Claiming Zechariah

I wonder if the process of one's life coming together is just as scary as having one's life fall apart. Change, whether for the better or worse, still evokes fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failing and most importantly fear that one will lose sight of what life is really about. 

I had a dream last summer that I was giving birth, actually I had a few dreams. All of which I was very pregnant and very ready to get this baby out of me. The one particular dream and if I remember correctly the last one of it's kind the father of the child was there and when it came time to name the baby, I blanked. I thought of how foolish I must be to be pregnant for nine whole months and still not have a name... the father then declared "Zechariah! Because the Lord is bringing a new season!"

"'Zechariah' means God remembers. What does He remember? His covenant. 'Iddo' means at the appointed time, and 'Berechiah' means God will bless. God remembers and at the appointed time He will bless them."  (Bible.org, 2010)

Whoa, what? What a wonderful dream! Also this summer I received a prophesy that I would be coming into a position of leadership and it would be coming soon. I was told to prepare my heart, which is a very common phrase for Christians-- but what does it really even mean? How is it possible to prepare my heart to receive the blessing of God? The obvious is to find myself in prayer, worship, and having child like faith but I know there has to be more. Especially involving righteousness-- it seems we have wandered from that. As a culture we went from law to lawlessness and there is no doubt that God is calling us back to his grace but also his discipline.

With that, I don't know if my heart is ready for blessings but I know I am ready to start a new season. I wish I could say my new start came with 2011 and tell you I had some magical moment and some huge resolution that is going to change my whole life for the Lord. But I didn't and perhaps that really is for the best. God is the one making the plans, He is the one brewing up change, He is the one calling me back to the book of Zechariah.

Got Questions.org quotes the practical application of Zechariah as, "God expects sincere worship and moral living of us today. Zechariah's example of breaking through national prejudice reminds us to reach out into all areas of our society. We must extend God's invitation of salvation to people of all national origins, languages, races and cultures. That salvation is only available through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, who died in our place to atone for sin. But if we reject that sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice through which we can be reconciled to God. There is no other name under heaven by which men are saved. There is no time to lose; today is the day of salvation" 

Today is the day. This is the season. There will be salvation in this Urban Ministry. And I will be in Leadership. I am lost but loved, confused but cared for, scared but sacred, I am ready to accept the new season... "Here am I Lord, send me" (Isaiah 6:8). I am claiming Zechariah:

"Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 

'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you' "