Seeing Beyond You

by Prophetess Anne Simpson

“What do you see?”

Jeremiah 1:11

In the book of Jeremiah God asked the prophet “what do you see?”

Many times in our lives and especially as leaders, God asks us “what do you see?” As women especially we tend to see all our faults and failings, our imperfections both in the natural and in the spiritual. We want to try to improve how we look by applying a new hairstyle or make up and none of these things are wrong, but they can become wrong if they are done to cover up a sense of unworthiness of not being good enough. In the same way if we cannot see beyond our weaknesses and into Gods supernatural strength and abilities, we will never be able to achieve the best that God has for us. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they became used to being told what to do, being oppressed every day so that even when they were released, they were not able to enter into the promise land because the image of themselves had not been restored. When they faced opposition, they saw themselves as grasshoppers and they shrank back. Because of their wrong image, they were not able to move forward into the destiny that God had for them and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. I wonder how many things have been delayed in our lives because we were not willing to take a step of faith and see beyond ourselves.

In ministry God is always calling us to see beyond ourselves and come up higher into the supernatural realm of his glory and into the place of his power and ability.

Throughout the bible we see many people that thought themselves to be weak and yet God chose them. Many had made mistakes in their past and thought that God would never use them, but God raised them up. 2 Corinthians 4:7 “but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us”

Often God chooses imperfect people to show us and the world that it is all about him and not about us.

When we consider women in leadership in the bible there are several that come to mind. Esther was a lady who was an orphan and a Jew which should have put her at a disadvantage, but she was chosen to become queen and positioned in a strategic place to save a whole nation from the wicked plan of Haman. I believe that in this season God is realigning and repositioning us into the right places where we can be used by God in this end time hour.

Another lady that we see is Abigail who was very beautiful and intelligent and yet she was married to a foolish man whose decisions nearly destroyed her whole family and yet this lady used wisdom and courage and without wasting time she went to King David to bring an offering and apologise on behalf of her husband. Her actions appeased the king and saved her family.

Many times, we see hindrances stopping us from serving God effectively and sometimes we may even be tempted to use our difficult situations as an excuse to not serve God fully, but these situations show us that if we will step out in faith then God will back us up and honour us.

Zechariah 4:6 “not by power, nor by might but by my spirit says the Lord”

In seeing beyond ourselves we must recognise that whatever God asks us to do, he will equip us to do it through his power, anointing and ability. If we look to our own ability, we will often feel that we don’t have enough ability but when we understand that our ability is in him then all things become possible. One thing that I have learnt in ministry is to be totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Whenever I am about to preach or do anything for the Lord I always pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak and minister through me. In this way ministry becomes easy rather than a burden as it is his power flowing through you and not your own strength. God has often stretched me beyond what I thought I could do but I have seen that God always backs me up and gives me everything that I need. Coming to Africa was something that I never expected

or even wanted to do but from that first trip 10 years ago now God has built a ministry that is reaching the world, but it began with one step of obedience to go and God has slowly unfolded the rest as I have kept taking more steps of faith over the years. I truly believe that we are now entering the season of the suddenly for those that have been faithful to keep serving God. Just like Joseph who held on to his dream, he went from the prison to the palace in one day but behind the suddenly was 20 years of struggles and pain, but he kept using his gift even in his darkest hour and God caused a suddenly to come in his life. He looked beyond himself and his situation and God rewarded him with the fulfilment of his dream. I want to encourage you to keep on dreaming but to also keep on being faithful in the waiting time because in the perfect time it will happen suddenly.

So, in every situation God is calling us to look beyond ourselves and to see God and to also see who we are in Christ and to know his power, his anointing, his ability and to allow him to heal the areas in ourselves that hold us back and to step out in faith into all that God has called us to do.

Today I want to encourage you to take a step of faith. When God called Moses, he said “who am I that I should go?” And God replied by saying “I will be with you”. When we hear the word of the Lord telling us to go then we know that he will go before us and prepare the way and all we must do is to walk by faith.

I pray that today you will be encouraged to step out and fulfil everything that God has for your life without fear and doubt and trusting in his power in you.

Prophetess Anne Simpson from UK is founder of World Arise Ministries and is taking the gospel to the nations with signs and wonders. She has a mandate to teach, preach, equip, and empower through teaching of the word of God through conferences and crusades as well as bringing practical assistance to the poor and vulnerable predominantly in Africa where she is building a women’s refuge in Malawi. Anne moves in a prophetic and healing anointing and has seen many people healed and set free through her ministry. Anne is also the author of 6 books Her desire is to see people come into a revelation of who they are in Christ and to fulfil all that God has for them to do.

Further details of her ministry can be found at:-Worldariseministries.org

by Prophetess Anne Simpson