The Coming of Age

The year 2018 is here. What are the clues for what we can expect in this new year?

First, the number 20 signifies expectancy or things to look forward to. Jacob waited 20 years for his wives and property. Israel waited 20 years for deliverance through Samson. Solomon waited 20 years for the completion of two houses.

As for the meaning 18 in 2018—the Hebrew word for "life" has a numerical value of 18. In most countries, it is the "coming of age" as18 is the age of maturity and also the voting age. For me, the word that comes to mind is maturity—spiritual maturity. Bill (my husband) and I were talking about this not long ago; confirming to each other than those who have been with us are maturing and do not need to be taught basic principles again.

Hebrews 6:1-2, "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

What does coming of age mean to us? I had to take another look at the visions I've had in the last couple of months to know where we are going.

Greater Light, Spiritual Discernment, Elevation

I saw an elevated highway and heard the words, "High and lifted up." We need to set ourselves to be elevated in the Spirit by continuing to seek genuine, intimate relationship with God through Christ by the Spirit.

I also saw floodlights, which symbolized more light and greater clarity. I also saw a hot-air balloon, which means we need to go higher so we can see more clearly.

Hebrews 5:14, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

I saw a man looking through a peephole in a door; then the door opened allowing him to see the entire landscape. In another vision, I was climbing a rock mountain, and near the top was a crack in the rock that allowed me to catch a glimpse of a beautiful valley on the other side of the mountain. This year will be a time of elevation—of going higher spiritually. And, the higher we go, the greater the light and spiritual clarity.

Small Straws: I saw earth's atmosphere in layers. Near the surface of the earth, it was very dark, but every layer above the earth was progressively lighter. And, the Lord said, "The higher up you go, the more light is available so that when you get close to Me, it is all light with no darkness at all. Come up here!"

John 8:12, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"

Small Straws: I saw a very large door beginning to open. The light coming in started as a small beam at first, but as the door continued to open, the light became magnificently bright and even blinding. And, I heard the Lord say, "I am opening a door for you that will bring increasingly greater light. It will reveal wisdom and purpose the likes of which you have not seen until now. Walking in the light will begin with the revelation that comes from internal work."

Isaiah 2:5, "Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord."

Greater Discernment will Require Spiritual Purity

Other visions: I saw a beautiful little meadow, high up on a mountain. There was a waterfall splashing down into a pool of clear, clean water. I saw someone was bathing in a stream of sparkling clear, pure water, which means we are getting cleaned up through internal work.

Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God".

Titus 1:15, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled."

Destiny Fulfilled or Fulfilling of Destiny in Reaching a Destination

The idea of destiny fulfilled came in several visions:

First I saw something like a wheel moving clockwise on the inside of a wheel moving counterclockwise. There were notches in the wheels that needed to line up. I also saw a roundabout on a street, where you have to drive in a circle to find the proper exit that would make a way to a particular destination. Then I saw gears that needed to be put in their proper position in order for a machine to function as it should.

Finally, I saw someone opening a safe using a combination lock, and it was turning to numbers in perfect order before the door would open. A combination lock is a type of locking device in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial, which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with the locking mechanism, or through an electronic or mechanical keypad.

I thought of two words: precision and order in all of these visions. We must be in our proper position before we can move forward spiritually.

Small Straws: "Your life experience contains many moving parts, and those parts are coming into alignment to allow new possibilities. The doors will open to present opportunities to accomplish what has been beyond your scope of imagination. These are things that you cannot foresee or predict, but you can prepare and position yourself spiritually by faith to progress when the time is right," says the Lord.

Mark 1:3b, "...Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight."

Small Straws: "Be on the lookout for various elements of your life to fall into place, and it will be right for you to make the changes that you have considered. There are a time and a season when everything lines up with My will and purposes for you," says the Lord. "That time is just ahead of you. Do not lose hope."

Ecclesiastes 3:17b, "For there is a time for every purpose and for every work."

Another vision I thought was interesting was one of watching someone working on a stained glass project, probably a window. There were lots of beautiful glass with various shaped pieces that would be used to make a picture. Many of us have been fragmented, and we will be working on ourselves internally to put all the pieces together so that we are whole.

A Season of Adjustment

Small Straws: "The season of adjustment is upon you, but you will have to mentally and emotionally let go of things that tie you to the past before you can move forward in My purposes. If you will take this step of faith, you will come to a place of liberty and fulfillment that you have not known before. Trust Me to bring you through this awkward transition with great grace," says the Lord. "All you have to do is be willing and flexible." 

2 Corinthians 12:9a, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'"

Mystery

Small Straws: As I waited on the Lord, I sensed movement in the spirit realm. It was very strong and yet mysterious. And, I heard the Lord say, "I am moving in ways that are beyond anything that you have seen or understood. This work will affect My people at a core level that is untapped and rarely accessed. Only those who get quiet and exercise extreme discernment will be aware of what I am now doing."

Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Small Straws: "My work in the lives of My people appears to be mysterious at times. But, if you ask for wisdom with a genuine desire to know, I will reveal My purposes to you in ways that you can understand. Keep in mind that I want you to search for truth as you would search for treasure. And to do that you must be willing to dig deep," says the Lord.

Psalm 51:6, "Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom."

Recap-these are the headlines for 2018:

• Spiritual Maturity—a time to grow up into Him.
• Greater Light—to see what God is doing in our lives. 
• Elevation and Clarity—for more precise discernment. 
• Cleansing and Purity of the soul—through internal work.
• Proper Positioning in Spirit—before we can progress.
• Personal and Spiritual Adjustment—to bring precision and order.
• Understanding the Mysteries of God.