MOVEMENT

This month has been themed the Month of Movement, which denotes the idea of the existence of motion. Movement means development, growth, advancement, improvement, evolution and taking steps forward. Movement is progress, action, the act of making a transition and change; a paradigm shift. It prevents stagnation and staleness. As we know, stagnant water breeds germs and other harmful pests. Likewise, we harm ourselves when we refuse to progress. Sometimes, the evidence of this progress may not be as rapid as we would either like or expect. This does not negate the effect of God’s hand.

Let us examine two aspects of movement and its implications for us.

When God Moves

When God moves, He challenges our status. He effects change and causes us to progress by eliminating the Pharoah, who has hindered our escape from Eqypt into Canaan. The bible says in Exodus 14:13, ‘stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever…’

When God moves, His action has a lasting effect on us and on those around us. In 1 Kings 18:41, Elisha declared, ‘there is a sound of abundance of rain…’ God caused a thundercloud the size of a man’s fist to rise above a seemingly barren and drought-plagued land. He is the God, who caused the sun to stand still. When God moves, He effects a breath-taking transformation.

However, as Leviticus 26:3-4 says, ‘if ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit…’, God requires our obedience, faith and commitment. God cannot work through us if we neither rely on Him nor trust Him.

When Man Moves

1 Timothy 4:14-15 says, ‘Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Man can either chose to move backward or forward. When man moves constructively, he is challenging his present situation by processing the word of God and applying it, by acting on it. When we realize that we need God in order to progress; when we have faith in Him; when we lean on Him, we cause His hand to move over our lives and transform us for the better.

The cross over from Egypt into Canaan symbolized progress. Having said that the onus was on the Israelites to make a choice – trust in God or murmur. Likewise, it is up to us to react appropriately and constructively to the things that God does in order to ensure our progress. Do we complain and murmur or actively wait?

Movement is symbolic of going from glory to glory and not being at the centre of this could lead to us being ‘left behind’. We may ask if there is anything that we can do to facilitate a move of God.

Promoting a Move of God

 • Praise & Worship

 Psalm 34:1 says, ‘I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. King David was a true worshipper as the Book of Psalms demonstrate. Despite his faults, the hand of God upon his life was apparent. Tithing is an act of worship and thanksgiving. Malachi 3 confirms that our tithe and offering, given with a cheerful heart, causes God to open up the windows of heaven over us.

The booklet, First Steps to a New Life teaches us to pray and worship; to strengthen our spirit using God’s word and to draw closer to God. Being close to the King enables us to sit at His table. A song by Richard Smallwood says, ‘come on in where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on…’ The enemy cannot approach the table of the Lord, so the closer we are to God, the better protected we will be. We would also be better-positioned to partake of the move of God

 • Thanksgiving

In all things, give thanks. The bible says ‘bless the Lord, O my soul…’ Psalm 50 advises us to offer thanksgiving to the God of heaven, who owns the cattle upon a thousand hills. As Christians, we are taught to always be grateful for the least of God’s blessings to us. When we continually show gratitude to our heavenly Father for everything that He does for us, would He be reluctant to move on our behalf?

•   Prayer

The bible tells us that the effective and fervent prayers of a righteous man has much power and can achieve things, which have been deemed impossible. God hears us when we cry out to Him. He backs us up when we present our supplication, especially, when we rely on our covenant with Him and hold on to His promises to us. May God recall our effective and fervent prayers that they may yield fruit.

 •  Faith

Psalm 56:11 says, ‘in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid…’ When we pray, we must believe that God, in His time, will keep His promise. Our prayers come to no avail if we are not convinced of the power of our words.   says, ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…’

Esther 8:8 says, ‘for the writing which is in the kings’ name and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.’ Likewise, the enemy cannot tamper with a move of God. In summary, divine, constructive movement brings us to our place of rest. This month, may we move closer to our time of rest and may God’s promise be fulfilled in our life.