A popular question I receive when I am ministering in new places is, "how can I see someone raised from the dead?" My usual response is asking how many dead people they have prayed for, but it doesn't seem to be the key people are looking to receive. If you do not pray for someone who has died – you will not see a resurrection. Years ago, I knew how to hear the voice of God but was trying to learn how to hear Him outside of a church setting. As I am in the Christian section of a bookstore – the Lord gives me a word for the woman standing next to me.
Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Therefore, the scriptures suggest that whatever we say will be manifested into our lives. When we speak negatively, we can potentially cause death, but when we speak positively and truthfully, we are able to bring life into this world. Words allow us to express our feelings, our wants, our desires, our intelligence, our connection to one another, our creativity, and much more. Most of our conversations and communications are conducted through the use of words.
Are you fighting a battle right now? I believe we all have battles to fight at different times in life. But I want to encourage you. Whatever you may be facing today, know that, in Christ, you are more than a conqueror! Romans 8:37 (AMPC) says, "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us." Think about it. Meditate on it. Let this truth of God's Word settle in your heart. As I said before, we each have battles to fight at different times in our lives.
There are two ways to enter meekness: humble ourselves or be led through the wilderness. Either path is designed to ultimately lead to a condition of our hearts that will allow us to hear God. Most of us have gone through times when life's circumstances humbled us. When faced with a difficult situation, we may be humbled, but like a cork in water, we rise back up to the surface, our pride returning when the issue resolves. God doesn't want our lives filled with pride that dissipates during intermittent periods of shame due to external circumstances or even sometimes-painful experiences.
Moses is preparing the people to finally appropriate what God had promised for so long. Ahead lay great blessings, but also intimidating challenges. In Deuteronomy 31.3 he gives them guidance for the journey with three aspects: God Himself goes before you. He will give you victory over every challenge. And you will possess it. The first two give the assurance of His leading and victory. But the last portion is a reminder of our responsibility to possess what God has provided.
One way to get rid of baggage is to count your blessings! Wishes and wannabes have a way of plaguing the soul. Most of the time we have decided the order of the way we want things to be. And then suddenly we have a bag or burden filled with unrealistic expectations! It can be really heavy. Sometimes we just have to step back and count our blessings. Those blessings are meant to lift the weights, make us feel better and lighten the loads we put on ourselves.
I've been praying for a specific financial need related to my overseas ministry for several years. Missionary work is a challenge because 1) I'm certainly not a professional fundraiser, and 2) most people don't spend a lot of time thinking about needs in developing countries. Eventually I hit a spiritual wall. I was discouraged. I had prayed and prayed and prayed again. Yet it seemed like the promised provision was just trickling in. I needed a miracle, but I felt too exhausted to keep fighting. Thankfully a friend of mine who is an intercessor kept encouraging me with words of hope. I decided to fast and pray for a few days, and then my wife and a few other intercessors joined in for a time of fasting and focused prayer.
Have you ever thought about Andrew, one of the twelve disciples? Andrew is mentioned in the Bible twelve times and four of those times it was in a list as a disciple. There are six times Andrew is described as Peter's brother. So over half of the time, he is not known for himself, but in relation to someone else. After Pentecost, we do not hear another word about Andrew. The interesting point of the story is that Andrew met Jesus first and actually introduced Peter to Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:41). When Peter declared Jesus as the Christ, Jesus stated that the Church would be founded on his revelation that came from God (Matt 16:13-20). But wait, Andrew said it first.
Have you ever thought about or embraced the incredible truth that you are a child of God? You probably have no problem accepting that Jesus died on the cross so your sins are forgiven, that God answers your prayers or that one day you will go to heaven. But have you ever taken your relationship with God to the next level and actually received and acknowledged the reality that you are His child? Think about how a father or a mother feels about their child. They are so proud of their child. Their love is so focused on that child. They have such a delight in that child. Beloved, that is exactly how our heavenly Father feels about us!
I am convinced that trusting God is a lifelong journey. There are days when our faith is strong and steady and then life hits. We receive a cancer diagnosis, or a relationship crumbles, or financial difficulty hits. During those seasons we may start to wonder, "Does my faith really work?" You are not alone in your wondering. Asaph the Psalmist cried out, wondering if God had rejected him or if God was really listening to his prayers (Psalm 77:1-2,7). John the Baptist, when in prison, sent word to Jesus asking, "Are you the one, …or should we look for someone else?" (Luke 7:18-23).
Follow Up
