ears ago, I was more radical in my faith. In the years that immediately followed the end of my depression, I clung to God with a wild abandon to keep myself free from its darkness. I trusted Him to do the impossible and actively work on my behalf.
Truthfully, some of my youthful prayers and requests were immature and fleshy. If I’d gotten what I thought I wanted and needed, it would have destroyed me. Other prayers were unscriptural and offered up in ignorance. But, even still I believed that He would do it for me.
I don’t know when I became this cautious woman who reserved radical faith and confession for crisis only situations, but the time finally came when I knew that I was ready to change.
Many of us want to believe that our next year will be significantly different from the last one. However, fear keeps us from asking for these changes. Disappointed by the past, we are more comfortable managing our emotions with reserve than risking the possibility of more unfulfilled hopes. But, it is time to stop playing the game and believe God for our turnarounds.
We must be willing to pray, believe God and risk the challenges that go hand in hand with great victories. If we add it all up, our gains have been greater than our losses. Getting to the place of turnaround will require that we stop playing it safe. We need an unrestrained connection with God in order to win!
We must:
1. Pave our path with prayer: Unchecked and unchallenged, disappointment will terrorize and cripple our prayers. It hurts when it feels as if God doesn’t hear us, but we can’t use getting our way as a measure of His love. Like me, maybe some of your prayers haven’t been scriptural or perhaps there is a greater role you need to play in birthing your change. For instance, praying for financial blessings but refusing to make a budget is a sure sign that you aren’t sold out to getting your prayer answered. You have to do the painful part and He’ll do the God part.
When all is said and done, we must never forget that we pray from a limited perspective. It is only through connection with God that we can pray from a place that is beyond our finite understanding.
Going forward in life, purpose to create a dynamic prayer life. Find the ways to maintain communication and connection with God. We may not all be prayer warriors, but we are all called to pray His will into the earth. The other day, I heard a minister say that in the times we don’t know what to pray, we should pray for wisdom. When we don’t have the energy to pray, ask for strength. When all is said and done, pray to get and stay connected.
2. Remember each day’s new mercies: We can’t allow the “Nos” of yesterday to determine what we are willing to ask for today and tomorrow. God is committed to bringing and sustaining us in the fulfillment of His purposes for our lives.
Regardless of how many times we’ve previously gone to the well of His mercy, there will be an untouched and endless supply the next morning. His mercy is not subject to the wear and tear of life. It won’t break down after 90,000 miles. Like His love, it endures!
Sometimes, it is the day itself that makes the difference. The answers and grace we looked for yesterday, may not have been there when we wanted them. But today could be the appointed day for change. If we stop seeking, then we’ll miss our blessing.
3. Treasure and proclaim your gifts: Finally, never lose sight of what God has given you to offer. In Genesis, we see this in the story of Joseph as the Pharaoh consults him to interpret his dreams. Despite everything he’d suffered, Joseph did not forget that God had gifted him to understand dreams. In fact, it was this very gift that played a role in his trouble. He did not let the betrayals of the past or his time in jail strip him of the knowledge of God's favor.
Our gifts will open the right doors of opportunity for us. However we must live in the awareness of them rather than allowing our situations to define us. His gifting is not random, they are purposeful and we can’t afford to give up on expressing them in our daily lives.
No matter what life has taken, confidently declare, "This is what God has given me and I will not surrender it to defeat or despair." Don’t be afraid to let others know what your gifts and desires are. They could be avenues God uses to orchestrate your change. Opportunity knocks when it knows that someone is home to answer the door.
Change is ours for the asking and willingness to obey—so let us go for it boldly!
Live It! Before you go to bed each night for the next 21 days, write on an index card one mercy
you would like to see the next day. Then, set your alarm clock fifteen minutes earlier than usual
for the next 21 days. Start your day in prayer by thanking God for the unique gifts He’s given you
and praising Him for the new mercy you choose to see each day.