Life is not as complicated as we think if we get to know its governing principles. The problem is that we often operate in ignorance without investing that little bit of wisdom seeking that makes all the difference. What pains me is that we serve a God who is not stingy with wisdom or anything else for that matter.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” [Proverbs 2:6 NIV]
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you [James 1:5 NIV].
I was re-watching the new Jumanji the other day and as I was having a good laugh at how random Dr. Smoulder Bravestone would “smoulder” every now and then I realised that life is not very different. There’s an evil guy who controls the world (social system) sending all kinds of “animals” to keep you from retrieving the jewel (abundant life).
You only get one life and if you don’t take the time to learn the rules of the game and strategise to minimise on your weaknesses while maximising on your strengths you may find that you won’t last very long in the game.
Praise: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise [Psalm 100]
It’s so easy to forget that these are the days that the Lord has made so instead of rejoicing and being glad in them we are ready to gripe and complain about glory days that are dead and gone. Worry not though I didn’t come with a message of how terrible we are because we just can’t get it right.
I came with a message of how we can’t do this on good will alone. I came to remind someone that God doesn’t need a welcoming committee his love will welcome you with open arms if you are ready to put your burdens down. I used to wonder why Pastors would always say praise God, I thought it was about talking nicely to God so that he could open up and bless me and now it finally makes sense why I quickly ran out of things to say in the prayer closet.
It was a superficial understanding of what it means to commune with God. When you take the time to identify and then count your blessings you’ll see that praise will come naturally to you. When you look at how far you’ve come, the things you’ve overcome, how much you’ve grown, how well you’re doing now and the promise for an eternal future in the kingdom.
When you think of how he has never let you down, never left your side even when you shut him out, never stopped showing you his love through other people. I could just go on because in this season my eyes have been turned towards his goodness and love like never before. If you can’t pray for any other reason, pray because God answers prayer.
Petition: By prayer and supplication make your requests known [Philippians 4]
Our Father knows all that we need and he also knows the future so when we see things happening or not happening for us I just want to remind us that it’s not always about binding and pulling down strong holds. I don’t know about you but I would rather have God knocking me out of the way for my safety rather than allowing me to make a sad attempt of taking a spiritual bull by the horns.
There are many intricacies and systems that we do not always have the wisdom to deal with and now that I’m older I appreciate shamhu yaMwari (God’s Discipline) because those he loves he corrects. He is fierce in his love for us and we’d do well to appreciate that.
Petition isn’t about getting God to take on your request first or faster, it’s about surrendering the deepest desires of our hearts to the only one who can grant them right on time. To share a little of my own story I always thought that things were moving slowly in the relationship department because I wasn’t really articulating to God what I was hoping. At the time I didn’t account for the fact that the He made me.
He knows all there is to know about me including the things I haven’t yet discovered. Today I can proudly say I am happy for DAYS and depression has lost its greater hold on me. When sad days come I know they are temporary so I get to positioning myself for the better days.
Positioning: Faith is the driving substance [Hebrews 11]
When you’ve spent enough time thanking and loving God, confiding your desires to him as you reason together daily it will suddenly make sense what you need to do next and that is to park yourself in the receiving bay.
Don’t be alarmed or anxious by how hectic it all appears, don’t be mesmerised by the lights that the lost seem to have shining around their tainted riches but in all things believe that you have cast your cares on him and because he cares for you zvatobhadara (Its done). Wealth cannot come to one obsessed with lack and one obsessed with lack is one who never prepares for wealth.
My prayer today is for prayer like we’ve never had it before, a deeper understanding of our Father’s heart so that we can step away from guarding the goal post and get to playing up field, striking goals against the enemy. Amen
