A Season of Grace
“‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”(Zech. 4:7)
Through the prophetic, it’s being revealed that 2015 will be a season of grace. Grace is commonly associated with the number five, and five appears in the numbers for both the Gregorian (2015) and the Jewish (5775) new years.
A Minor Adjustment—A Major Difference
Recently, I had a dream. The setting was an amazing tropical-like paradise, which had a depth of beauty and clarity unlike any earthly location I’ve ever seen. I was given an aerial view of a length of coastline. At one end was a settlement of people; at the other was their water source, and I understood they did not have sufficient water.
A man appeared who knew how to solve the problem. He revealed that one minor adjustment to the source would make a major difference to the supply, resulting in enough water for all. This adjustment entailed adding one ingredient in very small proportion.
This man, however, seemed to be in no rush to implement the solution. In fact, he began to frolic with some of the children in a beautiful nearby stream. They splashed and played, sliding down a naturally made water slide; a child even rode down on his back at one point! It was quite an amazing scene.
I awoke to a strong presence of the Lord. Instinctively, I knew the beautiful tropical paradise represented the kingdom of God, and the people in the community were believers in the church. I felt the man represented Jesus, and the playful scene was the joy that belongs to those of the kingdom of God (see Rom. 14:17).
The puzzle was the mysterious ingredient that in small amount would resolve the people’s problem. This was a significant key, yet I did not know what it was. And then I heard the Lord say that He wants to release grace to His people.
In Zechariah 4, as Zerubbabel labored to restore the temple, many obstacles were encountered, yet by God’s Spirit and accompanied by grace, the “mountain” became a “plain.” Whatever “mountain” you’re confronting today, God’s looking to remove it, as you shout, “Grace, grace to it!”
Reflection and Application
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” The word revelation could actually be translated as prophetic vision. And further study of word origins reveals that restraint actually infers the idea that lack of discipline has allowed something to slip through one’s fingers by ignoring an opportunity.
One translation reads: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.” In essence, heeding the revelation brought by prophetic voices of our time enables us to not miss what God is doing in the earth. I hope, like me, you are one who wants to attend to what He reveals!
Recently I’ve found myself in several frustrating and awkward situations. In one circumstance, in particular, I’d be justified to speak up in my defense. Instead, I’ve sensed repeatedly to resist speaking out—to wait for the Lord’s resolution. My heart longs to hear Him say at that moment, “You handled that situation with such grace!”
Here are some additional thoughts on grace for reflection and application:
1. Read and meditate on 2 Peter 1:2, 5-11.
This rich passage of scripture describes a beautiful picture of grace-filled living. Grace is associated with loveliness, kindness, graciousness and goodwill. Grace gives us endurance to stay in the battle, strategy for our situation, and enables God to fight for us. It produces fruitful, mature, steadfast living.
2. Ask the Lord to reveal any situations where you need to apply His grace.
The village in the dream had some water, but lacked abundance. Whatever trying, awkward, or seemingly insurmountable situation you are in, God would have you receive and apply His grace to it—then watch a small adjustment bring a major difference! By receiving the release of His grace, we will find our abundance for this season.
