One of the reasons for spiritual coldness and lukewarmness is negligence and laziness.
Marital failure, financial poverty, failure in ministry and many other forms of poverty can all be traced back to the same root of negligence or dealing with a slack hand.
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4)
We read about how God promised the children of Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, but when it came time to possess it, as a nation they were not ready. There are attitudes that keep you in bondage and wandering in the wilderness, while a promised land flowing with milk and honey awaits you. The Bible is full of the record of sins that plagued the rest of the children of Israel which we are to be aware of today in our lives.
Jesus sometimes connects sickness with sins. This is not always the true for every sickness or situation (John 9:1-3), but very often our problems are connected to some unconfessed sins in our lives.
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:1-8).
Are you in a situation right now where you are told no man has the answer to?
Has the devil taken over your life, your family, your business, your children, your ministry?
Are you stranded right now with no hope for you to get out of the mess you are in?
There is a race set before every one of us to run. Many people call it the will of God or God’s assignment for you. No matter what you call it, it is important to understand that we are not just here to live an aimless life. Your life has a purpose. One reason we are given time is to discover God’s purpose for your life and pursue that purpose making use of every opportunity and resources given to you by God.
The Bible tells us that God will correct us because He loves us and is delighted in our prosperity. He will not live us to wander in our unrighteous ways. He will rebuke, chastise and discipline those He love just like any father will do to his children.
“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:11-12).
It is God desires for every one of His children to continue to grow in their relationship with Him. The reason is obvious from the Bible: until we grow up, we won’t be able to enjoy the privileges God has provided for us as His sons and daughters.
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: {elements: or, rudiments}” (Galatians 4: 1-3).
Faith, – biblical faith is cooperation with God in all sense. God will not do everything for you. He will not do for you, what you are unwilling to do yourself.
Don’t just fold your arm in passivity expecting God to put bread in your mouth. The proof that you have faith in God is to carry out the instruction you already know.
That is the essence of praying and reading the Bible, – to discern His will and understand His mind concerning a given situation and then act on what you know God is calling you to do.
Many people today are running here and there in search of freedom, deliverance and happiness. However, God has place in our hand the responsibility of delivering ourselves from the snare of the devil
“Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler” (Proverb 6: 4-5).
Other people might be responsible for where you are in life, but nobody is responsible for your continuing to stay where you are.
Until you stop finding fault and shifting blame, you will not rise up and take responsibility for your advancement in life. Here is what God want you to do from today on:
Don’t blame the devil, resist him (James 4: 7);
Don’t blame God, obey Him (Genesis 3: 12-13);
Don’t blame your challenges and predicaments; fight your way through them by faith (Number chapter 12-14).
