Connected Lifestyle

By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of December 3, 2023

When I sat before our Lord a couple of weeks ago and asked Him what He would like to share with us, He showed me these Word-visions: "Connected lifestyle. Survey gathering, community" in this order. 

As it happens so often, Holy Spirit had me search out the deeper meaning of each Word. And what He led me to see were meanings that I never would’ve seen had I not made the effort to do so. 

If you’ll take these Word definitions before Him in prayer, I believe He’ll reveal specifics to you for your own life. I believe they’ll be unique for each individual and so fitting you wouldn’t want to miss them.

So, here are the definitions:

The Word “connected” means the point of place, time, purpose, or result that has been reached or entered (Strong’s). It implies motion, penetration and union (Helps). It means joined or linked coherently in sequence. It can mean related by family ties. Or having “social or professional relationships, especially with influential or powerful persons” (Dictionary.com). It means “having a connection.”

Going deeper, the Word “connection” means “all-around (on every side); encompassing, used of full (comprehensive) consideration where ‘all the bases are covered’ (inclusively)” (Helps). Connection can be translated as “all about.” 

The Word “lifestyle” means “conduct, life, behavior, manner of life” (Strong’s). It also means to turn from down to up, an up-turn (Helps). It can mean a “change of outward behavior from an ‘up-turn’ of inner beliefs.”

If we break up this compound word, we see that life has numerous meanings beyond a basic existence for growth, resilience and elasticity. “Life” can mean breath of life, eternal life and the quickening of life that we partake of through our faith and trust in Jesus Messiah. This kind of life is “equivalent to the gospel” and is expressed in moral conduct (Vine’s). “The sign of life is movement,” and it “can be enhanced by loving and serving God, by experiencing God’s deliverance, and by receiving divine blessings” (Tyndale).

“Style,” as in lifestyle, can mean a particular “form, appearance or character” (Dictionary.com). And a distinctive mode of action.”

Moving on, the Word “survey,” has a variety of definitions, according to Webster’s. It means “to examine, as in condition, situation, or value; appraise.” Also, “to determine and delineate the form, extent and position of (as a tract of land).” It can also mean to see, to view comprehensively, or to inspect or scrutinize.

When we think of the Word “gathering,” so often a meeting or assembly or an attraction comes to mind. But, according to Webster’s, gathering can also mean a collection or compilation. It can reference contributions or an intuitive conclusion. As a verb, gathering can mean to pick, to harvest, to haul in or to amass. It can mean to summon, to prepare, to gain by gradual increase or control. And it can also mean to bring together parts of something or to draw about or close something.

The Word “community” can be defined as “a unified body of individuals,” who share common character or likeness as well as joint participation or ownership (Webster’s).

Now that we have all the definitions, I believe the interpretation to be this: 

God has released a time of grace to now move synergistically and powerfully into the manifestation of His promises He put in your heart. He has brought you to the place and purpose of an up-turning in outward behavior, resulting from the restoration of a renewed mind.

He is now positioning you outwardly as a joint owner, an heir, with common character and the likeness of Himself to participate correctly alongside Him. You will work to complete your divine assignments with Him now, not in your own strength, but by His powerful Spirit.

In so doing, it's time to survey that which has been gathered, during a period of gradual growth. It’s time to examine the elements comprehensively, to compile them and sequence them into a delineated form and bring them to the point of conclusion.

“This time,” says the Lord of Hosts, “you will do it in communion with Me and it’s going to come together; because My grace has now met your faith and I AM in it with you. Because we will do it synergistically, there will be momentum.”

Holy Spirit highlighted Amos 9:13 in The Message version, which He has many times before. It says, “Yes indeed, it won’t be long now…Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills."

To God be the glory. 

Amen.

Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.