I cannot even start to describe how narrow this road has become. I experience the fire of the furnace we are in so intensely, but this is not to say that the furnace is bad, because this fire burns away everything that is not from God. It purifies you from deep within and it forces you to find your strength in God and God alone.
The veil is being lifted from my eyes and I am starting to see clearly how my victory over my sensual desires is in my complete abandonment to God. When you faithfully give yourself over to the Lord, you will soon discover that Yeshua will put to death all that remains that needs to be put to death in your life.
Al we need to do is to be steadfast in our faith, and constant in giving our utmost attention and complete focus to the King of kings. Abandoned completely to God. He keeps on saying to me, “Retha, now is the time, like never before, to follow My Spirit and no other voice… even if the other voice sounds so innocent.”
On what is our focus; the spirit or the flesh? Romans 8:5-6 says: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The closer and more dependent we become of God, the more we stay in intimacy with Him, and the more we receive His nature. And the beauty of this is, the more we receive His nature, the more we will draw upon His sustaining power. The main reason God wants us to be completely focused on Him is then we will be further and further removed from sin. So, just with turning to your spirit instead of your flesh, and to operate from the leading of God’s Spirit, you will begin to walk in the habit of being near to God and far from every else that can distract you from His purpose.
Overcome the flesh with the Spirit. You will not be able to do it from the flesh! Romans 8 vs 12-14: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
With everything that Holy Spirit has been revealing to me, I have discovered that there is NO more space to compromise with the world. As we give ourselves over to God there will be a furnace-process where God purifies us from all the things that are not from Him. Yes, it can hurt, but the result is always humbling and pure heart. That is what God is seeking. As His purifying fire burns everything of the world off you, you become a magnet that draws closer and closer to God. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined (Psalm 66:10).
I have made so many mistakes along the road. I mourn about my mistakes, because now I can see how the enemy is trying to kill, steal and destroy because I unknowingly gave him permission. And all of this takes place in the spirit dimension. When you look with the eyes of your flesh, you will see nothing wrong. The difference is so subtle, because the enemy doesn’t parade himself around with horns on. Honor to God that He helps us in our ignorance! But believe me, my ignorance opened so many doors that I now have to bolt shut with prayer and spiritual warfare through the blood of the Lamb.
I had a wonderful weekend camp this weekend in Bloemfontein, where 400 people, men and women, called out with one voice for truth. People are seeking the truth, because it is the truth that sets us free!
My Abba covers me under His wings, and His love carries us as a family – and I can see the victory in His eyes. Softly He whispers in my ear as I put my tallit over my head and just wait upon Him: “I call you, Retha. I call you with compassion. O beloved child, I have seen you suffer for My sake, for the sake of the Gospel, and I hold it as a pearl of great value. In your lonely times, times when people have no idea of the pressures and the strains that the world demands of you, I will carry you.
But then, I also look down and I am grieved when I seen you suffer for your own mistakes, your own works. The time is upon My children where anything that is birthed out of self - the plans that you make from the flesh, will not prosper – but harm you.
That is why I am calling you out of your own – into Me… I want you to be all Mine! You are entering into a season where you can no longer treat your decisions lightly. For indeed you build My house, but My Father and I are building into eternity through you. Build wisely, because much of what has been built through many men in seasons past in My Father’s name, will burn in a twinkle of an eye in the light of My Father’s judgment.
If My Father doesn’t approve of your decisions, it will indeed be the very stumbling blocks that the evil one will raise up against you in the next season. Be warned My beloved, do nothing apart from Me. Listen closely to My voice and let me lead you, and instruct you. This is how narrow the road is going to be.
In the past seasons My grace has been available to cover your weaknesses and mistakes, but now it is going to become more and more difficult and you cannot compromise as we enter into the final phase of life on earth. Be warned, take close heed of this. Place people around you who are one with Me, not who only know about Me!
I see how many of you still have people around you who flatter you. Who try to build empires and not My kingdom. Look around you – those who work for you, those who counsel you. Look around you through My eyes! Retha, draw your council from Wisdom. Walk with Me as I am Wisdom, and as Wisdom I shall indeed direct you step by step.”
Aldo just loves to go to the horses every day, and after he has finished riding he will stand and stroke the horse for a long time. Then he speaks loudly to the horse and says: “People can hurt other people so much, but Jesus will never do it. Thank you that you are my friend.” He just keeps on stroking the horse and the next moment he gets ‘n lick in the face from his friend. Ma’am Patrys said: “Retha, it was a lick out of heaven!”
I still struggle to understand the severity of the rejection he went through because of the abandonment of his Grade 6 friends right after the accident. He cannot understand why they left him like that – and the massive rejection he underwent is only beginning to break open now, revealing the hurt he has been carrying with him for so long. But we are happy about that – it means the healing process can begin! We try to explain to him that their lives went on, and that they also didn’t know how to handle the situation. He looks me in the eyes and asks, “Am I different now, Mom? Don’t they understand I am still Aldo?”
Never assume your children have dealt with pain if they hide their emotions – talk about it, and go through the healing process with them. Otherwise the wound will only grow worse and worse.
Don’t make my mistake – let the Holy Spirit lead you. And all that will remain in the end is a testimony of healing and praise to God our Healer!
Peace and love.
Retha and the family.
A Word in Season:
James 1
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
Profiting from Trials 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Perspective of Rich and Poor 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Loving God Under Trials 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Qualities Needed in Trials 19 So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Doers—Not Hearers Only 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you[b] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.