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It's Time to Live in the Anointing!
by Cheryl R. Carter

Sometimes I wonder about the times in my life. I wonder about why some blessings have come so effortlessly, and others I have struggled to see manifest. I find most often that I have to do things when the anointing is present. We all have to learn to move when God says move and stay when He says stay. This requires being sensitive to the anointing. There is an anointing to do everything. I once heard Joyce Meyer say there is even an anointed time to shop.

Time management must address the presence of the anointing to accomplish your goals. The anointing is the burden removing yoke destroying power of God. (Isaiah 10:27) The anointing makes things easier- notice I did not say easy but rather it makes things easier. Labor without the weight but we still must labor nevertheless. As Christians we are not called to a life of ease but rather one of divine relationship. We are to connect with the LORD in all we do. The anointing is simply the tangible presence of God. We need to develop sensitivity to the anointing.
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Whenever I find myself getting frustrated, I ask myself whether I am operating under the unction of the anointing. I am more prone to move out from under the anointing in those areas where I am confident. I rarely forget to pray before I speak, but sometimes I may forget to pray before I go shopping as I think such an ordinary thing like that could not involve God. I have learned that God is very much involved with all the small details of my day. I simply need to "stop leaning on my own understanding."

The other vital key to being sensitive to the anointing is allowing God to initiate the conversation. This sounds a bit weird but stay with me. By allowing Him to start the conversation I ready myself for whatever He may say without question. Some of us believe God only speaks in the big and miraculous. However, He also speaks in the everyday issues of our lives. We simply need to open our hearts and minds to hear Him. Once I was in the laundry room when the LORD directed my attention to my daughter's ballet slippers. He reminded me she would need them tomorrow, and to assist her in packing her bags right then. I did. That night some old friends unexpectedly dropped by and we were able to have uninterrupted time with them. Small thing some might say but as insignificant as this may seem, these small acknowledgements initiated by God train me in the larger areas and guide me into the larger steps with greater consequences.

This may cause some to question: can we miss God or rather just not be in His timing? The greater question is can we ever miss the will of God? Scriptural ping pong can be played on this issue. Some, pointing to Scriptures such as: "it is God's desire that none perish but all come to a knowledge of Him," will say: clearly, people are perishing and are dying without coming to know God, but while it may be His will that all come to a "knowledge of Him" not everyone is coming to that knowledge. Still others point to marvelous experiences of conversion, and cling to such Scripture as Acts 16:31 that you and your household will be saved.

Not surprisingly these two schools of thought clash. The English theologian Malcolm Smith once explained God's timing this way. He said if you are in Texas and need to get to New York and God wants you to go to New York you need to board an airplane. Suppose you dilly dally in the airport and just do stupid things that cause you to miss your flight. Can you still get to New York?

Of course you can! You will be on another flight. You'll sit near someone different and arrive at a different time. Would you miss some things not being on your scheduled plane? Sure, you would. But ultimately you would arrive in New York. All that said, I suppose I opened up another can of worms. I'm sure everyone has heard the great theologian debate of God's three wills his permissive will, sovereign will, and his perfect will. This debate is best left to the theologians. I just want to do the right thing at the right time.

Doing the right thing at the right time is living in God's anointing. We cooperate with the anointing when we learn to move when he says move and to stop when he says stop. I don't want to be the one dilly dallying in the airport trying to connect with another plane. I want to be on the plane near the right people arriving at the correct time. Yes, I believe there is redemption for those who miss their flights, but I believe first and foremost we should aim to be where the LORD has us. As I said earlier this involves acknowledging Him in all our ways.

Our prayer or quiet time with the LORD should be the place where we plan our day. So often we invite the presence of the Holy Spirit in our church services without realizing we are the temple of God. We need to invite the presence of God into our daily lives and do things when the anointing is present, or literally to move when God says move So many of us know this is true we just need to practice it.

Here are some practical ways to cooperate with the anointing.

• Have pen and pencil to capture ideas and thoughts throughout the plan. The Personal Digital Assistant (such a Palm Pilot) make this convenient and easy. You may now even download your Bible into your PDA (Personal digital assistant)
  
  
• Stop whatever you are doing when you hear God's voice; if necessary pull to the side of the road.
  
  
• Remember God generally communicates spirit-to-spirit, and you may have to separate yourself mentally or physically from a crowd.
  
  
• Carry a voice-activated tape recorder to catch thoughts, feelings, and impressions from God.
  
  
• Be willing to alter your course if necessary. If you feel God leading you to go right, then begin to lean to the right. Prepare for whatever God is calling you to do.
  
  
• Carry a small Bible with you to refer to (if you cannot load one in your PDA)
  
  
• When prompted to do something do it immediately. Do not question God once you know of a certainty It is God. The LORD understands you wanting to be sure it's really Him, but as you grow with God He does require your obedience.
  
  
• Put your schedule before the LORD. Pray over it in your devotional/quiet time. Make changes if necessary.
  
  
• Inquire of the LORD in everything. This may seem exhausting but not as a child would ask a parent permission but rather be sensitive to the presence of God.

The anointing frees us to accomplish above and beyond all that we can ask or think. May you be refreshed and filled anew with the power of God: His anointing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl R. Carter keeps looking to the stars as God continues to fulfill all the promises in her life. At times, like Sarah, she is tempted to laugh at their fulfillment but she remains assured that as long as Jesus is on the throne no weapon formed against her will prosper. Visit www.Momtime for more articles, her speaking itinerary and organizing tips.