In the last few months, I have been in a crash course on how to respond to life’s unforeseen circumstances. One of the most challenging aspects is when there is a high demand, naturally speaking, my mind can become overwhelmed with doubt and the flesh simply wants to tap out and quit. I’m not expressing this from a place of self-pity, but in full transparency to inspire you to overcome and live in the victory that Christ has provided.
While talking to my dad last night concerning one of these high-demand moments, he gave me a verse that was directly from the Father’s heart to ensure that the emotion of defeat trying to overtake me would be put into its proper place and ensure my success. If I’m completely honest the timing of it to my tired flesh was not well received, but I knew in my heart that what he was saying was truth and could set me over. Before I give you the verse he gave me, I want to introduce the main thought that I believe the Lord wants us to lay hold of and live in.
At some point or another, we have all been in a serious conversation with someone who after they asked you a question you had no answer to said, “Well, answer me!” Whether you realize it or not, your checkbook, your health, your career, your relationships, and every other thing in your life demands a response saying, “Answer me!”
Last month I left off referring to the moment where Jesus cursed the fig tree and I want to pick up there now and continue.
Mark 11:14 reads, “In response Jesus said to it (the fig tree), ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’” If I may, figuratively the fig tree was demanding a response of Jesus, “Answer me!” What will you say about your unsatisfying moment that is wanting to bring frustration and irritation to your soul? How you respond to a given situation is of most importance. The key is not to respond from a natural mindset, but from a word that is acquired and received from the mouth of God.
The question begs to be asked, where do you get the answer that satisfies the demand and in turn brings strength to you as you face the opposition in faith? Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Did you catch that? Joy is the fruit produced in an individual that responds not in worry, or weariness but with the Word sourced by the Father. Proverbs 16:1 says, “The preparations (or meditations) of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”
There is a partnership and a dependency that is encouraged by intimacy with the Father that produces confidence and abundant joy by answering back to the stressful opposition with God-given words. Matthew 10:20 says, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
The word for you this month in response to the “Answer me!” demands that come at us from all angles of life is a response of joy! We know that Psalms 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence is the fullness of joy and Nehemiah 8:10 says that joy acquired in God’s presence is strength for our lives. We are living in a time when speaking our own words is not advisable or profitable. You could say it this way, your joy level is a depiction of your word level. What am I saying? Either by the written word or the spoken word of the Holy Spirit, we must be in a constant state of hearing to meditate and fill our hearts with the Word of God so that when we need to respond we are adequately supplied and speak from full joy and abundant strength.
The verse my dad gave me the other night was Job 22:28 which says, “You will also declare a thing (a word) and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your way.” John 16:15 says, “All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said that He (The Holy Spirit) will take of Mine and declare it to you.” When you declare God’s word, you are thoroughly making clear to the enemy your acknowledgment of what you possess in Christ and thus solidify full joy! No matter what you’re facing right now, stop and allow God to give you words to speak to that situation, filling your joy tank and giving you strength. Declare those words and watch God spring into action to bring His will to pass in your life!! The best is yet to come my friend, don’t give up now!! We reap if we faint not.
I am filled with great expectations for the next six months. The Lord spoke this to my heart while preparing to preach on June 9. He said, “The greater the opposition, the greater the victory!”- 1 Samuel 17:45-51 “The greater the lack, the greater the supply.” – John 6:5-13 “Greater the darkness, the greater the light!” Isaiah 60:1-3 The next six months will be Greater than imagined!