SUDDENLY, QUICKLY, UNEXPECTEDLY
Suddenly: quickly and unexpectedly. 87 times (at least by my count) is this mentioned in the Bible. Are you in need of a suddenly? They walked around Jericho 7 times and then on the command of the Lord, the alarm was sounded; suddenly/unexpectedly, the walls came down.
But suddenly there arose a great storm on the Lake, so that the waves threatened to engulf the boat; but He was asleep. - Matthew 8:24
Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus only. - Mark 9:8
Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. - Acts 2:2
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying … Luke 2:13
Another time God suddenly comes into a situation is found in Acts 16:26
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Paul and Silas are in prison and they start to sing, from this dungeon surrounded by darkness and chains. They made a decision: “I’m going to release the thought of heaven over the thoughts of earth. I’m gonna focus on the thoughts of Jesus (my king) and what He wants, needs and deserves over what I want, or need or deserve. I’m going to worship” … and they did.
This scripture teaches us that when we begin to worship, it can release a suddenly. The sound of our voices can unlock the suddenly not only for us but for everyone held captive by the same chains we’ve been/are in. The scripture in Acts says that everyones chains came loose.
Today, as we prepare to gather for practice - start speaking over yourself: “I’m about to have some heavenly thoughts override my earthly way of thinking.” “I am preparing a suddenly that in God’s perfect timing will be released and every wall will come down - every chain will be loosed.”
You are right, it doesn’t make sense that we’d be singing and worshiping when we should be doing so many other things — we shouldn’t be here singing songs. But God loves costly worship. He loves it. He loves it when we don’t feel like singing a note but we still open our mouths. This costly worship opens up doors to the suddenlies of God. He loves it when we begin singing His truth and our reality begins shifting.
Suddenly, quickly, unexpectedly - things change.
Your suddenlies are being prepared in the weakness and brokenness of your life. You do not know if you are five or six times around the wall of Jericho, but God does, and He knows when your suddenly is about to happen, and everything that you’ve been believing for is about to quickly be made new.
So as we continue to live in our places of freedom … we’ve got 27 more days to form this habit of total freedom. As we shift together, we worship. Worship your way through the wilderness, into the promised land. You’ve got this and when you release your praise - everyone’s chains are loosed.
Suddenly, quickly, and unexpectedly…
- Jeremi and Amy