I am always stunned when I observe the behavioral patterns of kids, especially babies. Think about it for a second. A baby enters the world for the first time, yet this newborn is furnished with the ability to control, or should we say, direct adults by their crying. When that baby cries, we immediately run to their aid to comfort by trying several things to achieve that comfort.
We tried feeding, rocking, singing, etc., until we were directed to the right source. At the same time, the baby spoke no language and did no finger-pointing to communicate in any conventional manner. The point is that the direction the child wanted us to attain came only through our actions. We still had the choice to remain still, which would have resulted in an angry child and frustrated parent.
Many folks that have made it into this year 2022 are somewhat frustrated with pastors, religious leaders, and the likes, which open every year with the famous slogans such as, this is your year, this is your season, God has granted you favor this year, etc. However, seemingly none of the above has happened, and you're just not interested in hearing more of it.
They were probably right; the problem manifested when you became inactive to whatever has been said to you by these leaders. Folks are under this terrible illusion that when their leader says to them, God is going to turn things around for them or prepare for a financial breakthrough, they just sit and do nothing and tell others, ""Pastor said God will give me double for my troubles.""
Consider this, whenever a word is spoken over your life, isn't it interesting how everything seems to go wrong or go utterly opposite to what has been said to you? I have news for you; this was God's way of directing you to what he has promised you.
Our bible is clear, and it states that there is a way that appears correct to us, but at the end of our approach is guaranteed failure or destruction (proverbs 16:25). When our leaders speak words over our lives, we then map out how it should happen in our minds. When our expectation has not been met, we become frustrated. Nevertheless, God has made it clear that his thoughts and ways are entirely different from ours and that his word can not return unto to him without accomplishing what he has said (Isaiah 55:8).
God expects you to take action when he gives you a word. Your effort will mysteriously produce the direction to his promise. Now, one might say, why won't God just give me the direction? Then I'll just do it. Again, because he knows all things, he also knows that if he just gave you the direction verbally, you either won't believe it or just ignore him because it's not the way you would do it. His verbal instruction to Adam was not to eat the forbidden fruit; quite simple, right? Well, we all know what the end result of that was.
God's word over your life is consistently confirmed by immediate opposition and challenges to that word, NOT YOU! Remember the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). In the interpretation of the parable, Jesus repeatedly said that the wicked one, which is the devil, comes for the word and not the individual. Please cement this in your understanding; only because of God's word over your life that you are afflicted/challenged. Confirmation of the word spoken over you is validated by the opposition you face after that word has been spoken. These problems, opposition, and challenges will cause you to move or act in ways that you would not have done under normal circumstances.
Let us go to the bible and look at a classic story that will reveal this remarkable revelation to solidify my point.
In Genesis chapter 12, remember God had commanded Abram, who would later become Abraham, to leave all that he was familiar with and that God would not only make of him a great nation but will make his name great and cause him to be a blessing to others. Now, for all of this to occur, Abram definitely needs resources.
Interestingly enough, after God spoke all these words over his life, guess what happened next? In the same chapter, verse 10 reveals a famine in the land, which would be equivalent to a recession. Abram still believed the word over his life in the face of famine and continued.
The famine caused Abram to go into Egypt, something he would have never done under normal conditions or in a good economy. In verses 14- 16, Abram and his wife Sarai deceived Pharaoh, and Pharaoh gave Abram gifts, such as oxen, sheep, donkeys, menservants, maidservants, camels, etc. The point is, God's word over his life was beginning to develop but not the way he would have planned it. Nevertheless, he believed the promise welcomed the challenge of a famine, which directed him to enormous wealth…….. Praise God, Abram saw the bigger picture.
So folks, all I am trying to make unequivocally and abundantly clear here is that behind every challenge, problem, and difficulty resides a directive that requires your action. God has allowed the problem; remember, he is all-powerful, so he could have stopped it. Therefore, God is attempting to achieve two main things here; A) he desires you to trust him and B) follow the direction he is pointing you in.
I would be remiss if I did not include this treasured piece of information. The bible did not say all things were good. Instead, it said that all things will work together for our good if we love God or are called God (Rom 8:28). This is vitally important because we assume this can not be God working for us immediately when bad things happen. We then begin to fight what is seemingly not of God instead of investigating where God directs us. Remember the phrase "All THINGS," inclusive of good and evil, and are all supervised by God to lead us to the promises He has made to us.
Finally, the direction to achieve a God intended result for that lousy marriage, broken relationship, demanding boss, dead-end job, and life that appears to be going around in circles. It all starts with you taking Godly actions and believing that everything must work for your good.
Kevin L A Ewing
kevinewing@coralwave.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com