It is exciting when you hear and begin to follow the will of God for your life. Yet, when you are pursuing God, the enemy will do anything to deviate you from God’s plan. He will use anything and everything, including people. It is at that moment that we must pass up every opportunity to be offended. It is not easy, however, to live in the blessing it is required. You never know where or when your next divine appointment may be and offense can take you out of fellowship with the Holy Spirit and cause you to miss it. A right attitude is vital in the pursuit and fulfillment of God’s call on your life.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”
Not dealing with offense allows a root of bitterness to fester. This bitterness can and will disqualify you from the call of God. You must deal with it immediately.
“if you keep your heart attitude right and your heart free of offense - if you’ll respond in faith, love, and forgiveness - even disaster can be turned into your victory.” - p. 206
Paul told the early church in the book of Hebrews that our confidence and faith in God has great rewards. Although it may seem you are all alone, remember you are “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” Hebrews 12:1. The Word of God is full of stories of people who stood in faith and received the promises. They are now in the bleachers of heaven cheering you on!
So cheer up, lay aside all wrong attitudes and behaviors. Change your environment. Make sure you are in a place of faith. This is a conscious decision to make a change. the Word says to run from any negative environment and run from sin. As you turn and run, as you lay aside all sin and wrong attitudes, God can begin to turn your situation around.
Yet in the waiting period, if your faith gets tired and you just can’t seem to see the victory, you won’t. Bill Winston says, “if you are believing for something and you don’t see it come to pass, you do not “know” enough.” You may have knowledge but it must move from knowledge to knowing. It is at this point that you must raise your eyes upward, hear more of the Word, speak more of the Word, renew your thinking with the Word, act on the Word, and pray in the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit will give you the power to run your race to the finish line. Repeat this over and over again until it goes from knowledge to knowing.
You must be fully committed to this. No wavering, no slacking, keep the pattern going, and you WILL receive the reward!
Has anyone else enjoyed this book these last few weeks? Join me next week in our new bookclub facebook group where we’ll post our next book, links to my blog post, and also where you’ll be able to post questions or your feedback. I want to know how these books are changing your life! Can’t wait to connect and begin our next book on Monday!