God does not change His mind. During times of transition we experience spiritual warfare on the way to obtaining God’s promises. The warfare intensifies as you progress along the journey. You begin to ponder whether you have made the right decisions or took a wrong turn. God seems silent. It feels as though He has disappeared. It becomes difficult to hear God’s word or see what He is doing in our lives.
In Matthew 11, John the Baptist was locked away in prison. He heard about all the things the Messiah was doing and asked if Jesus was the one who is to come, or should they expect someone else? Jesus told the disciples, “Go show John again that these things are happening. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are preached to. And blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.” (Matthew 11:2-6)
Was John unsure of what he had previously witness in John 1:29 and Matthew 3:16-17? Perhaps in a time of temptation and spiritual warfare, we may call into question the most important spiritual truths we’ve learned. In these times our faith needs to be strengthened and confirmed. The miracles performed by Jesus were proof He was indeed the Messiah as prophesied in John 61:1.
Remember what the Bible says about Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). Jesus also said in Matthew 11 verse 6 that many would be offended because of Him, but, “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said, “When persecution comes—you are thrown in jail, the pressure is heavy, things in the natural are pressing you—and you don’t seem to be capable of zeroing in on exactly what is happening in the realm of the Spirit, some people will be offended, and it’s because of the Word.”
In the beginning stages of your journey, it seems like everything goes smoothly. It’s like when a jet takes off and leaves the runway, you can immediately feel the power of the thrust and the change in the smooth transition. You reach plateaus your spiritual walk as God begins to speak to you and you obey His Word.
When faith comes and God moves you to that realm where you need to possess the promise given to you, that’s when you meet your most difficult challenge. The Bible says Abraham “…staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” In other words, Abraham did not stagger or fall. He did not become double-minded. He did not waver in unbelief. He was not offended in the Word of God. He was strengthened in his faith and fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised. He believed God! (Romans 4:20-21)
When you begin the first stages of your spiritual journey, you are still not that far removed from familiar territory. You are not too far out in the deep and you can still lean on your own ability. It’s like standing in the ocean where the water is only six feet deep. You are standing in the ocean but you’re still in control. However, if you keep going farther out into deeper water, you will eventually get to the point where you can no longer see the shore or touch the bottom.
Eventually you come to a place in God where the “land” you could have become anchored to is no longer visible, where you can no longer reverse your steps, and where the “Plan B” you could have leaned on is no longer an option. This is the time where you must make a decision to keep going in spite of whatever challenges arise.
There’s a realm in God where you might as well keep going, because there is no turning back. It is at this exact time that the adversary launches his hardest attack against your life. The warfare in you mind is intense. You think to yourself, “Did God really say that?”
These are the times you need to know how to cast down negative thoughts that try to distract you from what God has promised you. How not to be moved by what you think, feel or see in the natural. In the natural, It might feel like everything is shaking and falling apart, but don’t let go of the promise. Speak life to yourself: “I am going to achieve. I am going to reach my destiny in God. I am going to receive my miracle!”
Trust that God will help you in turbulent times. Better days are just ahead! “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
Be encouraged, God hasn’t changed His mind!
Blessings,
Dr. Francine is an ordain minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She has a radio broadcast called “Going Beyond Church” on World Power Gospel Radio (WPGR) located in our nation’s capital.
Connect with Dr. Francine on Facebook at @afrancinegreen as well as on Twitter @beyond_2017. Visit her website at http://www.beyondchurchwalls.com.
Published by Dr. A. Francine Green