Note 11 – Part 2 (see part 1 here; Navigation forward and backward to other notes at bottom of screen)
Good, Pleasing, or Perfect Will ~ Don’t Settle for Less than God’s BEST
One of God’s recurring instructions in this past season of seeking has been to make sure that our decisions do not lead us to settle for less than His BEST for us. In our past years of walking through prophetic process, we’ve seen this pattern occur repeatedly. Each time God’s been calling us into a major leap of faith that involved risk and sacrifice, several other doors of opportunity have also suddenly simultaneously opened which looked appealing. At times they may be counterfeit doors of the enemy to try to detour us from God’s plan. Other times they may be tests from the Lord to expose where our faith level is and how hungry we are to walk in His perfect will. Will we choose the path that looks COMFORTABLE and CONVENIENT and requires little faith (as He began to highlight in note 5) or are we ready to follow Him into the great unknown? Do we desire to know with all our heart which path He’s truly calling us to take in order to fulfill our destiny? Are we committed to seek Him until His best path is made clear and ready to pay whatever price is required to fulfill His perfect will for our lives?
As we sought the Lord a number of years ago about this phenomenon of multiple doors opening at once, He led us to a series of words through Mark Hankins book, “The Spirit of Faith.” In this past season as we cried out for direction, He led us back to my notes and quotes from this book:
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“Breaking Barriers” – FEAR of the UNKNOWN LIMITS GOD
“Some people will never obey God because they are AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN (Mark said “ugh-known” based on a story he told). The 
unknown stops many from moving out into the greater blessings of God. The need for SECURITY and COMFORT LIMITS the ability of God to move in their lives (more confirmation of the “idols” God began to expose in note 5). Abraham, on the other hand, left his country and went out in the unknown.
“By FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WENT.” Heb 11:8
“Faith is obeying God even when there is an element of the unknown. Faith obeys when you don’t feel like it or know all the answers.”
“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, LEAN NOT to your own UNDERSTANDING. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will DIRECT YOUR PATH.” Prov 3:5-6
The GLORY ROAD
Mark tells how he heard someone prophesy by the Holy Spirit about 2 roads that lie before us:
“One road goes out ahead and is straight and clear, and you can see what lies ahead ~ and it looks nice. That’s the ‘Blessing Road.’ You can take that road and see the blessings of God in a measure in your life. However there’s another road that goes a different direction up a HIGH 
MOUNTAIN. It winds around and you can’t see what’s BEYOND THE NEXT BEND” (though we can’t see it with our natural eyes – He asks us to SEE the INVISIBLE/UNSEEN WITH THE EYES OF FAITH to see BEYOND what we can see, as discussed in note 10, knowing the GLORY is at the top of that climb. GLORY has also been a recurring theme). “The mountain looks rugged and rough. When you look at it you might think – ‘I don’t want THAT road,’ but that’s the road you should take. That’s ‘The Glory Road.’ There is much SACRIFICE and it’s more challenging, but when you get to the top and see what’s on the other side, you’ll be glad you chose that road. The GLORY of God will be seen by (and through) those who choose this road. It takes a spirit of faith to choose the GLORY ROAD.” Many just want the blessing and the road that requires the least resistance. There is a choice to make if we want to see the GLORY.
Mountain Moving vs. Mountain Climbing
“The spirit of faith MOVES the mountains that are hindrances to our receiving from God. (The obstacles and attacks of the enemy against us). The spirit of faith also CLIMBS the mountain that represents our obedience to the will of God.”
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Psalm 24:3-5
“The Glory Road is like climbing the mountain of the Lord ~ It is like a spiritual Mt. Everest.” It requires FAITH, TRAINING, DISCIPLINE, clean hands and a pure heart to make it to the top – but the rewards make the journey worthwhile. The GLORY OF GOD is seen and experienced by those who travel that way.
Faith to Forsake, Faith to Follow, Faith to Forget
It takes faith to forsake the ways of this world and walk in the ways of God. It takes faith to walk away from COMFORTS, PLEASURES, and temptations of this world.
“By FAITH Moses FORSOOK Egypt.”~ Hebrews 11:27
Moses left Egypt – (representing COMFORT, PLEASURES, sin)
Abraham left Ur of Chaldees – (representing family, heritage, false gods)
Peter, James, and John left their boats – (representing their means of livelihood, financial STABILITY and SECURITY)
“It takes FAITH to forsake, FAITH to follow, and FAITH to forget the past (Heb 11:15). If you keep looking back you can’t go forward.”
“Remember not the former things…I will do a NEW THING; NOW it shall SPRING forth….I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the DESERT.” Isaiah 43:18-19
“…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
to be continued… (see part 3 here)
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