These last couple weeks I’ve been hearing “The Shift” both internally, and externally through messages the LORD has put on others’ hearts as well. Things are changing rapidly around us. Our Father has given us eyes to see and ears to hear, as His Word promises. Many I know are experiencing His strong and constant purging and refining. We all seem to be sensing that doing ANYTHING “our own way” is over.

God created us for HIMSELF. Most everything else works to convince us this life is for our own use – but it ISN’T. Many of us spent years trying to build our own kingdom, but God in His grace opened our eyes to the fact that He created us for an immensely greater purpose – to actually align with HIM and with each other – walking in and building HIS eternal Kingdom!

Something trying to overtake people right now, even in the Body of Christ, is anger and bitterness. People are focusing on self and lashing out at each other. This stems from unforgiveness and a lack of love. Offense is running rampant. We each must take this seriously, and humble ourselves before the LORD. We must SHIFT from OUR ways to GOD’S WAYS, and to truly walking IN THE SPIRIT not the flesh! This reveals who the PEOPLE OF GOD truly are, and who are NOT.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren… My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. (I John 3:10-16, 18-19)

For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:13-15)

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1)

The only way to do these things and to walk victoriously through the minefield of this earth, is in God’s strength, not our own. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can empower us to walk continuously dead to self and alive to God. Jesus tells us we must actually be BORN AGAIN, and His Word reminds us many times that we must be FILLED with His Spirit.

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.'” (John 3:5-7)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the LORD our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. (Acts 2:36-40)

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the LORD is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:14-21)

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (I John 3:22-24)

Just as Jesus Himself defeated the lies of the enemy in the wilderness by counteracting them with, “IT IS WRITTEN… IT IS WRITTEN… IT IS WRITTEN…” we too MUST remember GOD’s WORD is THE TRUTH. It’s our WEAPON, and we MUST renew our mind with and live by the WORD, not by our own thoughts and inclinations.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death… The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above… A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly… He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he… He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly… (Proverbs 14:12, 14, 16-17a, 21, 29)

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (James 1:19-22, 26)

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth… since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:8, 9b-10, 12-17)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

We are born functioning from this flesh, because it’s all we know. But then, when God draws us to Himself, He begins showing us our need to SHIFT from OUR ways to HIS. This SHIFT needs to happen in every facet of our being – our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

OUR HEAD – We must SHIFT from OUR thinking to HIS thinking. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:14-16) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy‬ ‭3:12-17‬)

OUR HEART – We must SHIFT from OUR desires and intentions to HIS will and HIS plans. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12) There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the LORD, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

OUR MOUTH – Every single word we speak carries either LIFE or DEATH, a BLESSING or a CURSE. We MUST realize there are only two places from which our words flow. Our tongue sends forth either rivers of living water from the Holy Spirit, or bitter, poisonous word curses from the accuser of the brethren. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21a) Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. (Psalm 140:1-3) The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding. (Proverbs 10:11-13a) The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:23-24)

OUR HANDS – Every thing we do is either a work of striving in our own strength, or a work empowered by the Holy Spirit ordained for us by the LORD. Surrendering to God through Jesus Christ is a choice to stop striving in works of our flesh which profit nothing. It’s handing the reins of control completely over to Him, to do in and through us what HE WILLS, because He is far more capable of leading us correctly. Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:16-17)

OUR FEET – God created us to walk with Him, just like He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. We grow up thinking this earth is our kingdom, but when God draws us to Himself, He teaches us we were made for another Kingdom – His own Kingdom, which the gates of hell shall not prevail against. He created us to be ambassadors of His Kingdom, and to walk in the victory Christ purchased on the cross. For You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and sets me on my high places… You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip. (2 Samuel 22:29-34,36-37) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)

As things get crazier and crazier around us, we realize we can’t afford to walk in the futility of our own ways any longer. We each must ask ourselves, “Do I want to wallow around in the ways of this earth, or move forward with the LORD?” Self-pity is a root of bitterness. Following Christ requires complete death to self. Which path are we on? If we’re still focusing on what self wants, we need to SHIFT from our path to God’s path. Jesus is coming back soon for His pure and spotless Bride who is seeking Him above all else, and hearing and following Him with everything in her. Are you ready to give it ALL to the only ONE who is worthy?

And to the angel of the church of Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘ (Revelation 3:1-6)