Are you ready for a change? More specifically, are you prepared to embrace new situations coming into your life? Even if they happen more suddenly than expected?
In numerous places throughout the Word of God, we see the word, “suddenly.” Often, it refers to a “new thing” the Lord is doing, or to a change He is bringing to us. In our relationship with Jesus, we need to perceive and accept how quickly things change!
Overcoming Resistance
How do you and I handle a sudden change in life? It can be a challenge. The aging process (which we all experience) brings with it many benefits: greater maturity; increased wisdom; heightened respect. However, there is a down-side. Aging also seems to bring with it a greater resistance to “new things” and changes that arise in life.
Especially in this era of rapid technological advances—which often disrupt our familiar, accepted practices—our tendency is to resist how quickly things change!
The desire of my heart in these days is to become more accepting of the new situations the Lord places before me, and the rapid pace at which they may arise. Can we make an agreement in this letter to stay supple and pliable in these times of transition?
“Suddenlies” at Jesus’ Birth
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this month, it is good to focus our attention on the “suddenly” aspects of the Lord’s advent. From the very moment our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, everything changed—completely, totally, and forever.
The events surrounding the coming of the Messiah have numerous references to this “suddenly” factor. Here are just two. First is the follow-up to the angel’s initial announcement to the shepherds, which we read in Luke 2:13–14: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”
The second “suddenly” is the shepherds’ immediate response to this encounter with the angels. We see that they didn’t wait around with their flocks in the field, nor did they dawdle in indecision. Immediately, they purposed to “go to Bethlehem to see this thing [or might we say, “this new thing”] that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (v. 15). The next verse shows their quick response: “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.”
When “suddenlies” come, we need to embrace them and take action quickly!
Change Springs Forth
Whenever the Lord is involved, there is a good chance He will introduce “new things.” What is our responsibility when He does? We have to be poised to perceive those new situations and respond to them rapidly. The Lord speaks of the “suddenly” factor in Isaiah 43:19 when He says, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know of it?” Other versions translate the expected response to God’s new thing as perceiving it; being aware of it; recognizing it; seeing it.
When the Lord causes something new to spring forth—no matter how unexpectedly—can we sharpen our senses to readily perceive it and receive it?
The Lord’s promise to do something new is repeated in the New Testament in Revelation 21:5 when He says, “Behold, I make all things new.” How must we respond? We open our arms to the situation, fully acknowledging how quickly things can change.
The Second Coming
Speaking of the Book of Revelation, I want to make one more important point. Probably the ultimate expression of the element of suddenness is found in this book. Recently, as I was reading Revelation 22, I was impressed by the fact that three separate times in that chapter—in verses 7, 12, and 20—the Lord Jesus Himself says these words: “I am coming quickly.”
The same sense of immediacy and urgency seen at the birth of Jesus applies as well to His second coming. For all of us who “have longed for His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8, NIV), we stand ready to receive His promise to come quickly—bringing eternal change.
What should be our posture as we anticipate His coming? You and I prepare in the present by remaining open in advance to the “new things” He suddenly brings our way.
In Times of Shaking
In a great radio message, “Longing for His Appearing (Part 2),” Derek Prince talks about the attitude we should exhibit. Even facing uncertain times and turbulence all around us, we can look confidently to our Lord Jesus, who is “coming quickly.”
For us in this present situation [living in the midst of an unstable world], to get panicky about the turmoil and the confusion and the upheavals and the dangers would be ridiculous. What we have to say is, “Thank God. The birth is now near at hand. A new age is shortly going to be born.”
You see, Jesus instructed us how to respond. In Luke 21:28, having listed the same points I have read from Matthew 24, He said to His disciples: “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (NAS)
So, it is not a cause for alarm or despondency or losing faith. In spite of all the pressure, it is a cause for relief, for joy, for excitement. We don’t walk around with our heads bowed down, saying, “Oh, what’s going to happen next?” We straighten up; we lift up our heads; we look upward—because the next great event is going to come from heaven. We know when we see these things that our redemption is drawing near.
Staying Open and Ready
Right now, you and I have the opportunity to express our confidence in Jesus, and our readiness to receive whatever He wants to bring into our lives. Let’s pray:
Dear Lord, I confess that I am often resistant to the prospect of change coming to my life. I have chosen at times to remain in habits and patterns that are familiar to me, simply because it is more comfortable to do so. Please forgive me for that tendency on my part. I give it up to You now.
With this prayer, I want to break down any resistance in my spirit to the transitions You will bring to my life—even if they happen more rapidly than I expect. By faith, I open my heart to receive whatever changes You bring to me. In times of shaking, I will look to You with confidence in Your redemption.
In these days, Lord, I want to be supple and pliable in Your hands. I know I am practicing for that great day when the trumpet will sound, and You will return in the twinkling of an eye. I want to be ready for that event, Lord. So, I open my heart now to see and accept how quickly things change. Amen.
Intentional Steps
The simple, honest prayer you and I have just prayed is really a game-changer for us. In a very practical way, it positions us to be ready for greater use by the Master.
All of us here at Derek Prince Ministries want to partner with you in that process. It doesn’t happen automatically; it requires intentional steps that come from prayer, mutual encouragement, and consistent study of the Word of God. The message from which we took Derek’s quote, “Longing for His Appearing (Part 2),” would probably be a good choice for the encouragement we need. You can download it using the link below, free of charge.
We are grateful for your partnership with us, and we send our deepest thanks for your prayers and for your generosity towards us. May the Lord bless you greatly!
One More “Suddenly”
Let me close this letter with just one more encouraging reference to a “suddenly” in the Bible. It appears in Malachi 3:1, a Messianic passage from the Old Testament: “And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple.” We celebrate the reality of that truth this month as we and all the world remember the coming of the Christ child.
A very familiar song we hear and sing at this time of year, “Joy to the World,” contains the following lyric: “Let every heart prepare Him room.” The prayer you and I offered earlier voiced our desire to maintain an open heart toward Jesus. After all, we are His temple—and we simply expressed our willingness to welcome Him when He comes.
In that posture, we can be assured that Jesus will come, sometimes more suddenly than we might expect. When He does, we will be amazed at how quickly things change!
All the best,
Dick Leggatt
President, DPM-USA
