Across the globe there are more than 24 different time zones that are in use as we go throughout our day. Moving through time has always been an area of fascination for mankind. The idea of time travel has been the subject matter of numerous novels and science-fiction movies entertaining enthusiasts for generations. Although we are eager to use time to our advantage, most people feel limited by the constructs of time. Often people will complain about not having enough time in the day to accomplish the long agenda they set out to complete. Certainly when time gets shortened by critical illness, tragedy, and death we long to lengthen and linger in the time that has passed. While we are acutely aware of living in time, God exists outside of time in the realm of eternity. His kingdom is an eternal one, which allows us to operate from a completely different time zone.
From the beginning of time on earth, God set the great lights in the sky to serve as markers in helping us keep track of the flow of time. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth” (Genesis 1:14-15).
As God set apart a nation that would follow his kingdom pattern and plans, he developed a yearly calendar for the nation of Israel that would place them in a blessed flow of life bringing prosperity and abundance. He clearly drew distinct boundaries between the other nations following a worldly rhythm and the rhythm of life he designed for his followers.
God set a seasonal pattern that gives us kingdom flow and focus throughout our year. When the Israelite people came out of Egyptian bondage, God wanted to realign them with his way of living life. They had been enslaved to the world system that they were trapped in and needed to develop a new framework for living life from a different kingdom and timing for prosperity. God outlined to Moses appointed feasts that were “to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come” wherever they were living. These feast seasons drew the minds and hearts of the people into the themes of deliverance and redemption; the power and provision of God; and the abiding presence of God in their lives. Throughout the year, the people were drawn into the pleasure of living life with a loving relational God. As the year 2024 comes to a close, I encourage you to set apart some time with God in tuning into His heart and vision for the year ahead. Ask Holy Spirit to highlight the things in your life that need closure in the past season, so that it is not being carried over into the next season as part of the framework. Be aware of what Father God is breathing on for the year ahead. The Hebrew year for 2025 is 5785 which began at sunset on October 2, 2024. The letter Hei is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and also represents the number 5, meaning breath, spirit, and behold (to make known). We have been given the incredible gift of knowing life from a kingdom time zone that holds the amazing promise of life renewed. This allows time to work for us instead of against us.
Steps in Pursuit
- In our pursuit of life by our own design, we are deceived into believing that we can push ourselves to extreme busyness without giving much thought to a godly flow of life. Honestly evaluate what things have been controlling your time.
- If we were willing to set aside a day a week for rest and recovery, how could that restore balance in relationships and health? Take the next few weeks of 2024 and have a day of rest, noticing the benefits it brings.
- I encourage you to recommit your time and seasons to Kingdom flow for 2025 and watch God bring prosperity to your life.
I hope that you enjoyed this excerpt from my book Pursuing Kingdom Pleasure. I have written the book in the format of a 21-day journey of discovering Kingdom identity and would be a great resource to start out the new year as an individual or small group study!
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
