Wine Anyone?

Warriors Arise: January 6, 2022

Matthew 9:16-17 (NKJV) No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

We will come back to Isaaih 43:19, but when God wakes you up in the middle of the night/morning (Wednesday) to tell you something, you need to get out of bed. Sadly, I must say, I tried to roll over and return to sleep; but sleep would not come and my mood was not good. I was completely frustrated. I didn't want to go meet with God.

Earlier in the afternoon, I started to feel a little under-the-weather, and now I just wanted to sleep. Do you know what the odd things is? I believe God heals. I thought sleep would be better for me than meeting with God. Why didn't it occur to me that God might want me to get up and receive my healing?!?!? Seems like a no brainer. When you aren't feeling well, you should be eager to go when God comes to you. But nooooo. I was frustrated, grumpy and wanted to be left alone. And God would have nothing of it. So, I finally got up. I can't say obediently, because even though I was in motion, my heart was still stewing over the thoughts rolling around in my mind. I think God sits in heaven and patiently sighs with continued firm nudges, for me to pay attention to what He is doing. Hence, I finally got up 30 minutes after He woke me up. I'm totally thankful for God's grace.

By the time I took my Bible, journal, pen, and glasses to the kitchen table, I was ready for our meeting. As I began to journal, I spewed forth all the yuck that seemed to be grafted to the inside of me. I shared with God my disappointments, my frustrations, and wanting to know what to do in different situations, decisions that needed to be made. I was upset with myself for being pinned in my the feelings of rejections. What would happen if I reached out? Since I already fell their rejection toward me what does it matter if they do it again? I wanted to blame others and point the finger but when I write to God, I have to be honest. I can't lay all the blame on someone else. So I wrote pages and poured out into my journal. Then my phone blinged so loud from the office. I didn't think much of it and had no intention of going to get it until it blinged again. My thoughts cleared, "Shoot! That is so loud it is going to wake up Scott!" So, I went to get it. I generally don't take my phone with me into an intentional time with God. It can be too much of a distraction. I still didn't want my phone, because I knew God wasn't done with me yet. Honestly, He was probably tired of my complaining and wanted me to know He was already at work resolving one of my frustrations.

I picked up the phone to see who it was and read the text. It jerked me out of my frustration. I needed to stop wallowing and get ready to receive from Him. I decided to give a quick response. To which she responded, "You're up early!"

"I fought God for an half hour but He won and I got out of bed."

"I will pray Your time with Him is sweet!"

To which I had to chuckle scoffingly and texted, "God is cleaning me out. Definitely needed…." As I typed a response back to her, I knew what God was doing. Yes, God wanted me to get all of the yuck out of my mind, but He was going to expose the old thoughts that would prevent me from receiving the new. He couldn't give me new direction, purpose, or encouragement until I got rid of the old.

As I typed, I got a clue, "…I need to become new wineskin for this year. I learned years ago what had to be done to old wineskins before they are able to carry new wine from the new harvest. An old wineskin has to be turned inside out and scraped with the edge of a broken pot or sharp item. All of the old wine, dried and grafted to the wineskin would have to be removed. This would be a lengthy process. Then the wineskin would be turned right side out and oiled. This would revitalize the wineskin so it would stretch without breaking when the new wine was poured into it. I look forward to being turned right side out, anointed with oil, and filled with new wine. But for now, I am turned inside out and God is needing to scrape the dried out mindsets that are trying to ruin the new wine."

Her loving reply in text was, "Praying for you. The scraping is awful and painful, but oh the oil!!! Love you."

I yield, Father, I yield. I will stop wining so I can be a carrier of Your new wine for this harvest. I do not want to crack or burst open when You begin to pour. Yes, this is going to hurt and I am going to have to give up old thoughts and face the fears that battle for my mind with Your courage. Some of them have been grafted into my thoughts for decades. Come and scrape each one. Remove the old, dried up useless thoughts that battle against Your purpose for my life. I must be prepared for what You are about to do. I must be ready for this new thing You have already begun. It will spring forth and I want to be ready.

God, You are my God. There is no other. I was wrong to stay in bed and get frustrated. I was wrong to stew in thoughts that were not bringing peace. I ask for You to come and minister to my mind, remove the old, crusty wine from my fibers and restore my mind to the promises in Your Word. I will be renewed and walk with courage. I will be strengthened by the truth You speak. I will trust You and be made new again in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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