When you
have a problem, you look for solutions to solve that problem and keep it under.
Overcoming our problems, whatever they are, is paramount to reaching success in
life. We all want to make progress irrespective of looming challenges and
obstacles; and arming ourselves with the appropriate tools are very important.
In this
letter, we will consider four biblical principles that really work, when they
are put into practice without defaulting. The principles included here will
build your capacity to receive from God and empower you to live in the realm of
success; by learning the all-important key of ceaseless prayers and faith.
PRINCIPLES
Identify the Problem
When we are
dealing with God it is important that we are specific about what exactly we
want from him. Of course when we pray, we should model the ‘Lord’s prayer’;
which in itself is specific. The problem has to be identified. What do you want
God to help you with? You don’t want to be like the pagans babbling in so many
words, thinking that you will be heard—God already knows your needs before you
ask him.(Matthew 6:7-8)
When Joshua, the commander and leader of
Israel, after Moses’ death, encountered the enemies at Gibeon, he needed daytime
to slay the foe. So he asked God specifically in faith that it be so:
‘’On the day the Lord gave the
Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
‘’O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O
moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.’’
So the sun stood still, and the moon
stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the
book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down
about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day
when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!
(Joshua 10:12-14)
Joshua had a war to fight, there were enemies to
defeat and it had to be done that day; there wasn’t time for allowing
spill-overs. So the biggest challenge he had—God had already promised to be
with him and there was no doubt at all—was with nature itself. Night time wasn’t to
their advantage I presume, so he spoke to the Lord what he wanted. He had
identified the problem and he spoke to the Lord about it.
Abram had a
problem as well, as in Joshua’s case there was also a promise. He was supposed
to be father of great nations, countless generations that will be blessed by
God. But he had no children. Now there’s the problem.
‘’After this, the word of the Lord
came to Abram in a vision:
‘’Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your
shield, your very great reward’’.
But Abram said, ‘’O Sovereign Lord,
what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will
inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’’ And Abram said, ‘’ You have
given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my
heir.’’(Genesis 15:1-3)
Even though
God had promised Abraham years before, he was yet to see the physical
manifestation of the promise. Hence he states the problem to God: ‘’ I remain
childless’’, ’You have given me no children’’.
We have to
be specific like the examples stated above in Joshua and Abraham, in our daily
relations with God through prayer.
Identify the Promise designed for the Problem
The bible is
littered from beginning to the end with promises from God about his children.
We who are in Christ are God’s children, who has been grafted into the Olive
tree (Jews) and are heirs according to the promise (Romans 11, Galatians 3:29).
God has endeared us unto himself and has prompted us in 1 Peter 5:7, to ‘’cast
all our anxieties on him, for he cares for us’’. God has laid out hundreds,
maybe thousands of promises concerning our welfare. He is the all-knowing God
and he is aware of our problems even before they come to us. His promises are
available to help us build capacity to handle the temptation or challenge or
obstacle etc.
‘’No temptation has seized you
except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you to
be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also
provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’’(1 Corinthians 10:13)
The promises
of God are a sure way to stand up under the temptation. Once you know what the
promises of God say about your present unfavourable circumstances, you have
been ‘provided a way out’; just like
what the Scriptures said above: ‘He will
also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it’’.
Joshua understood
God’s promise to him and the Israelites; and this young man was not afraid to own it and take it a notch higher. He
knew that God had instructed him to go forth and possess the land that was
promised his forefather Abraham. God made him a promise:
‘’No-one will be able to stand up
against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be
with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you’’ (Joshua 1:5)
Joshua was
assured according to the promise, victory and protection. If God says ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’,
you had better start to do great things. Joshua did great things because he
identified with the promise.
Identify the promise of God
concerning your present circumstance. I love Deuteronomy 28:1-13; you can
personalize the
scripture; that is, replacing ‘you’ or ‘thou’ with ‘I’. This promise
encompasses my dreams and aspirations. Leviticus 26:3-5, 9-10 is also a good
promise of God, supposing all your problems are financial and all-round
prosperity—which I think we all desire. The Aaronic or Priestly blessing in
Numbers 6:24-26 is a fantastic promise of God for your life as well. Others
include: Ephesians 3:20, Romans 8:28, 37, Philippians 4:13, 19 etc.
You will
need these and any other promise that best suit your circumstances in your
daily prayers and supplications. I recommend that you personalize these
promises.
Stop Speaking the Problem, start speaking the Promise
Now you know
the promise of God for your circumstance, you have no business fraternizing
with your problems and glorifying it. All glory must go to God the Father. The
only exaltation must be to the name of Jesus, not the name of your problem. You
have to fine tune your mind-set; focusing on the promise of God. For this
reason the Scriptures says:
‘’Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will.’’ (Romans 12:2)
We must be
able to be transformed by the constant renewal of our minds; discarding old
ideas and ways of thinking, mannerisms and speech patterns. You are not flat
broke, your God is supplying all your needs according to his riches in glory,
through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). You are not unqualified and inadequate
to fill in that job position, you can do all things through Christ that
strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13). It is not all that bad, everything is
working together for my good because I love God and I am called unto his
purpose (Romans 8:28).
Joshua
identified his current problem, he knew God’s promise and he owned it and took
advantage of it, by speaking out:
‘’O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O
moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.’’
God had
already promised to be with him and never forsake him, he was never going to be
defeated in war and till his death he wasn’t. He had no choice but to start
speaking it into being.
God promised
Abram and Sarai an offspring, a Son through whom the promise will be fulfilled.
Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. But God knew that the vision was for an appointed time,
though it tarried, it will surely come to pass; but in the meantime He wanted
Abram and Sarai to start speaking the promise instead of the problem. So the
Lord God changed their names, Abram was changed into Abraham. Here is the
transition in the meaning of the names: Abram meant ‘Father’, Abraham means
‘Father of Multitudes’. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Sarah means
Princess, mother of nations, One from whom Kings will come forth. (Genesis
17:5-8, 15-16)
So every time the couples called each
other’s name in endearment, they were speaking God’s promise upon their lives. I guess that settles it.
Learn to act the Promise not the Problem
Joshua did
not act the problems that he faced all through the time he led Israel through
to Canaan Land. He had a promise from the Most High God and he owned it and
believed it. When you own the promise of
God and believe it wholeheartedly, you lose sight of the problem and stay focused
on the solution; which is a word from God. ‘The truth that you own will set you free’. If you have the promise
of God and you just say it religiously as if it were mere words, the results
will be minimal. I say this under the premise that God’s word cannot fail
(Isaiah 55:11). But when you own the promises, that is, you have taken to heart
the very words of God and it becomes part of you, then you will act it
unconsciously and see great results.
The secret
of Joshua’s success was locked in one verse; shortly after God promised to be
with him and never forsake him:
‘’Do not let this Book of the Law
depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful’’
(Joshua 1:8)
God wants us
to meditate on the word day and night and act on it. It says ‘’ so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it’’. That implies acting on the promises so that prosperity and success will be
ours.
After coming
to terms with what God’s word say about our circumstances and problems, we have
to put the problems behind us and populate our being with carrying out the
purpose of God for our lives. We are
empowered by God’s word to do the extraordinary, to achieve great things.
By the power that works in us, we convert the fear that our problems bring and
turn it into fuel that will propel us into living the promise of God for our
lives.
Because Joshua
acted the promise, the sun stood still for about a day and the moon was delayed
and restricted beyond the Valley of Aijalon. That is what happens when you know
who you are in Christ Jesus. You act the word of God; not the problem. You
exercise your authority over the natural by imposing the supernatural. When you are ready to act God’s promise,
God is ready to answer you. Consider what the Scripture said after Joshua
spoke to the sun to stand still:
‘’The sun stopped in the middle of
the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day
like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man.’’
I know that God loves exceptional faith! He is challenged by
those who will take up his promise and act on it asking and speaking great
things to happen! How wonderful!
‘ There has never been a day like
it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man’
God listens
when you follow his laid out principles. The bible attests to that fact: ‘’ so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.’’
It is not
rocket science; we have a helper, a Power
that works in us. He is the Holy Spirit:
‘’in the same way, the Spirit
helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the
Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And
He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.’’ (Romans 8:26-27)
Shalom!
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