About a month and a half ago, I told Esther that she didn’t need her dummy (or “dodo” to her) any more. I asked four close pals to pray that she would get through the night without it. I was dreading it, but actually she did amazingly and slept through. The following day she was foul and I was SO close to giving in and giving her the dummy. But I knew it was not what was best for her and that she needed to learn to do without it. And she has. Bless her.

Three years ago I began to meet with a spiritual director who saw something in me that no-one else (except me) had ever seen. They reached through all the insecurity and the fear and helped me to realise that I had real prophetic potential. I became quite reliant on this person’s advice and prayer support to help me through those first few months. I needed help as I started developing and honing my listening to God and began soaking in His presence. It was wonderful having someone who understood and could teach and guide and challenge me.

But a year ago now, God told me to stop seeing that person as my spiritual mentor. At first it was really hard, as I had nothing else and no-one else in place to take their role. But I knew it was right to step back from them and step up towards the Holy Spirit and what He was asking of me.

The other day I was reflecting on this again and God reminded me of Esther’s dodo. I knew that she didn’t need that dummy any longer. I didn’t want her reliant on something that would hinder her progress, or stop her cutting her teeth properly. God wanted the same for me. He didn’t want anything holding me back from developing my own voice and my own way of ministering. I see that now. Isn’t He just so wonderful?!

None of us need to hold onto things just because they are familiar or easy or nice. We must sometimes be willing to step out on our own and take new ground for God. It is only since I have ‘removed my spiritual dummy’ that I have started seeing God use me dramatically in healing physical pain in people. Before, it was just emotional needs that I prayed into and saw change happen. But in the last few months the gears have shifted and I have seen Him radically transform my prayers and my asking AND my faith.

People are getting healed around me and it is SO exciting. Something is really shifting in the heavenly realms. Praise God!

It only struck me today that a dodo is also the name of a bird that is extinct. For good reason.

“See I am doing a NEW thing” says the Lord. “The old has gone and the NEW has come.”