The Secret to Renewed Strength
We really had a powerful time of prayer and inspiration last weekend at our Prayer Escape. This spring, we’ve purposed in our church to “get away” or escape to pray with our leaders every two months.
These prayer escapes have become times of prophetic direction along with a building of unity within our leadership. Love them!
At the latter part of our prayer escape, last weekend, I heard the Lord speak to me again the same thing he said to me the week prior. He said, “I will renew you. I will renew your strength, your creativity, your vision and your passion.”
He took me to a commonly known scripture, Isaiah 40:30-31: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I know that many of us know that verse by memory. There are songs written about it. And although I’ve even preached sermons from it, the Lord directed me to a different perspective of it.
The verse simply says that those who “wait” on the Lord will renew their strength. We’ve come to know that the word “wait” is a waiting with expectation and with anticipation. It’s another word for “HOPE.” So, I’ve known that if I keep my focus on the “HOPE” of God’s promises that my strength will be renewed as the eagle and my endurance will continue to surmount.
Oh, but it says way more…. The word “wait” is the word qavah in the Hebrew language. It has two definitions, the first one is to wait, look in hope and expectation but the second one painted a different picture for me. It means to tie and bind together – to tie and fasten for strength.
Then it hit me. I heard the Lord speak to me and say, “as long as you remain tied to me and the vision in which I gave to you, you will continue have renewed strength.”
How many times have our hope and expectation decrease in the middle of trouble? How many times have we allowed the stress and struggle of life to cause our strength to wane? We lose focus, therefore losing hope in what God has promised for us. By human nature, we all have a tendency to flee and remove ourselves from the place of friction. We all are “runaways” to an extent. We run away from the very “tying” that give to us a renewed strength. Pain and stress can be very deceitful!
So here’s what I was directed to do…. I had some of the guys purchase some rope. I had them cut it in many 6 foot pieces. We brought a cross and placed it in the middle of the altar area of the place we were meeting. Victoria and I made a covenant with God and those present that we were going to tie ourselves to the Lord and the vision he called us to. We physically tied ourselves to the cross, representing our connection and commitment to the Lord and the vision He called us to. And by doing so, we know that our strength will come from the very place of our tying.
Being tied down, to GOD and place he called us to, is where our strength will come from. Hope and expectation come from a “tying to” not a “fleeing from.” We all get tempted to think that our hope for a better life comes from escaping and fleeing; rather it comes from a tying to. For there is where we get a renewed strength and renewed vision.
As we shared this illustration, the other leaders took up their piece of rope and began to tie themselves to the cross as well! It was a glorious time! Seeing all of us tied to the Lord and the vision He’s given us was the very picture that he was showing me in my spirit.
Have you been weary lately? Have you been fatigued in serving the Lord? Are you willing to TIE yourself to the vision of the place where God has called you?
Praise God Pastor, for this revelation!! I want to be tied to the vision of the house. The thought of living life without the direction of the Holy Spirit is scary. But being in a place where their is direction and passion for people it brings hope and joy. Its wonderful to know that God takes our pain, and transforms it into strength! Father, dont let me run away from it, but to it!!
Amen Maritza!! Stay tied!!!
Where is my strength? Of curse it’s in my LORD and Savior! Not saying I’m perfect just because I cry and scream some people take as I have no faith in my GOD ,it’s just I crying out to him to help me make it though ! Some times it seems even though a blessing it’s something .and that’s why I really upset I miss this Prayer weekend .Hope to be there at the next one! TKS Pastor Manny!
We missed you also!! Stayed toed to Him and the Vision of the House!!
People always try to run and isolate from anything and anyone, by doing that we get out of place therefore we miss the visitation and delay our blessing which are going to pass.
When we tied with the vision we as a body have to take responsibility to operate in one a Core in diferent areas. That key, I understand if we share the same motivation to see our vision fullfill, we are going to be so United that we are going to encourage One another so the by product of that is “The renewing of strength”.
Leaders there take our place, we have to take action and be prepare for His visitation.
A very strong and definite AMEN!!! Good word Javi!
That was a great prophetic moment and as such I am sure it will be tested soon, but we just need to stay tied down…
Absolutely Keller… It’s already been tested in people! LOL!!
I know I was not there physically at the Prayer Escape to be tied with each and everyone of you but I have tied myself spiritually with you all to the Vision of our house. Being connected to Impact Church is what gives me the strength daily to endure and move forward in anything that might try to get me to loose focus. I will continue to be tied and not flee.
As we remain in unity as a body and wait on the Lord we will see the purpose of IC come to pass. IC is making history.
Yes it is Jalina… Thank you for your continual faith and trust in the vision of the house.
We most me consistent and keep our promises, we know God will always keep His and he will give us strength to keep holding on the promise. Just as Keller said soon the promise is going to be tested and we most hold because with endurance and perseverance we will obtain the gold.
YES… consistent is a key!
That’s really awesome. It’s easy to tie ourselves to all sorts of commitments AND then try and tie ourselves to the cross and when one pulls harder than the other we untie our rope from the cross”just for a minute” and then we go back when we are desperate. Long illustration short I think it may be time to cut all the other ropes and just tie one.
YES ASHLEY!!!!! THAT IS WHAT I”E BEEN TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS!!!!!! I just don’t know of any other way how to do it??? I know it takes much prayer! Thanks for getting it!
Well Pastor we have to pray so we can renew our strength so we can get all of Gods blessing, we know that when you renew something its going to set you free.
We must stay commited to the word of God, and also we must be tied to the voice of the lord.
We all need that anchor to tie ourselves to. I pray for the ones that are lost. I pray that they too will come to bind themselves to the cross and recognize purpose in their lives. That tie is a daily reminder for me.
Yes I pray that as well April!
At the end of the day when we depend on man at sometime in our life they will fail us, and sometimes we fail ourselves because man is human. God is always faithful and if we tie to him we will find strength through him. God’s servant Job in the book of Job tied himself to God. He went through much more than most of us will ever go through in a lifetime and he never forsake God, but his passion for Christ grew stronger. I pray that we do not grow weary, and yes we will be persecuted and we will cry, but God will always be there not because he has to but because he love us. May we keep our eyes on him and have a revelation of his love.
AMEN… Love it Jazz!
There have been many times where I’ve been weary and/or fatigued and really wanted to just walk away. This physical act of tying myself to the cross symbolic of tying myself to the vision of this house put it in a different perspective for me. Makes me realize that this is much bigger than I am and that every move I make will effect someone else and ultimately the vision. I have to remain tied and let God be my strength and my renewar.
IT is much bigger than us!! Good word Jenny
We all will run. We all will pull. We all will resist. The question is what or whom will we run to? What or whom will we pull towards? What or whom will we resist? Our strength, vision and passion is always given and affected by what or whom we are tied to. In personal times of weakness I must ask myself, who is holding my rope? I must remain tied to Him!!!! I will remain tied to the vision!!!! Impact Church, let’s hold fast!!! We must not allow distractions, offences, and ungodly personal gratifications to cut our rope.
We are holding fast!!! Good response!
Este fin de semana fue impresionante para mi vida ya que aparte de reunirme con mis hermanos en Cristo pude experimentar la gracia de Dios sobre nuestras vidas…Logramos conectarnos con su presencia,escuchar su voz,recibir direccion,recibir paz,nuevas fuerzas y un compromiso con la causa de la cruz. Gracias Jesus por permitirnos trabajar en te Reino.
AMEN ROMAN!!
Ese fin de semana al estar todos unidos se que sea es la forma que debemos estar como iglesia, hicimos el PACTO con Los pastors e iglesia para seguir la vision no importa las circustancias, igual tenemos que seguir Adelante. Aunque a veces queremos rendirnos hay que recordar que aun hay Esperanza porque su palabra sera cumplida siempre en nuestras vidas personales e iglesia.
VERy true… But God is so faithful!!
I’ve grown weary when I don’t seek Gods face. As long as Im seeking His presence and being nurtured, the exterior circumstances won’t affect. I want to run this race to win! So I will pray, study the word, and worship till I’m made perfect. I know its not about me.. Its about God and all the people I must reach. With that said Yes I Will Tie Myself To Gods Vision and submit to the leadership of this house.
I’ll do that illustration again…. You’ll get a another chance to actually do that.
I loved the illustration of tying ourselves to the cross as a symbol of tying ourselves to the vision of the house. I think if more people had a revelation of tying themselves to the place of planting where God has them connected to in order to serve the purpose given to them, we would less church hopping and more people finding themselves grounded and rooted. I don’t know about anyone else, but I take vows very seriously, I didn’t just make that vow in the presence of men but before God himself and no matter what happens, I will not allow circumstances, offenses or self will to cause me to break that vow.
NOW THAT IS AWESOME!!!! Great word and response!
It was an awesome weekend. Seeing everyone willing to tie them self to the house and taking a stand. When you tie your self to something or someone you are making a commitment for better or for worst I am here to stay. I am here to fight for the vision of the house and do everything I can to see it come to pass. We did not just made a commitment to our Pastor and God but to everyone else who was there. In the good times or in the hard times we will stand together everyone taking there place and doing there part.
Impact Church will become the light house for our City!
Sylvia… That is my prayer!!
I wasn’t at the Prayer Escape this weekend: seeing these pictures and
reading this blog lets me I am in the place where I belong. I know in
my heart that this is where God has placed me for His purpose and
works (worship) in His Heavenly Kingdom. I am tied to Him with all
my love!
Yes Cindy, we are all tied together… I’m so glad and honored you are with us as well!
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Tied to the House of God we will pull through in His Glory. Sacrifice and pressure are inevitable and continuous. Faith in God is rewarding, because He is faithful. His peace and joy are everlasting.H
Yes! And Amen!! If people just understood this principle!
I agree with the revelation God gave to you Pastor. To help me better understand this whole concept, would it be safe to say this; Jesus says in John 4:34 that his food is to do the will of the Father. Jesus was tied to the will of the Father, His source, therefore He never grew weary in all that he did til the day He died on the Cross for He saw the joy set before Him. In the same way as we remain tied to the Cross and the vision of Impact Church, we will see the joy set before us and renew our strength in Him who we are tied to. Is this within the same concept?