2026: The Crossing: Ep. 4 : Step Over Into Your 2026 Promise

0:10 Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where we pray bold prayers, walk in bold faith, and expect a bold God to show up. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we open every episode with the same unshakable confidence Jabez had in 1 Chronicles 4.10. Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory, let your hand be with me, keep me from evil, and keep me from causing pain. And the Bible says, God granted his request. So if you're here today, get ready, because we're praying big, believing big, and walking in everything God promised. Let's begin.

1:01 Hello and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host Connie Morris and today we are on episode four, The Crossing, leaving what was to enter what will be. We are in our series, 2026, the year when heaven and earth intersects. Wow. Hope you're enjoying these episodes. They are powerful, getting us ready for God to come and make a personal visit with us. So we talked about the shaking. We talked about God speaking loudly. But today we will talk about something deeply personal and profoundly prophetic.

1:46 It's the crossing, leaving what was to enter what will be. Every major move of God required. Requires a crossing. You cannot encounter heaven on earth while holding on to yesterday. You cannot step into 2026, the Hebrew year of 5786, while dragging the mindset of last season. Crossing is an act of faith. Crossing is letting go. Crossing is obedience. Crossing is trust. This episode is about the spiritual Jordan River every believer must cross.

2:26 Hebrew year 5786, the year of the threshold. In Hebrew imagery, 5786 symbolizes a threshold, an edge, a border, a crossing point, a divine line that you must step over, a moment where heaven pushes you into the new. 5786 is not a passive year. It is a movement year, a year where God says you cannot stay where you are. You must cross over. Just like Israel, the church is standing at a riverbank, one foot in the wilderness and one foot in the promise.

3:07 And God says, step forward. The water will move when you do. The water will move when you move. Oh my gosh, that's so powerful. I just want to take a pause here just to kind of marinate in what we just said, what I just said. It says this is a year of movement. So how many of you waiting for God to move? God says, I'm going to push you right into your new. The other one we talked about, shaking away all the old. And this podcast is about movement, getting you into your new. So a lot of times we say, I can't go because my brother, my mom, my sister, everybody got a story why they can't move from their comfort zone.

3:47 But God says, not this year. I'm not going to ask you to move. Just going to push you. We got things to do. You ever had your mom tell you like, it's like sometimes if you're moving too slow, I don't know about your mom, but it's like, if you're moving too, my mom in her younger years, she was always on a mission getting things done. And I picked up some of those things. So it doesn't really take me long to make a decision to like, if I get ready to do a purge of my closet, everything goes, if I can't fit it, it needs to go. No matter how new it is, I should never bought it. What a waste, right? But God's saying to us this year that it's not a passive year. You cannot stay where you were. You must cross over.

4:29 Let's keep going. Scripture alignment. God always calls us to cross. Let's look at Joshua 1, 2. Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, into the land I am giving. Your inheritance is on the other side of your obedience. So Joshua had to take those same complaining and whining people on a journey. And this time, we're going to cross Jordan. Now, Jordan was not as big. As the Red Sea, but they still had to move. And we knew how hard that was. Let's look at Isaiah 43, 18 to 19. It says, forget the former things. Behold, I'm doing a new thing.

5:10 It says, you cannot carry the old into the new. Check that out. What is God telling you to let go? That's why I'm giving this message early in December. So when you get ready to cross over into the new year of 2026, you've already began to get mentally prepared. You know, a lot of times you think about, I did some very hard jobs. So policing was one of those jobs. You had to go through the academy. You had to be trained all the time. It was always training, training, training, training. And so that it developed in me kind of a mental strength, a mental perseverance in my mind. So when it's time to do something hard or something that's going to take a little longer than expected.

5:51 I just kind of go into that zone. Like he says, I want you to do this. And you look at the pitch, like I wrote two books and writing books, they seem easy, but it's not. It's a lot of work involved. And so you have to sit on that project. It takes about three to six months just to sit on it. They go through the editing to find the right photos in it. It's a lot of work, right? But when God gives you that strength and that endurance to do it, you just go and do it. That's why Isaiah 43 feels so strong in my heart today, because he wants us to forget the former thing. Behold, I'm doing a new thing. And then it continues, can you not perceive it?

6:34 Can you not perceive that God wants to do something new in your life? New is like never seen before. That it'll surprise you. But first thing we have to do is get rid of the old. Let's go to Philippians 3 verse 13. Forget what lies behind and press towards what is ahead. Press towards what ahead. When you're pressing towards what is ahead, you're going to have to separate yourself from some things, some distractions, some people, some places. So crossing requires a separation. Let's go to Luke 9, 62. It says, no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.

7:16 Looking back disqualifies you from moving forward. Why is that? You know, sometimes we get so caught up. Like we might be real comfortable in our job. Everything is very good. You know, we're moving along. We're getting promoted. Things are working really well for you. But then God says, it's time for you to switch. And you go like, you start counting like, wow, what happens here? But when you don't move, when God tells you to move, you get caught up with the rest of the people. He might tell you to move because he about to close that business. He about to fire that boss and somebody else will come in a lot worse than he was. You know, and so when he says, when you put your hand to the plow, when you start following me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14, and you start searching for me.

8:05 And you're doing that with all your heart, you really don't have time to look back. You don't. But if you're only doing it a little bit and you're always looking back to see who's watching, looking back and see what your friends are doing, always looking around you, seeing if everybody else doing it, then you miss out. He tells you here in Luke 9, 62, he says, looking back, you're not fit for the kingdom. Kind of a word we use in America, it's like, you are not ready. You ain't ready, right? You ain't ready. You ain't ready for this. And so God says, just keep going forward. Keep going forward. No one who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.

8:47 That word fit means, are you in shape? Are you ready for war? Are you, you have your armor on, right? Are you really ready to do this? Because when you put your, when you put your heart into something, at least when I do, it's considered done. I get it done. I get it done in record time, right? Let's go to Genesis 19, 26. it says lot white. Turned back. She couldn't cross into deliverance because her heart was still in the past. So some of us are going to miss out because one, we're too comfortable. We'll go into all those later, but we'll miss out because we want everybody to, are you coming? Are you coming to them?

9:29 Sometimes God will send you somewhere by yourself. I live in Nebraska by myself. It was a separation. had to cross over to what God has for me. If I was still in Michigan, I don't think I'll be podcasting. I don't think I'll be doing some of the things that God has allowed me to do, write two books. Why? Because I was distracted. I was almost on that compromise rope because God was moving way too slow for my speed. And so he just pulled me away. And when you're in Nebraska, there is nothing going on but the wind and the snow and the rain. It's a beautiful place, but not a lot of activity. like it was at home. Not a lot of familiar activities that I wanted to restart, right?

10:11 So just remember, 2026 will expose whatever is in you that still wants yesterday. Just a little thing. I'm not ready to go because of this. I wasn't ready to leave Michigan because my mom, my mom lives there. She's elderly. She's healthy, but she's elderly. So I was like, Lord, why would you have me to leave my mom, right? And then at the end of the day, my mom is actually doing much better. She was never sick. But that was the hardest part, leave my mom. Leave the friends I only knew since I was in high school or in elementary, right? Leave what's familiar. Leave what's familiar.

10:53 So what stands between you and the new? The Jordan River represents whatever God's having you cross. It represents, number one, fear of change. You can't enter a new year with an old mindset. That's why I gave you this scripture and gave you these devotionals early so you can check yourself regarding your mindset. Like I just shared with you, I had to leave my mom. You know, I'm the eldest of the family. She's there with my younger sister. And my younger sister, I noticed that she has matured since I left. She's no longer acting like a younger sister. She's taking full responsibility, making sure mom gets to her doctor's appointments and everything.

11:35 So she's taking her full responsibility. Sometimes, you know, we have to leave familiar surroundings to just see what really that person is about. Can they handle it? It could be any relationship. Like, I'm going to go over here and I'm going to do this, right? And deal with the politics of the office all by yourself, so you say, but God said he'll never leave us or forsake us. And so they always wonder why I feel so bold because I'm not by myself. I look like I'm by myself, but yet God always comes through. Number two, familiarity. The wilderness was painful, but familiar. The promise is beautiful, but unknown.

12:17 How often do we stay stuck Because of familiarity, We had to start a new church and just do things I've already done before. It seemed like it was repetitive. I was preaching before I left. I'm just an usher now. I don't think I've ever been on the stage at the church. You're thinking, God is pulling me back to take me forward. I'm like, okay, I will do this, Lord, for you. He gave me a podcast to take all that spiritual energy to give it all. So you got to be careful when God gets ready to move you out of that familiar zone. He's going to give you something that's going to really be so much more satisfying.

12:59 And I love doing my podcast. I love studying the word. I love preparing for what God has next. I don't want it to be similar to anybody. So I don't model after anyone. I remember as I started and as my views were getting busy, getting a little bit higher, then people want to call you and say, hey, can you... We want you on our team, but it's going to cost you this mile, and you need to do this and this with your podcast. And it's like, where were you when I started, when I only had a laptop? And so I wasn't really keen on changing. But I asked the Lord, is this you? And he said no. And guess what? I let it go. I let it go. Why be on a top platform when it's only you and God is not in it, right? If God ain't in it, I don't want to be in it.

13:45 Can I get an amen out there? Let's go to three. Old cycles. Old thinking. Old relationships. old behaviors, old wounds. You know, this is what stands between you and your new fear of change, familiarity, old cycles. We think we want new, but we like the drama. We like the trauma. We like it. So we hold on to it because that makes us who we are. But God is saying, no, no, no. I'm taking you into your new. All things have passed away. All things must be let go. So you can see what you really are about, you'll learn so much with God about how strong you really are, how strong you are, how smart you are, how wise that you are, because now you're not listening to nobody but God.

14:32 Remember, Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing. So he was able to walk through all that drama, trauma stuff when he walked on earth because he had a focus and he also had his backup. They didn't see it, but all he said, I can call a legion of angels. Think about that. You can call a legion of angels and you know that you've got your back. Your back is covered. Let's go on to number four. Emotional attachments. God is severing soul ties to old seasons. He's cutting things loose. Wow. Sometimes we hold on to things too long. Emotional attachment. Let's go on. Delayed obedience. He's asking you to obey.

15:13 He's taking away delayed obedience from you. You're a procrastinator. You better get ready. God don't need it yesterday. He need it now. Come on now. And number six, your past identity. 786 confronts who you think you are to reveal who you truly are. Many of us wear masks. We're faking and shaking all the time. And so this year he's removing masks. He's taking away old emotional attachments, old cycles, familiarity, taking away that fear of change so you can find out who you truly are in God. The crossing is a prophetic moment. When God brings you to a crossing, he ends what needs to end.

15:56 He seals what needs to die. He awakens what needs to live. He shifts what needs to move. He possesses you in what you were born for. This reminds me of Esther in the book of Esther. Esther was tossed into the king to be a queen and she didn't have no queen training, right? She didn't go in there like already trained to be a queen. She had to learn some queen stuff. So the first year they taught her queen stuff, right? Get that, how to talk, how to walk, how to smell, how to do queen stuff, all the etiquette about bowing, you know, just to be a queen. It's a lot of work. And so, and then.

16:37 She ended up going to meet the king. She was ready. She didn't have all that stuff already in her. That probably wasn't even on her mind. She was just a beautiful girl and was set up for such a time as this and didn't realize her strength until she was called by her foster dad, said, hey, I need you to do this. And all of a sudden she got her act together and she did what she did to save her people. She realized that this is why I'm here. Because a lot of times we're in positions and places, and we might not even be happy. Now, all of a sudden for 2026, God will show up and he will tell you, this is why you are here. I'm looking for that because I'm where I'm in Nebraska. Looking for why you're here.

17:21 Then you don't get just, your back is going to get straight. Your voice is going to change. You're going to be bold, just like Esther. Esther was bold because she knew exactly what she was called to do. She even set up the enemy. I mean, she got really smooth with it because she's partnering with a God. God's partnering with God. God has strategies to make you look smart, to make you look wise. But everybody think that you're failing, that you're not going to be anything, you know, you're not, or you might be too old. We don't need that. You know, he's going to show up and show up and says, yes, you were born for this and go ahead and conquer that. Amen. So what is God calling you to leave behind in 2026? We already talked about what God's bringing us into.

18:05 What is God calling you to leave behind? Let's go. Old disappointments, old trauma responses, old versions of yourself, old spiritual dryness, old relationships that hinder you, old ways of thinking. Old assignments that expired. Come on now. Some of our assignment has expired, but we're still there because we are comfortable. Old fears, old offenses. The Hebrew year 5, 7, 8, 6 draws a line. You cannot carry Egypt into Canaan. What is God calling you to step into? God never takes you out of somewhere and leave you out there empty. He has a plan for you, but sometimes he has to give you that space to let go of the old.

18:49 What he's calling us into for 2026, fresh fire, greater boldness, vine clarity, new assignments, higher purpose, kingdom identity, unshakable focus, increased discernment, and a deeper walk with him. A remnant will not just step forward, they will cross over with authority. Now, how do we cross over with authority, right? How do we do this really well. We have to, listen, listen, how do you cross well? I'm all stirred up. It's still December, but God is calling us to step out of our comfort zone. Into our new. He's calling us to obey immediately.

19:31 Late obedience is disobedience. So we're telling you to do something, just do it right away. Release fully. Partial release, partial breakthrough. You only want a little bit of God, he'll give you a little bit of him. Stay in the secret place. Crossing requires intimacy. He wants you to stay close to him. He has the strategy, but he's also the protector and the provider. So don't you get out ahead of God. You stay right there in that secret place, right in his shadow, aligned with God's voice. He speaks directionally as you move. So as close as you are in that secret place, you're able to see his shadow move. You just move when he moves. If he goes right, you go right. If he goes left, you go left.

20:13 If he stops, you stop. If he goes, you go. If he run, you run. If he walk, you walk. Everything he's going to tell you to do. Instruction, step by step by step. Expect opposition. The enemy always fights crossings. So be prepared to fight. But you will be prepared because we already stepping into this a little early. So get your boxing gloves on, but also put on your armor. Get on your armor. Get on your armor. Make sure you're fully dressed before you You step out every morning and then be ready to listen to God. He has a strategy. If he says, now this is spiritually, if he says punch him in the gut, punch him in the gut.

20:57 If you say kick him, kick him. Whatever he says, do it. He might say just pray. Go lay hands on him in a nice way, right? Just listening to his voice and following his instructions. And number six, walk by faith. The water won't part until your foot hits it. Oh, things aren't going to move because you pray. Things are not going to move because you're fast. Things are not going to move because you are obedient. Things move when you put your foot in it, right? When he says go, you go. You have to put your foot in it. That means it's going to be something new. Think about the, I'm not a, you know. If you like to swim in strange waters, that's good for you. I don't like my feet in strange waters, right?

21:40 And so this reminds me of like, God said, I need you to put your foot in. You're like, I don't know what's in that water, but we have to trust God that whatever's in that water won't touch you, that you can go ahead and do put that one faith in and watch that one faith move and watch God move everything else out of the way. Let's do this prophetic decree and pray. And then we are done with this one. This was good. Father, I step boldly into my crossing. I release what was and I embrace what will be. I refuse to look back. I refuse to stay stuck. I hope you're repeating this with me. I cross over the boundary of 5786 with faith, obedience, and expectation.

22:21 What you have for me on the other side, I receive it by faith in Jesus' name. So when that clock strikes 12, get ready, get ready, get ready, get ready. Let's pray. thank you for bringing us into this divine threshold. Give us the courage of Joshua, the faith of Abraham, the obedience of the disciples, and the strength of the remnant. Help every listener release what must be left behind and step boldly into the future you have prepared. Let this crossing mark the beginning of transformation, elevation, and divine encounter. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

23:12 Family, thank you for spending this time with me today. To every woman listening who has ever felt hidden, overlooked, or pushed aside, I want you to hear me clearly. God has not forgotten you, and neither have I. That's why I moved everything to our new home on pod page, so you would have one place to connect with me, read the devotionals, listen to the podcast, and reach out whenever you need to. If you want to leave me a message, send an email, or simply find encouragement, it's all there at DiaryOfABlackWomanLLC.com. And if this podcast has blessed you and you want to support the work I'm doing, you'll find a Buy Me, a coffee link on the site as well.

23:53 No pressure, just love and community. Before we leave, I want to speak the word that I close with every time because somebody needs this reminder today. It comes from Jeremiah 29, 11, 14. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Beloved, God has a plan for your life, a real one, a good one, and as long as you keep seeking him, you will find him even from the hidden places. I love you. I'm praying for you and I'll meet you next time.