Shift—talking about shifting. So the word shift is a verb, and a verb is an action word. And it means to move, to cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance. A shift can sometimes be very minute, very small—not necessarily like a leap. Although the shift can be very, very small, or sometimes the initiation of the shift starts small, it ends up kind of big.

As a noun, it means a slight change in position, direction, or tendency. A slight change in position, direction, or tendency.

So it is important for us to recognize shifts in our lives—to recognize when the Lord, our God, our Father, is shifting us. Shifts can be something bad, or they can be something good. A bad shift would be a decline in spiritual disciplines. When we are declining in our spiritual disciplines—when we are not reading and studying God’s Word as often as we should, as we once did—that’s a decline. That’s a shift, and it’s not a good shift.

We find ourselves not praying as much as we once did, not as much as we should. We know it’s not a good shift.

We want to get back to praying as we are supposed to. We want to make sure that we make time to fellowship, to interact with other believers. That is important, because no man is an island. We are not islands unto ourselves. We are a part of the family of God. The Word talks about us being fitly joined together—God being the architect, the master builder.

Each joint is supplied by the other. So it is important for us to stay connected—connected to God first, and then connected to one another.

Everyone may not be able to fast by turning the plate down because of medical conditions, but there are other things we can fast. It doesn’t always have to be food. We can fast social media, television, time on the phone—things that occupy our time, so we can spend more time before the Lord working on our relationship with Him. If we see that we are not doing that as we once did, that is a bad shift. But an increase in those things is a good shift.

We see it noted in Scripture. We see in 1 Kings 17. Elijah. I mean, you know, it’s almost like, just say, if you love the Lord, you love the Lord like Jesus was awesome, awesome in His relationship with God. I mean, the man comes out of nowhere.

At least, you don’t hear about his upbringing or his early stages, but when he comes on the scene, God has fully prepared him. When he is revealed, he is ready. God just makes the shift. And here comes Elijah. He comes out proclaiming the word of the Lord to Ahab. The first shift we see is that Elijah was sent to Ahab. He did not go on his own. He went because he was sent by the Lord, even though the Scripture does not say directly that the Lord sent him, it is evident that he was sent. He was sent to Ahab with the word of the Lord, telling him that it would not rain.

No more rain. That’s it. Not unless I speak it. Not until my word goes forth.

And for someone to do that and not be crazy, they had to have heard from God. They heard from God.

The Scripture says, “Who is he who speaks and brings it to pass if the Lord has not said it?” We’re not talking about what we can do.

I can tell you I’m going to move a piece of paper, or run down the block—things I’m capable of doing. But that which man cannot do, once it is declared, we know it has come from the Lord. And the proof, as it is always said, is in the pudding. What God says, it comes to pass. God does not miss. He does not miss.

So we see Elijah proclaim the word of the Lord to Ahab, and then the Lord gives Elijah instructions. This is why it is important for us to be led by the Spirit and to hear from God concerning shifts.

The Lord tells him to go to the brook. And he goes to the brook Cherith. And God says that He has commanded the ravens to feed him. Ravens are not like parrots or parakeets. They are not what we would consider clean or nice birds. But nonetheless, the Lord commanded ravens to feed him.

That is the shift. Elijah goes from eating at the table to eating at the brook and being fed by ravens, not by the hand of another human. Then the brook dries up. And there is another shift.

We see that God can shift us and move us along as necessary. He makes the necessary adjustments when we are following Him. When something is out of our control, God will move us in another direction. Elijah is sent to Zarephath, to a widow woman. And God says, “I have commanded her to sustain you.” Of all people, a widow woman.

Back then, most widows were not women of great means. This woman said she was down to her last bit of meal and her last bit of oil, preparing to eat and die. But the word of the Lord, spoken through the true prophet of God, said, “Make me a little cake first.” And she did. And the oil did not run out. The flour did not run out. It never ran out until the time came that provision came another way.

From there, God sends Elijah back to Ahab. Full circle. We see different shifts, and we see how God is able to shift. Shifts are common. Shifts are a part of the life of the child of God.

We even see shifts in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We see how, as a boy, there were shifts made in His life even before He was able to walk.

He is born, and the Spirit of the Lord made sure that all of His provisions are met. God made sure all of the provisions are in place.

The wise men came, and they loaded with gifts preparing them for the journey.

So now they have the means, because God knows what is happening. He has already prepared the way. He knows Jesus has to leave His own country and go to Egypt, and God has already provided for that shift.

The next time we really hear about Jesus, we see Him on His way with His parents to worship.

They are returning, and He tells them, “I must be about My Father’s business.” And He remains in the temple.

We see a shift happening in Jesus’ life when He is baptized by John. From that point, the Father makes a great shift in the Son’s life. He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Then He came back in the power of the Spirit. And then He went into His ministry.

All of these things show us that there are various shifts. Shifts are common. Shifts are just a part of the life of the child of God.

So God is preparing us. God has prepared us, and He will continue to shift us as we go along in our walk and in our journey with Him.

Shifts will occur. They will occur as we follow Jesus, as we do what His Word says, and as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

Shifts will occur. They will happen.

The Lord wants us to see things clearly. He wants us to have an understanding of the shifts and what is going on. God is always up to something. And what He is up to is for our good.

Shifts are common. Shifts are just a part of the life of the child of God.

God is preparing us, God has prepared us, and He will continue to shift us as we walk with Him.