When I first started in ministry I was doing a lot of deliverance ministry with people in one-on-one prayer sessions. That was the way the Lord led me so that was what I was doing…a lot! After a while I felt the Lord laying on my heart to start teaching, so I also started doing that through live videos, workshops, and books.

As time progressed I knew I was going to be moving into a new season. I had no idea exactly what that was going to look like, but I knew it meant I was no longer going to be doing one-on-one deliverance ministry. The idea I had in my head was walking through one door and immediately walking into the next one. It would be an end of one season and the beginning of the next. I had a picture of what it was going to be like. I walked into the doorway of the current season and was waiting for that next door to open while also holding the door knob of the door to the current season. God showed me a vision and what He showed me was closing the door, walking into a long hallway, and then going into the next door. He spoke to my heart and said, “you will never move into that (the new door), unless you let go of this” (the current door).

Once He showed me that vision I let go of that season and moved into the hallway. Again, in my mind I had it all worked out. I would be there a short time and then move on. However, after being in the hallway (waiting) for a while I thought okay it must be getting close to moving on. In my mind I was thinking I just sit here and twiddle my thumbs until the next season. I mean I have still been doing the teaching and any other ministry He has laid on my heart, but other than that I have just kind of been waiting……There were a few times I decided what I thought was going to be a great plan, but I never felt fully released by God to move forward.

One day the Lord showed me that a season of waiting is a season all in itself and that waiting does not lead to stagnation. He preceded to give me a list of things to focus on for the season of waiting. I wanted to share that list with you all because I think it pertains to all of us and not just me. Many of us have found ourselves in a season of waiting. Waiting for a promise, waiting for the next assignment, waiting for the answer to a prayer, waiting to hear from God, waiting for the next season, etc. 

Praise and Worship: During seasons of waiting our flesh, the enemy (demons), and our situations will try to tell us that God doesn’t care, that He is not moving on our behalf, and that He isn’t going to answer our prayers, but this is the time to press into His presence even more. We need to spend time with Him where we just worship Him and thank Him for His goodness and for who He is.

Fasting: Fasting does a few things in our lives. It is a great tool to use against demonic attacks, it brings our flesh under submission, it helps us grow and mature in the Lord, and it also helps us to focus on God to better hear His voice.

Waiting: Not the fact that we wait, but how we act while we are waiting.  I think of a 2-year-old child who is waiting for his lunch. He may kick, scream, and throw a fit while he is waiting. He is waiting, but he is not doing it very well. We can be the exact same way. We can choose to get impatient, do our own thing, throw a fit, or we can choose to trust God and His timing.

Spiritual Warfare: Using our weapons of warfare is a must because the demons will definitely be attacking our faith by trying to cause us to second guess God, His Word, and what He has spoken to us.  

Preparing: This would include asking God what you need to do in order to prepare for the next season, the answer to your prayer, or whatever you are waiting on from Him.

Prayer: Remaining in prayer (communication) with God is so important. During seasons of waiting we can be tempted to get lazy or even just fall into patterns of neglecting our prayer time. Prayer is part of how we maintain intimacy with God and maintain our relationship with Him. It should never be neglected. We need to talk to Him and then also spend time listening to what He wants to say to us.

Learning: Ask Him what He wants you to focus on learning. We should always be reading the Bible, but often times He will lead us to learn about specific topics. Make a habit of asking Him to show you what He wants you to learn and where He wants you to learn it from.

Doing: The season of waiting is not a season of being stagnant. It still involves doing. The doing may be sitting in His presence and learning to rest in Him. It may include learning to surrender your schedule to Him. It can include all kinds of things and you can find out what you can be doing by asking Him what He wants you to focus on.  

Seeking: Seeking Him is important in every single season of our lives. In the good times, in the not so good times, in the really fun seasons, in the waiting, and even when we are in the valley. Seeking Him is a must.

Submitting: Submission is foundational to our relationship with God. Ask Him to show you any areas that you need to submit to Him and then actively make the choice to submit them to Him.

Faith and Trust: Seasons of waiting will try to steal our faith and trust. They will often lie to us and say that God is not going to answer, that He doesn’t see or hear us, and that He is not a good Father. We must respond with the Word of God and make the choice to walk by faith and put our full trust in God and His timing for our lives.

Growing: The process of growth is not fun. It can be painful, and it can include pruning. There may be some areas that He wants to grow in us before we move into the next season. Ask Him what areas in your life need to grow, ask Him to help you grow in those areas, and also ask Him to show you what you can do in order to grow in them.

Patience: Not waiting, but HOW we wait. Having patience includes our attitude while we wait. We wait with faith, trust, and a thankful heart. Not anger, bitterness, doubt, and resentment.

Humility: Ask God to show you any areas of pride in your life. Pride will make us unteachable and unreachable because pride will always tell us the issues and problems are with everyone else and not us. Search your heart, ask God to search your heart, and uproot any and all pride. Do the things in your life that will force you to walk in humility.

Walk in His Truth: Spend time in His Word, memorize the Word, and verbally speak it over your life and over your situation.  

Fruit of the Spirit: Study the fruit of the Spirit and choose to walk in His fruit and not the fruit of your flesh. Galatians 5: 22-23

Address All Areas of Needed Healing: Ask God to show you any areas in your life that need healing, the root cause of the issues, ask Him to uproot any areas of pain, trauma, rejection, etc., and the effects of those things in your life. Next, ask Him to heal those areas, and then verbally command any demons attached to those areas to leave in the name of Jesus. You may also need some Biblical Holy Spirit led Christian counseling.

Rest in Him: Learn to rest in His presence and in His peace.

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/kJq4VZCH_iE?si=s0hbGLs2K7Sq4AyI

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry