…”