Matthew 9:17 (NIV) “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
When God spoke to me the other day about Sanctuary, I asked Him if He meant the building or the person. He said both. Being inside a building with liked minded people is wonderful. Being surrounded by the Holy Spirit is phenomenal. But being overtaken by the Holy Spirit is a blessing. Having Him inside of you is everything. I'm reminded of a song...."Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. And with thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you." Have you ever thought that for the Lord to dwell inside of you, you need to be cleaned out first? I've heard it said over and over again that God won't put new wine in old wineskin. I didn't truly understand this until I began my journey with God. Over time, as battle after battle appeared, I learned that He was cleaning out the wineskin (my inner man) so that He could dwell inside His temple (my body). By and by (as the saying goes), I understood that His battles aren't meant to hurt, destroy, or forsake me. They are the cleaning. Me standing after the battle is the "tried and true" portion of the lyrics. My studying of His Word is the "Lord, prepare me", the preparation. "And, with Thanksgiving..." now that's the part I battled with the most. You want me to be happy about this fight, this struggle? Really, God? Come on. How am I supposed to have joy deep in my soul when I'm crying all night long? It's simpler than we think. We must change our mindset regarding the reason for the battle. Now, understand this. Not all battles are God given. Some of them we take on all by ourselves trying to be Mighty Mouse, Superman, or Wonder Woman, sometimes all 3. When God tells you NO, except it so you aren't battling a war you created on your own. How can you tell the difference? Here's an example. Many years ago, God told me not to move to this one apartment. I did so anyway. I ended up getting evicted. Here I was a single mother with nowhere for my son to lay his head. I wanted to run home to my mom and dad with my tail between my legs. God said no. I didn't listen the first time and that led to my eviction and worst depression. I listened the second time and within months walked into my calling. See the difference? When God says no but you do so anyway, you are telling God, you've got this. So, He lets you. That's how I learned to have thanksgiving over the battles in my life. When I got sick and tired of being sick and tired of being sick and tired of being sick and tired of running around in circles chasing my tail, I gave up and let God have His way. With that renewed mindset, I found thanksgiving, joy, happiness, love, acceptance, peace, and most of all rest. God's sanctuaries listen with their spiritual ear. They attune themselves to The Voice of Heaven awaiting instructions. Yes, we'll mess up from time to time. But God, knows that you are striving to do what's right. Once you've repented over your error, clean out your spiritual ear with praise and worship so you can hear what to do next. Be the sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true that can give thanks for each and every storm that God puts before you as you know that you are coming out. Be A Blessing and not Just Blessed!!!