On December 22nd this word came up in my spirit. I believe it is a word to mediate on. In some ways I guess it is like a parable. I feel it is a word for the coming year.

As we follow the Lord in the coming year I believe that we are going to see some new roads opening. They will appear more like trails and not very pleasing to the natural eye. These roads will be a opening into the ancient pathways, and from these old waste places new strength is coming for those who will not lean on their own understanding. The Lord says, come, and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth--- building up the old waste places and having a ear to hear a fresh sound from heaven coming into the earth.

These trails will bring us into places where we will be caught up as John was on the Island of Patmos. The heavens will open as they did for Ezekiel and we will see visions of God. We will experience the hand of the Lord upon us.

The Lord is looking for those faithful followers who will not turn back because they don't understand some of the storms that may come. The Lord says, lay down your life, and come follow me.

The next day as I was thinking on this word the following thoughts came to me. Yes, Lord, the road that led to the Island of Patmos was not a pretty road, but it was the place where John was caught up and you revealed to him the book of revelation.

While held captive in the land of the Chaldeans the heavens opened and Ezekiel saw visions of God---the hand of the Lord was on him.

I shared this with my friend Kathy Bell and she said her and her husband went to Australia into some bush country and they had to take trails that look impossible, but as they cut their way through the bush that was on the trail they got to where they were going.

God has some places in the Spirit that he is wanting to take us, but it is going to take great discernment to follow these trails and much strength from the Lord to press through. I believe God has a people in this area that desire to seek out these ancient pathways-- for they know that hidden treasures are there. They have been hidden for years, but they are roads that will deliver the body of Christ from the fear of man to get to those high holy places that the Father is calling us to.

After writing this I was led to read Isa. 58:6-14. I was especially led to think on verse twelve. "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in."

I know there are places in the Spirit that only the ancient pathways are going to open for us. God is calling for that pioneer spirit to arise. The pioneer spirit will challenge us to take the road less traveled. Finding those hidden treasures in the word of God.

The women with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus. He knew immediately that someone with great faith had touched him. She did not let the crowd stop her from pressing through. She could have been killed. The Jewish law consider her unclean. I believe the Spirit of God is saying that there are high places in the Spirit that will open to us from God's word as we press through the crowds.

As we lay down our plans and wait upon the Lord, and rest in Him we are going to be amazed as we see the perfect plans of God begin to unfold.

God bless in the coming year.
Pat Penington