So what happens when we
feel we are not really living the abundant and prosperous life that we have
been promised in God's Word? I think a
few things have happened. We have spent
less time in God's Word, and in prayer, and we have not affirmed and repeated
the many appropriate Scriptures of promise enough times every day to let it really
sink in! So when we become too busy, or
too tired, we lose out on all that God intends for us to have. We start to live by how we feel, rather than
on what God's Word says. Think back to
how you got saved. Were you relying on
your feelings to determine the course of your life and destiny, or did you rely
on the truth of God's Word, believe His Words are true, and then accept Him
into your heart? Didn't you notice an
almost immediate change? Your thoughts
changed, your desires changed, your life changed! At least I know beyond a shadow of a doubt
that mine did!
When we do start to spend
the time in the Word, and verbally affirming it and confessing it, we begin to
change as it says we will in Romans 12:2.
We begin to see the results of what we believe according to the Word of
God, and of course, the will of God.
When we confess something, things happen. We actually become what we confess that we
are. Our body reacts, our mind changes,
our feelings change. Things happen in the spiritual realm. Our words go forth and "accomplish"
what we say, both good and bad.
As a rule, we need to affirm
verbally what we have and who we are
in Christ every day and perhaps several times a day. Here are some verses to refer to and affirm
when we are faced with various difficulties:
By our confession, we are
healed:
Isa 53:5 But he
was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Similar to Matthew 16:19, our words can bring deliverance or keep us in slavery to sin, sickness, and everything else that the devil throws our way. When we feel bound by something, or oppressed, we need to affirm the following:
Similar to Matthew 16:19, our words can bring deliverance or keep us in slavery to sin, sickness, and everything else that the devil throws our way. When we feel bound by something, or oppressed, we need to affirm the following:
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.
Our words can bring
encouragement where discouragement reigns:
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us.
Our words will put our
confidence in the Lord to supply all of our material needs:
Php 4:19 But my
God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
When we are feeling weak
and unable to do something, we need to confess:
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me.
In my course of reading a book about the importance of what we confess and profess, I
had not previously thought about whether the words I speak are in agreement with God's
Word or not. How could I expect God to
answer my prayers if they are pathetically lacking in faith in Him, and I
really don't believe He hears, and He will answer me? How do you feel if someone you truly care about
asks you for something, but they only half-heartedly believe you will provide
it for them (even if you've always been faithful to provide for them), when
clearly it is your pleasure to give them what they need? Would you still want to give it to them? Here's what Jesus says:
Luk 12:32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
In a relationship, it is
very difficult to thrive when you are in constant disagreement. It says so in the Word:
Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be
agreed?
We need to be in agreement
with God's Word and with Him, and we do so when we agree with what His Word
says. In the following verse, we see
that when two people agree on something in prayer, it shall be done! So do not be afraid to call a friend when you
need prayer.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you
shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be
done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus has said this verse
somewhere else before, and he emphasizes, "Again I say unto you," to drive
home the point. He says if "two of
you shall agree." Agree with what? We receive an answer when we agree with God's
Word, and with God's will. What are the
criteria?
We must abide in Jesus,
and digest His Word, and not just take a passing interest in it. When we confess God's Word as right and
altogether true, we come into agreement with God's Word. We will become what we confess. If, for example, we go around believing we
are tired and weak all the time, we will most likely remain in that state. We must rise well above our feelings, and
agree with the Word of God. What does
God's Word say to us in each difficult situation we face? I have given you several examples
above. For every situation we face,
there are verses we can say and claim as our own until we truly believe we are
what God's Word says we are, and we receive what He says we already have! This is truly how faith works. So we need to get into the habit of affirming
and agreeing with God's Word over ourselves, our loved ones, and for whatever
purposes God has set before us. May we
do so today and without delay, and continue to do so every day. What a wonderful change we're going to
see!
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