In the month of Abib (Nisan)...

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This ^[a]month shall be the beginning of months to you; it is to be the first month of the year to you."

Exodus 12.1-2 // AMP

"...[be prepared for a journey] with your ^[c]loins girded..." - excerpt from Exodus 12.11.

The month of Abib/Aviv/Nisan is upon us! Technically, I should be saying this to you:

Happy New Year!! (According to God's calendar)

Exodus 26 takes us to a place in time where God was speaking to Moses. As God spoke, He instructed Moses on His plans for the Passover meal - their very first one - the meal that pointed to what Jesus would later do for us (be our Passover Lamb). God was very specific. He gave every detail in its time, but He did so to a humble servant whom He knew would not only obey God, but also lead His people into obedience towards Him.

One instruction here is quite striking to me:

"Now you are to eat it in this manner: [be prepared for a journey] with your ^[c]loins girded [that is, with the outer garment tucked into the band], your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; you shall eat it quickly—it is the Lord’s Passover."

- Exodus 12.11 // AMP

God had already planned when and how He was going to free the Israelites from their captivity long before they even existed. In this very moment, He was instructing them to be prepared to move. To be prepared to go. To heed His instructions and obey.

When you think of a meal, you often think of it being eaten in the comfort of your home whilst you're in a relaxed state. This wasn't a comfort meal; this was their last meal in captivity, and it was a meal that had to be prepared and eaten God's way. This was where they had to leave it all behind and follow God. They were also instructed to prepare unleavened bread "...because it represents the spread of sin;..." (Exodus 21.15).

Many of you reading this have been given specific instructions by God in the waiting season. You've been told to prepare, build, let go, and in a way, instructed to gird your loins. It wasn't comfortable, nor was it convenient. This could have come as a call to repentance, to let go of old habits, remove things that are not holy from your lives. Some have been told to start this business, change the way you do this in your life, start this connect group, build this, drop that... I don't know what this looks like for you. The question is did you obey? I hope you did because the reason He said to gird your loins is about to become apparent in the coming times ahead.

Strap your sandals on, and take your staff. Be ready to move when He says to move.

For what are we if not sheep guided by the Lord? And where can we go if not with the presence of our King? - Pamela Davies

There is a stern warning here for the children of Israel:

"[In the celebration of the Passover in future years,] seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the ^[d]leaven from your houses [because it represents the spread of sin]; for whoever eats leavened bread on the first day through the seventh day, that person shall be cut off and excluded from [the atonement made for] Israel."

- Exodus 12.15 // AMP

We must leave the sin that entangles behind, the old selves that we have not died to yet must die, and the things that are not holy need to go if we are to follow God into the places He is taking us. Do not compromise. Do not compromise. Do not compromise.

Most importantly, DO NOT FORGET GOD!

Whatever He may have asked you to do may have seemed so small, so difficult to accomplish, or too far away to envision. However, what if the reason why He's taken so much care with preparing you is so you won't make the same mistake that those who have gone before you have? The ones that got swept away by the world along the way and decided to do things their own way. The ones that forgot God. We have a prime example here with Saul and David. Saul was anointed as king of Israel, but he disobeyed God by doing things His own way. David was then anointed as the next king whilst Saul still wore the crown, but look at the journey David went through. He endured Saul trying to kill him (+ more)! I encourage you to read the bible for the full story. It was not an easy journey. He had to wait. So did Joseph (read Genesis). But they were both prepared in the process.

God did not want another disobedient king sitting on His throne over the Israelites when he anointed and prepared David - He wanted one after His own heart. David was just that man. Perhaps He has found someone after His own heart in you; the choice remains with you because of our free will, though, and only you can answer this question - will you stick with God, even when it looks like all your prayers have been answered and it seems like you don't need Him anymore? When He takes you into the place He's been preparing for you all this while? Will you remain faithful to Him?

This post is not for everybody, but at whatever time, day, month, or year you're reading this, I've obeyed God in writing this and I trust that He will make this find you at the right time; hopefully, it will be just before your appointed time to get going.

Gigantic Disclaimer:

This is not only about elevation, movement, promotions, etc. This is about staying ready for when God says, "It's 'go' time." Most importantly, it is about the greatest preparation of all - the coming of our King, Jesus.

Before we can even get excited about anything, and what that may entail for the ones who have been true to God in the testing and waiting seasons, we must be prepared for the greatest shift of all time. The shift we are all waiting for as disciples of Jesus... the shift between earth and heaven when God calls us Home to be with Him. The truth is that nobody knows when this time will come. Life is not promised either. We could all meet in the clouds suddenly, or anyone could have their final moment on earth when they take their last breath before we all meet in the clouds. It could be in 10 years; it could be in 5 minutes.

Jesus gives us a sobering instruction: He tells us to remain ready and watch. This image is painted in the way the Israelites were instructed to prepare for their journey out of Egypt - leave the leaven (sin) behind, shoes on, staff in hand. This is not to scare you; it is to warn you. It is for us to remain sober, with our eyes on Jesus, and our garments ready for when He calls us home.

If you have stumbled on this post as someone who does not know Jesus, hear me when I say this. Jesus loves you.

A bit about Jesus: He is God's Son. We were all born sinners - read the story of how this happened in Genesis when you can. Jesus died for you and I to pay the price for the sin in us all that stopped us from having a relationship with Yahweh (God the Father). Jesus rose again on the third day, as He had foretold He would. Because He paid the price that only He could pay, Jesus is the only Bridge/Ladder/Door to God. He is the only way to being with God both now and for eternity. Without Him, we will perish and spend eternal life away from God (which is hell after death, and the lake of fire after judgement). We can only be saved by Him.

How to have eternal life through Jesus: This starts with you

(1) believing that Jesus is God's Son, that He died for you, and confessing that He is Lord,

(2) repenting, which means to turn away completely from the old sinful ways and following God's ways instead, and

(3) surrendering to God, through Jesus, completely so He can remove what does not look like Him and make us holy. This happens by the power of His Holy Spirit, who God places in us when we accept the gift of salvation that comes from Jesus and choose to become His disciples by following Him.

If you don't know where to start, that's okay. No one usually does. It starts by approaching your Heavenly Father and talking to Him. You can pray to God for forgiveness, and ask for Jesus to be your Saviour. You can use your own words or the ones below:

"Dear Heavenly Father, I admit I am a sinner. I need You in my life. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God please be my Saviour. Father, please forgive my sins. I surrender my old ways, and ask that You make me brand new. I choose today to follow You. Please may You give me Your Holy Spirit so He may help me to follow You. I pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus.

Amen."

The good news is that after you have accepted God's gift of eternal life and salvation through Jesus, you do not have to do this life alone. God gives you His Holy Spirit to help you, and transform you - this is the part where you surrender so He can do His work in you. His Holy Spirit is there to help, comfort, guide, teach, and so much more.

If you choose to follow Jesus, this part is super important. You need a Bible (and you need to read it). If you don't know where to start, simply open the first pages, read from Genesis, and ask Holy Spirit to read with and teach you. Hearing from others is great, sermons are good to listen to, too, but you need to read the truth for yourself and that can only be found in the Bible.

The next thing you need is to join a good church. Stay connected - you need a community. God never meant for us to do this life alone.

Now if you are reading this as someone who has already committed to following Jesus, examine yourselves. Keep your lamps burning and your oil full. Whatever the time may be, whatever that season shall be, the King is coming. Stay ready.

God bless you! :)

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Jesus loves you, and He's coming back soon.