// Joy begin to rise. Hope begin to light the dark. Our God exchanges old for new. //

Old For New: Hannah McClure

The process of endurance is all about the enjoyment of the journey.

June 24th, 2016, I set out to do something new. Something different. Something to challenge me. For several months I was able to accomplish that goal. I’m not saying it was easy, or my focus was 100% on what the Lord was wanting to do with my life. I entered into the final year of my nursing program, & I came up with every excuse to quit writing. That being said, the excuses won. I gave up on what God was calling me to do. A dream to do something new soon became a dread to just get it over with. So I must apologize for that. As I continued pressing in with the Lord, He would not release me. I soon felt guilt, & shame rise up. Sound familiar? I even wrote about this very feeling. However, I realized the Lord was not finished with it or with me.

In the past couple of months, I’ve had it on my heart to reset. Restart. Not only has my life flipped upside down in many areas of my life spiritually. Physically I choose to do something new too. Emotionally, & mentally, I would be lying if I said I’m ready to embark on this new quest for glory. I’m still not 100% on what this will look like. I ask you prayerfully consider contending with me on what the future of this blog would look like. I have a heart to reach the nations with Truth. I want to release a generation to know who they are, & whose they are. Relationship with Jesus is key. I have a few ideas, and am partnering with a friend to help solidify a more iconic labeling. To know where I’m going I feel I must give you the story that sparked the movement. Because it only takes a moment for the Lord to speak, & give you strategies to advance the kingdom. We just have to be willing to listen & catch it.

In the late spring of 2015, I had just gotten done with my day. I was exhausted & it was only noonish. I had choose to stop by the Main Street Prayer Center to visit a dear friend & mentor. We discussed a few issues I was dealing with. At the time I was reading a book about revival that just rubbed me the wrong way spiritually & emotionally. Receiving counsel was a must because I had inadvertently gotten angry with a historical figure for the actions they committed. Irrational? Yes. Silly? For sure. Real? Most definitely. I couldn’t even get past this point in the book. After coming to the understanding of the pressure of the time, I had to repent. Which I had done in my alone time with the Lord, I’ll discuss that later in the story. So we continued on. When I get to talking there isn’t really a pause, I unload everything on my mind. Especially to those I trust. So I continued discussing an issue I had as an intercessor, one who prays with intent for specific situations, or circumstances. I had a different experience that I had not been through at the time. This dear friend helped me walk through the circumstance, with the solution laying it down to Jesus. By this time I was even more exhausted, & frustrated. Yet I was more free. I parted ways. I wanted some alone time with the Lord. Like many of these revivalist. I wanted an encounter what would be my special moment. That spark moment.

After thinking of some places I could encounter God. I decided the Madisonville city park sounded like a better place than any. I parked, and began to scope out the land. Where do I want to hear God? Still being with a whole lot of selfish ambitions I waked around a few locations until I sat under a tree in the open field with my Bible, paper, & pen in hand. I was ready. I played some worship music. I tried reading my Bible. All I could think about is how I allowed myself to get caught up in this book. Then got mad at someone who had long pasted. I realized it was time to cleanse my mind. So I began to forgive myself, & ask for forgiveness of my thoughts towards this individual. Even though they no longer are living I knew something shifted in me that day. I closed my Bible, & began to pack everything. Clearly I had missed my mark. Until I heard a still small voice in my spirit.

Just like that I heard it. “Be still.” So I took a deep breath in. It was a partly cloudy day. Not much wind. Not too hot. Not too cold. I released my breath. Then asked God, “would you open my Bible to where you would have me read?” As silly as this sounds, I believed He would. I’ve heard of God doing this before to people I trust & love. Why not me? Why not now? Why not? The wind picked up around me. It was like a scene from Pocahontas. The wind began to flip my pages. Just as it came, it left just as quickly. There my Bible laid open to Ezekiel. Chapter 37. I had read a bit of this book before. I’ve heard sermons about the dry bones. But this was different. I could feel a pull of God. So I began to read. It was like the word jumped off the pages. Words can’t really describe that feeling when you’re reading the word, & you know the Lord has chosen this passage just for you. For such a time as this. As I came along verse 9, I weeped. Yet, the same still small voice spoke to my spirit, “this is your ministry.”

If you haven’t read this passage, I encourage you to read it in full but here’s what it looks like in short.

“Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭37:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So I began to overthink, like one tends to do when you think you’ve heard God. Was this Him? Am I crazy? But as I read & reread this passage. It was more apparent now than anything. This was a life verse that I would carry with me. In this passage you see Ezekiel speaking to the four winds; north, south, east, & west. “Four Winds” kept popping off the page when I would read this passage. It wouldn’t be until months later that I would realize what these few words would mean to me.

It’s not an extravagant story, but it’s my story. Most importantly it is His testimony of how Jesus will do it again, & again. As we continue I hope to unfold the full meaning of “Four Winds.” Especially in things soon to come. As I pray into this season of writing & discovery, I hope to share more often the wisdom & revelations I find. To my readers, I hope you find encouragement & hope. Whether it be something I write, or something the Lord sparks inside you, I pray the Lord would bless you. Encourage you. Fill you with great hope.

To be continued…

Marco Rice

Hello friends, I’m Marco. I’m an RN, & founder of Four Winds, a ministerial blog.

I have a heart for this generation to know who they are & whose they are. I also contend for revival to cover college campuses.  As well as preach the word until every nation has heard.  Sharing Jesus with all, & showing the love that was once shown me.