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The delay on some of God’s promises gets real. We know God has made these promises available to us, but now it’s just a waiting game while keeping our faith in God. We’re waiting, but we don’t know what we’re waiting for. The situation seems perfect for God to perform the miraculous.
It’s during this waiting period that thoughts of doubt and uncertainty enter our minds. Questionable thoughts like, “Is this really God’s will for me?” or “Did I do something wrong?” enter our minds. These are just thoughts from the enemy to get us off track.
When negative thoughts come, realize you’re in the correct lane. Counter these thoughts by speaking the word of God that aligns with what you desire. Build your faith by listening to sermons that correlate with what you’re going through. Focus your mind on what God has done and not what you don’t have yet. Finally, get yourself off your mind and focus on Jesus and being a blessing to someone else.
When we apply these tactics during delay, we can last a lifetime. Hold on and don’t doubt and know God’s promises will manifest in due time.
Habakkuk 2:2 (GNT) The LORD gave me this answer: “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. 3 Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.
John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus being raised from the dead was a promise from God (Mark 9:31). As many Christians know, it’s profitable to believe in His resurrection although we haven’t seen it with our own eyes.
There are other promises from God that we may not have seen yet. Blessed (which means empowered to prosper) are those who have not seen or experienced those promises, but still believe. When we believe in God’s promises of healing, deliverance, wealth, etc., although we haven’t experienced them yet, we empower ourselves to prosper.
Although we may not have seen all of God’s promises in our lives, continue to believe they’re available for us.
Some people give the devil too much credit. Some think at any given time he can attack our health, attack our marriage, or threaten our lives. Some even think he can possess our bodies or cause furniture to move. That’s not true.
Satan is defeated. Through Jesus, he is powerless over us (Heb. 2:14-15). Jesus disarmed him and made a public spectacle of him (Col. 2:15). Not only that, but he’s given us power over Satan (Luke 10:19).
Satan is defeated, but because he’s the prince of this world through sin, his powers are limited (John 12:31). Satan’s power is limited to influence. He has the ability to place thoughts, ideas, and suggestions in the minds of people. For those without a mind built on the word of God, he can influence someone to do things contrary to God’s word. But if we build ourselves on God’s word and use the power that has been given to us, we can stay free of demonic influence. Don’t be afraid of a loser. He’s all bark and no bite.
Revelations 12:11 They conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.
Prayer is the most effective way to get results. When we confidently approach God, knowing that He hears us and knowing we’ll receive whatever we request, we’ll have a different outlook on life.
As we pray according to God’s will, we’ll understand that our problems are not that serious. We’ll realize difficult times are just an opportunity for God to manifest His power. The only thing we need to keep in check is our patience. We may want something done immediately, but God’s timing is best for us, best for the situation, and great for someone else.
So, be patient. Understand that God heard you. You don’t need to go back to God over and over again about the same subject. He heard you and as you remain in faith, whatever you’re facing will get resolved.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Isaiah 25:1 Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Some people like to say, “I don’t worship God for what He’s done. I worship God for who He is.” That sounds deep and all, but there’s no separation between who God is and what He’s done. Who God is, is attached to what He does.
If God was just sitting in heaven and didn’t do anything for us, He would be no different than a tree in a forest, miles away from us. We wouldn’t worship Him. What’s the point? We worship Him because of what He’s done. He gave us salvation through Jesus, supplies our needs, and gives us the desires of our hearts. We worship Him because He’s healed us, protects us, and made us joint heirs with Christ. We worship because He’s good and causes all things to work together for our good.
Don’t let some “deep” over religious person try to make you feel bad because you’re worshipping God because of what He’s done. It’s okay to worship God for what He’s done. He simply wants our worship.
Psalm 130:3 If you kept record of our sins, no one could last long. 4 But you forgive us, and so we will worship you.
If God kept track of all the things we’ve done wrong, no one would be able to stand. We all would look filthy in God’s sight. That’s why He not only desires to forgive us, but He’s not keeping a record of our sins.
Those of us who’ve been saved for a while need to keep God’s forgiveness in mind. It’s not because of the goodness we’ve done, but it’s because of His grace and mercy that allows Him to forgive us and not record our wrongdoings. Understanding God’s mindset of forgiveness with no record will help us treat ourselves and others better.
We won’t be so hard on ourselves when we miss the mark. We won’t allow the devil to make us feel guilty by replaying our past. We won’t hold grudges against others. And we won’t bring up the faults of our spouses, children, or parents.
God has forgiven us and He’s not holding anything against us. If God has moved on, we should too.
Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.” Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”
Judges 6:14-15 CEV
Gideon sounds like some of us. The Lord will give us a big task and we make every excuse why we can’t do it. Excuses like…I don’t have a degree, I don’t have the experience, I don’t have the money, I haven’t been trained.
God knew that before He tasked you with the assignment. He didn’t ask for your resume. He requested us to be a vessel.
We may not initially know how to do what God has called us to do. But as we seek God (knowing He’s with us), He’ll give us knowledge, favor, and finances to get the job done.
Stop making excuses. Step out on faith trusting God is with you and He’ll guide you every step of the way.
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:3-7 NKJV
Paul was exceptionally knowledgeable in the law. He had status and a discipline like no other. But when Christ revealed Himself to Paul, his titles, knowledge, and status meant nothing. He was so overwhelmed by Who Christ is until all those other things meant nothing.
Some of us have multiple degrees, a great job title, and we’re influential in the community. Don’t place your confidence in those things. Instead, place your confidence in Christ Jesus alone. Those other earthly things can change or become meaningless. What Christ has done will last forever.
The titles and status we have now don’t need to be thrown out. Use the knowledge we obtained from school, the job title, and our influence to glorify Christ all the more. In whatever you do, bring honor and glory to Christ.
John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Some of you have been patiently waiting on God’s promises to come to pass. You may have thought God was going to do it in a certain way, but that particular way has come and gone. Don’t get discouraged. The pathway to receiving that promise may not have been the way you expected, but the results are still the same.
You may have been in faith to see the mass gone after the doctor finished looking at the x-ray. Don’t get discouraged because that’s not the case. The results are the same. You are healed (Isaiah 53:5). You may have thought you would have landed the dream job by now after obeying God’s instructions to move to a new city. That didn’t happen yet. Don’t start trying to land the job in your own strength. The results are still the same. You shall get whatever you desired in prayer (Mark 11:24). You may have thought you would have been married by now. Don’t throw God away. The results are the same. You will have what you say (Mark 11:23).
Don’t have faith in the method. Have faith in the results.
There are some Christians who look for what’s wrong in the body of Christ. One would think that Christians would promote what’s right in order to attract unbelievers. Instead, some tear each other down and keep the spirit of division around.
Let’s magnify what’s right in the body of Christ.
- Jesus’ blood still saves.
- Jesus’ wounds have healed.
- The Word of God has not changed.
- People are still preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world.
- Faith in the finished works of Jesus provides any promise we desire.
- The church is still feeding, clothing, and providing for the poor.
- The church has made impact outside the four walls.
- The power of God can deliver.
- The schemes of the devil are being exposed.
- Miracles are possible with God.
These are just a few things that are right in the body of Christ. Instead of finding fault with what’s wrong with this or that, let’s highlight what’s right in the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
There are people who believe wealth is not God’s will for the believer. They believe wealth appeals to greed. They believe Christians should be humble and content. They read scriptures out of context and say, “money is the root of all evil.” They believe having riches pulls us away from God. Let’s see what the bible has to say about the believer having wealth.
Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. – How can we leave an inheritance if it’s not God’s will for us to be wealthy? A sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Through Jesus, we’ve been made righteous (Rom. 5:1).
Ecclesiastes 2:26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
2 Corinthians 8:9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. – This is not spiritual poverty and spiritual riches. This is material. They’re talking about financial giving.
There’s nothing wrong in having wealth. We’re in the wrong when we trust in wealth. That “money is the root to all evil” scripture is incomplete. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Wealth is a tool every believer should have. It’s a tool we can use to spread the gospel, give to the poor, be a blessing to others, as well as enjoy.
There are people who believe that healing is not God’s will for us. After seeing “good” Christians die believing God for their healing, they’ve been convinced that healing is not God’s will for everyone. There’s not one verse in the bible that insinuates that it’s not God’s will for us to be healed. In fact, it’s the opposite. There are multiple verses in both the old and new testament that show us healing is God’s will for us.
Exodus 15:26 lets us know it’s God who heals us.
Isaiah 53:5 says, by His stripes we are healed.
Throughout the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Jesus healed the sick. If it’s not God’s will for us to be healed, Jesus was disobedient and went against God’s plan.
In Mark 16:17, Jesus gives every believer authority to heal the sick.
1 Peter 2:24 echoes Isaiah 53:5 and says, by His wounds we are healed.
In 3 John 1:2, Paul prays that we be in good health.
As we can see, it’s God’s will for us to be healed. We can’t simply declare it’s not God’s will for people to be healed just because some people have died after claiming they believed for their healing. We don’t know what’s in their heart. They may claim they believe, but in their heart, they have doubts. Or, they claim they believe, but they really just want to go to heaven. Know it’s God’s will for every believer to be healed.
Psalm 41:3 The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.
John 7:14 About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”
Jesus was anointed by God. With this anointing, He was able to amaze the Jews by tapping into the wisdom of God and provide revelation and knowledge about the scriptures without formal education.
Through Jesus, under the new covenant, we too are anointed (1 John 2:20). Through the Holy Spirit, we have the same ability to tap into the wisdom of God just like Jesus. Things that took people years to learn, we can learn in a month. Solutions to problems come easy to us. Ideas, inventions, and concepts can come to us overnight. No matter what field we’re in, we can tap into this wisdom.
If we want this ability, we must receive it by faith. Spend time with God, be guided by the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to download wisdom that will wow others.
Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
There are people who can really help us. They can help us in our careers, in our marriages, or in raising our children, but if we’re too prideful or stubborn to be corrected, we’ve officially become stupid.
We’re not stupid because we don’t know something. We’re stupid because we hate correction. Hating correction is an insecurity that must be uprooted. We don’t know everything and everyone from our children, to God, will correct us. Instead of looking at correction as an attack on our intelligence, we should view correction as God providing an opportunity for us to get better.
Let’s change our perspective, avoid stupidity, and welcome correction.
When we pray and ask God for our desires, it’s beneficial to add “or better” at the end of our request.
Examples: God, I desire and ask for a new Honda Accord or better. God, I thank you for a career at Hewlett Packard or better. I believe that I have received a house in __________ neighborhood or better.
We should add “or better” at the end of our request because we truly don’t how much God wants to bless us. We may be thinking too small or we haven’t explored better possibilities. Adding “or better” unties God’s hands. It gives God permission to exceed our expectations.
Let God blow your mind by adding “or better” to every desire you have.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Jeremiah 29:7 NIV
We all reside in different cities across the world. No matter if we’ve lived there all our lives or moved there recently, that’s our assigned cities.
It’s beneficial to pray for the peace and prosperity of our assigned cities. We pray for violence to decrease, unity to increase, and prosperity for every wholesome business. Pray for the leadership and elected officials. Through our prayers, we reap the benefits of a peaceful and prosperous city.
Add peace and prosperity for your city, state, and country in your prayers. This prayer is another way God can prosper our lives.
Some people hear about confessions and get excited. They confess for all their desires for a few days. When they don’t see anything happening, the excitement leaves and their confessions start to wane. They don’t confess as often or they’ll forget. Other things become more important to them.
The reason people’s confessions start to decline or disappear is because of doubt. When people don’t see anything happening after a few days of confessions, they become deceived into thinking their confessions aren’t working. In actuality, they’re quitting too soon.
The confession itself doesn’t make our desires come to pass. Faith is what brings our desires to pass. Our confessions maintain the level of faith we need to go the distance and access what God has promised.
Don’t stop feeding your faith. Keep believing. Keep confessing. Don’t doubt; expect to receive all that God has promised.
2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
Genesis 37:28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
Exodus 2:5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it.
As soon as Joseph was thrown in the pit, a caravan of Ishmaelites just so happened to be coming by. Coincidence? I think not.
When baby Moses got too big to hide in the house, his sister hid him in the Nile river. Pharoah’s daughter just so happened to be coming to bathe in that exact spot. Not only did she find Moses, but she went against her father’s orders and decided to keep him. Coincidence? I think not.
In the family of God, there are perks. It’s called favor. By leaning, trusting, and relying on God, we position ourselves to receive favor with God and man. Favor is God raising up someone somewhere to use their power, ability, and influence to help us.
The world may call it a coincidence or getting lucky, but we know it’s God working on the hearts of people for our benefit. Receive and expect this favor.
1 Timothy 1:5 (ERV) My purpose in telling you to do this is to promote love—the kind of love shown by those whose thoughts are pure, who do what they know is right, and whose faith in God is real.
As we continue to mature in the knowledge of God, we gain wisdom. With this wisdom, we may find ourselves in a position where we can provide instructions to help someone else. It’s important to remember to instruct in love.
We may see someone headed down the wrong path or see someone making a foolish decision. It’s during those times we should instruct out of love. We don’t instruct to show how knowledgeable we are, and we don’t instruct to make someone feel guilty. We instruct because we genuinely want to see them do better and live their best lives.
Some people like to be instructed with a straight to the point approach while others need a gentle approach. Allow the Holy Spirit to provide the words for the best outcome with each person.
Instruct in love to provide knowledge, wisdom, and help that will be well received.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God. It’s been said that in order for our faith to come and grow, we need to hear preaching and teaching on a daily basis. This is 100% true. However, that’s not the only way faith comes.
Listening to ministers preach and teach is good, but if that’s the only way our faith comes, we become too reliant on someone else. What if we’re in a situation where we don’t have access to hear a 30-minute sermon? What if we can’t call our pastor to receive faith-filled guidance? What if we’re in a situation that requires immediate faith?
In addition to hearing the word from a minister, we can develop faith from hearing ourselves speak the word of God. We can hear ourselves say, by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). We can hear ourselves say, God shall supply all our needs (Phil 4:19).
As we hear ourselves speak the word of God over and over, faith comes and grows. Let’s not hinder the development of our faith by waiting to listen to a minister. Build your faith by listening to yourselves speak the word of God.
Graced To Do God's Will 