Drafted For Elevation

As I was praying this morning, I saw a vision of an eagle flapping its wings vigorously to ascend, and I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Let my wind carry you higher than your effort will. Get in the draft of my Spirit and soar. Come up to higher places! Secret places that man cannot see. REST with me at the mountaintop. Man is focused on what’s in front of him, but I call you to LOOK UP. COME UP. COME UP HERE. Write what you see. What I will show you by the revelation of My Spirit. Keep in my Presence.”

As the words were being spoken, the eagle ceased flapping, spreading out its wingspan to the left and to the right. I could not feel the wind, but I knew by the eagle’s behavior that It caught lift from the wind, and it continued to go higher.

I asked the Lord, “Lord, how do we do this?” “How do we cease striving and get in your draft?” He said:

• “Pray in the Spirit.
• Be willing to drop your plans for the revelation I have for you.
• Do what I tell you to do.
• Exercise wisdom in ALL things.
• Detach from distractions in this hour.
• My Word will confirm your instructions.
• Go.”

You’ve been Drafted For Elevation

Draft: recruited for a military assignment.

Wind Draft: a thermal pattern created by cold & warm air that majestic flyers take advantage of drafts to travel faster and easier in 1 of 2 directions: up or down.

The Draft of the Holy Spirit: In Acts 2:1-4 Jesus’ followers went to Jerusalem to await the promise of the Helper, that is the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us, “Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them” (MSG).

The Lord tells us today that the key to rising higher in this season is to allow the Holy Spirit to take first place and do what only He can. We cannot discern the revelation that the Holy Spirit wants to share with us in our strength or understanding. That may seem like a “duh” statement, but how many times have we as believers moved quickly and gotten out of step with what God was calling us to? He’s inviting us, even encouraging us to come up higher now. As I type this, I envision myself halfway up the mountain, looking up to the summit, breathing deeply, knowing in my heart and my mind that I cannot stop until I reach the top.

I have never personally climbed a great mountain, but I am climbing the mountain of life. I am being conditioned to breathe at a higher altitude. My body and my spirit are being put to the test for growth. As I expand my lungs in breathing and ascend, my lungs become stronger. I was made to climb the mountain.

The Mountain in the Spirit

The mountain in the Spirit is just as challenging for me. The world below calls for my attention, but the voice of my Father calls me higher. I desire to rest at the top of the mountain with him. To see what he sees. To sit in stillness and watch what will unfold. To share his revelation with others who can’t see from where I am standing with Jesus. To inspire, hope, and encourage others that God is the architect of their story. I could go on and on. It’s interesting that when you’re truly in the presence of the Lord, your laundry list of questions fade and you sit quietly in peace to see what he wants to say. It’s being in the presence of his glory and it’s HOLY ground. It’s beautiful.

Keep In His Presence

To “keep” means to physically stay in a particular space or area. And while we have places to go and things to do, the bible encourages us to live and walk in the spirit at all times. I can’t be confined to my prayer chair all day, but I can invite the Holy Spirit into my day and permit him to execute his will over mine. It’s always so interesting to me that when I start my day with submission, he sends me a divine disruption, typically in the form of a ministry opportunity.

Galatians 5:16 says, “If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]” (AMP).

Being led by the Holy Spirit means that we die to ourselves and our agendas. I think of the expression “For King and Country” which we as believers could modify to say “For King and Kingdom.” When your king calls, you go, no matter what you’re in the middle of doing. His will over my plans.

Your Come Up Higher Guide

I’m going off of the instructions he imparted to me in this revelation using scripture as my guide.

• Pray in the Spirit.– The Spirit helps us in our weakness. when we don’t know what to pray, he intercedes for us with groanings too deep to understand. The spirit prays the will of the Father for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:27).
• Be willing to drop your plans for the revelation I have for you.-Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. We’ve got to give God permission and room to take first place in our days and lives (Proverbs 19:21).
• Do what I tell you to do– Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). This means that we surrender to the will of God over our own will. Walk on the path he shows you. Follow the path he reveals, one step at a time; keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for your life set out in the revelation. He’s going to ask you to do things that you don’t want to do, or that you don’t think you have time to do; just do them exactly as he’s instructed.
• Exercise wisdom in ALL things– James 3:17 says, “This wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Emotions that originate in true wisdom are revealed in this scripture. If you’re being led by any other emotions, pause and pray- don’t make a move until you’ve let Him check your core beliefs, emotions, and motives.
• Detach from distractions in this hour– in Luke 10:40 the Bible says, “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” while her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. The Lord said that what Mary chose was better and it wouldn’t be taken away from her. At the end of the day, everything in life is temporary. Prioritize your purpose and His plans over your vision board and task list. Spend time in His presence daily. We should make priority to seize the eternal- our inheritance through our relationship with Jesus.
• My Word will confirm your instructions– If it’s not supported by the truth of God’s word- stop and pray. Don’t make a move until he shows you confirmation through His word.
• Go– start doing these things NOW.

Of course, it truly begins (assuming you’ve asked Jesus into your heart and made him Lord over your life) by training your spirit to recognize the voice of God, and the ONLY way you can do that is by reading His word every day. Beware of red flags in people who say they hear from the Lord but they don’t read their bible and they don’t know or have an understanding of the scriptures. Don’t ever depend on a person to be your bible or your holy spirit. The Lord desires a personal relationship with you. He doesn’t need a facilitator to speak to you on his behalf.

God’s Glory In You

Ephesians 1:11ff says, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.”

You’ve been drafted for elevation. I can’t wait to watch you soar!

Love, Jess