G-UP! Ephesians 6:13~18

13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Friday, September 2, 2011

What We Have Here is a Failure of Confidence

Philippians 1:6 states: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

There are Christians who do not hold on to this promise. Life's circumstances toss us to and fro and the enemy introduces thoughts of doubt that find a foothold and grow in our minds. As Bishop Woods stated Wednesday, Its a mind game and a heart thing. What we ponder and think about obsessively we eventually will say, when we say it there's the opportunity for those words to turn into actions, then those actions can so easily become habits and those habits will then make up our character and finally we have planned out our destiny. God wants us each to have more abundant life.

If He started a ministry in you why aren't you confident that He will give you the provision to fulfill your vision? Too often we get side tracked by mole hills. A mole hill would barely be noticeable if it had grass on it yet we can become so fascinated with them that they begin to look like mountains that we cannot simply walk over or around.

This is why it is imperative that we change our minds and that we hide the Word of God in our hearts. Bishop Woods shared the characteristics of the mind of Christ with us. Those are:

Capability
Stability
Ability
Integrity
Capacity

I was talking with a friend last night and she confessed that when she lost a coveted director position a few years ago, she initially started looking for another directorship. That's what she felt she deserved--what she had earned. But she couldn't find that kind of position anywhere. No one wanted a director. So she found herself having to take on what seemed to her at the time to be a lower level position. Soon after though she was blessed to obtain another position a bit higher, but still not her former directorship.

She then came to the recognition--to the glory of God--that the two positions that she held that she felt had been lower level positions in fact prepared her for her current position by providing her with experience that she had not and would not have gained as a director. God wanted to expand her capacity. Sometimes we get so caught up on the title and on the pomp and the circumstance of a matter that we neglect to gain the experience that God wants us to have so that He can elevate us to another level. Therefore, He will provide a wake up call--because He loves us so. He'll shake us up to shake some stinking thinking off of us.

The point is that we must change our perspective--how we look at the trials, the tribulations, and the sheer experiences that happen to us in life. We have to begin to look at each as though they may be a challenge, but they are not going to wipe me out. There may be some struggle, but I will not be overcome, instead I will be an overcomer. What may at first appear to be a step back is really a stumble forward into the opportunity for God to prove our ability. We can't know what we can take or what we can do until we are presented with the challenge.

God wants qualify you and give you capability so that there will be no question that your promotion came from above. When God promotes you spiritually, every other area of your life begins to fall in line and come within His order. Stop looking that negative things negatively and look at them positively. There is an outcome that is ultimately for your good. Use your integrity to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord rather than to seek a way to side-step trusting in in Him.

Do not cast away your confidence in the Lord--therein lies your faith and we build our faith by hanging on to our confidence and our hope. Are you struggling with this concept? Then simply do this, the next time you find yourself questioning if you can make it, if you can pay your bills, if you can buy a house or a car, if you can find a new job, if you can do what God has already predestined and preordained for you to do--just remember some things that He's already done for you.

Remember, like David remembered all of the times that God strengthened his hand. God has done some magnificent and marvellous things for us. Remember those things and give Him glory. Then make it up in your mind that if He never does another thing for you--He's already done more than enough. Once you find yourself in this stable place then you will see your mind begin to concentrate on things that are lovely, that are good, that are pure and of a good report. Next thing you know you begin to open your mouth and give God praise. Then you're waving your hands, stomping your feet and putting action with your faith. Then your active faith becomes your habit and eventually your character. When people see you they will know that you are a woman or a man of faith. Then faith and trust in God becomes your destiny and all the things that you thought you may have wanted fall in line and in order with God's Word and His will. You want what He wants for you and as a result you have what you asked of God.

That's how you praise our mighty God in advance. You praise in the morning--just because. You praise Him in your car--just because. You praise Him when bills are due and you have no way to pay--just because He's Jehovah Jireh.

Be encouraged today to count on your confidence knowing that God has begun and will complete the good work that He has started in YOU!

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