Switch off, be disciplined

Switch off, be disciplined

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

At one point in my journey I was thinking that if healing is only fully manifested when Jesus comes again, how do I live at this present moment. My prayers to God would just be a pleading prayer and my days ahead would be uncertain. Your problem may be different than mine but it boils down to how do we live on this earth meanwhile. Do we just take the blows again and again, remain strong, persevere and wait for God to deliver us if He wills it. During our women's devotion in my cell group over the weekend, someone said she does not know how to connect God's words to our daily lives. Someone else said that God's words are there but our problems still exist!

It is like we are persevering but without weapons. 

1 Corinthians 16:13
 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, do manfully, and be strengthened

1 Corinthians 1:10
He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Even Paul did not just take the blows from the enemy, he persevered manfully and God delivered him from peril. God has equipped us to persevere manfully that each step we take, we are strengthened in Him.

There's this lady whom I sometimes give a ride to Elpizo every fortnight and every time we meet, she tells me the same thing, that she has fears and that she can't sleep. I have been trying to get her to read some scriptures that would help her but she would rather fill her days with activities so that she does not get bored because when her mind starts to stray, her fears start to flow in again!

In order to connect to God's words and reap benefits from it, there is a side to play on our part. We are not to just stand and take the blows. We are to do everything he asks of us and then, we can stand firm and watch our deliverance. 

Which brings me to the above verse, 'Can two walk together, except they be agreed?'.  Can you walk with God unless you agree what He says of you in the bible?

We begin our journey with God by AGREEING with what He says. Unless we do that no amount of praying or claiming God's words or friends praying for us will work or change us or bring healing to us. 

Mrs Gong who spoke at Elpizo at one meet said praying for others is like a tag placed on someone but the moment of unbelief, it falls off from them again. We will have to keep praying for them until that person's heart changes.

It's all very good to read God's word during quiet time but we have to also agree with what He says and do what He says. If we have fears, anger or worries, we have to stop thinking them, stop believing them, stop saying them, stop complaining about them to your friends for four hours and to another friend for another four hours. It is alright to discuss a problem with a confidant who could help you grow but otherwise it would just reinforce your problem. 

So for eg, what do you do if you have insomnia because of worries and fears?

1. Switch off your mind and STOP THINKING about issues that trouble you. Be disciplined every night.
2. Read and agree with what God says about you. Choose to believe what God says about you and say it out aloud for faith comes from hearing God's words.  
3. Pray in the spirit until you fall asleep.

God's word is medicine to us, it is life to us. I pray you will agree with God. He sees our baby steps and if we allow ourselves to be led by the spirit, you may be surprised to see yourself changed in an instance too. For Nic, it was just a word from the bible "Ephphatha" and suddenly God gave him courage to stand in front of the whole class to sing. Suddenly, he dared to leave home to camp without his parents. Thank you Lord for showing us your power in your words.

Proverbs 4:20-22

 20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
      Listen carefully to my words.
 21 Don’t lose sight of them.
      Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
 22 for they bring life to those who find them,
      and healing to their whole body.