Week of May 13
A New Day
by Margaret D. Mitchell
"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning."
-Ecclesiastes 11:7
Recently, I had the great pleasure of vacationing alone with my husband for an entire week, which we hadn’t done in several years. Oh, we would come away for long weekends here and there, but the responsibilities of work and ministry were such that we had put off long trips. So when, on this first morning of our island vacation, I awakened very early to a loud rooster crowing, this new day’s dawn did not feel so pleasant: My eyes flew open; my brain was instantly alerted; and I wondered why on earth this was happening. Yet I knew I was where God wanted me to be. And so I prayed, “Lord, what is this?”
After drifting back to sleep and awakening to that rooster’s crow several more times, I decided to get up and have quiet time on the veranda. Our private porch was decorated in beautiful Spanish-style spindles and floor tiles, white flowing curtains that framed arches and a lovely lush, green view. The furniture was brown wicker with white cushions, and there was even a big, round wicker ottoman, which I loved. The morning breeze was cool, which provided for an even more perfect place to come away with my Jesus and my Holy Spirit.
In the stillness and study of this setting, the Lord impressed upon me that this was a new day for me. He revealed that the seeds of service that I had planted for so many years as a flight attendant had produced a harvest of luxury accommodations on this trip that were beyond what I had ever experienced. He revealed to me that taking a step to come away for an extended time was the first step to greater balance in my life. He reminded me that His time is not linear, but it is circular. And He showed me that when events come back around in our lives—even the relatively small details, such as hotel accommodations—the experience is greater when we process through them God’s way (Job 8:7).
I soon understood that it was time for me to awaken to a new level of abundance and that pride and fear had been holding me back.
As I prayerfully searched scripture, the Holy Spirit led me to Matthew chapter 28:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
When I read this chapter verse by verse, could see a clear process of how God’s new beginning would flow in my life for such a time as this:
God knows the love in my heart for Him at the outset (vs. 1). A new, powerful action will occur from heaven to earth as an angel is sent out ahead (vs. 2). God will show up in a way I've never seen (vs. 3). Evil will fall away (vs. 4). An angel from God will comfort me (vs. 5). I can expect a new understanding, new evidence and a new hope to emerge (vs. 6). God will provide me with the right timing, new direction and new instruction (vs. 6-7). I will have joy (vs. 8). Jesus will meet me there (vs. 9). I will worship Him (vs. 9). He will provide more direction and instruction, which will lead to a new, glorious report and multiplication in my life and in others lives (vs. 10). The enemy will plot against God's truth (vs. 11-15). But I will be obedient (vs. 16). Yet, not everyone will believe (vs. 17). Still, Jesus will move forward and declare His truth (vs. 18). And He will commission me to move forward in His authority (vs. 19) and assurance (vs. 20).
When we come away with God, He will show us great and mighty things. He will reveal His mysteries to us. He will expose issues of our heart, purify us and restore us. He will cause us to rejoice over His new beginnings for us. He will free us up to receive greater increments of all He has for us.
Are you in need of a new day’s dawn, where heaven shows up and the old order of your life shifts into the new? Ask God to get you there. Remain close to Him, repent whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to you. Receive His forgiveness. And He will speak to you and help you get where He has called you to be and do what He has called you to do in greater measure.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
