NEXT

You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward – Deuteronomy 2:3

The Lord God is the Unchanging Changer. He is not passive, inactive or stagnant. He is always on the move and always preparing and equipping His people for positive change. There is nothing He has in plan that does not have a procedure to achieving it. There is always a proper procedure to possessing any of God’s blessings. He motivates us continually for “Operation NEXT.” Let’s give deep thought to this vital word – NEXT. What’s the next move God wants you to make? What’s the next project in His Will for you? What’s the next level He wants you to attain? Where is the next place He is preparing you for? What’s the next goal He wants you to achieve? What’s the next mountain He wants you to climb and surmount?

For almost forty years the children of Israel were wandering around the same mountain; they were moving in circles. Finally the Lord spoke to Moses and declared, “You have circled, compassed or skirted the mountain long enough.” In the same way, it’s easy to fall into a rut or routine regarding the spiritual, marital, mental, career or domestic aspects of our lives. Do you feel like your wheels are spinning on the same spot; much motion but no movement? Do you perceive that you’ve been going round in circles in one area of life or another? As the years and decades roll by, does it seem like you haven’t really progressed far from where you were at the beginning of each year? You don’t seem to be recording tangible progress! Worse still, does it appear that you’ve retreated or even reversed several years back? Never be discouraged; be motivated!

There are many people who have refued to cross the threshold stages of their Christian experience. They remain carnal, babes in Christ, craving for milk when they should be munching meat (1Cor.3:1-3). Many who ought to be teaching others, still have need to be taught the elementary ABCs of the Christian faith; they are only able to handle milk, but unable to digest solid food. They are unskilled in the understanding of the Word and undiscerning of virtues and vices (Heb.5:12-14). God has ordained the five-fold ministry gifts for the purpose of equipping and maturing the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up and edification of the Body of Christ. They would no longer be as little children who are tossed about and fall for every wind of doctrine fabricated by cunning and crafty men who seek to prey upon the saints (Eph.4:12-14).

We can learn from the testimonies of Apostle Paul in maximizing “Operation Next”: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of god in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14). He acknowledged that he had not yet arrived; refused to dwell on past laurels, accomplishments or experiences; reached for those things ahead; and pressed toward the mark. We also must put the past behind, realize that we have not yet attained to the full measure of what God has for us, and press toward destiny’s tape. He has much more for us than we have attained unto. He wants us to produce fruits in greater abundance and that our fruits abide (Jh.15:8).

God is calling you to His Next Move and Next Level on Destiny’s Pathway. He is calling you out of wilderness wandering. You’ve had enough of running in circles; whether in your finances, relationships, marriage, health, career, calling or ministry. Begin to discern where God wants you to encounter a “cross-over”: “Now rise and cross over the Balley of the Zered. So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered” (v.13). It’s your turn to cross-over. God will guide you into and successfully through “Operation Next”!