(a chapter from the section, The Growth Paradigm, of my book, Heaven on Earth)
Every moment we breathe is an opportunity for growth; every step forward is a step of growth; every step that we grow, we become more like Jesus.
Sometimes, due to unforeseen unpredictable circumstances in our lives, we encounter the growth plateau. This can happen when we are children, or in our youth or in our adulthood. For whatever reason, the favorable conditions for growth have been taken away. The enemy has stolen the sun that shines, the air that we breathe, and the water that causes growth. We encounter sin or unfavorable conditions that do not favor growth. We are stuck in unseen places. We are held back because of conditions that we do not control or because of conditions that we do.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Sometimes, we have not been growing for a while, and we don’t know how to take those first steps towards growth again. The way forward appears to be blocked. God can make a way forward where there appears to be no way forward. All we have to do is ask God. If we are able to articulate the areas in our lives that are lacking growth, if we can name these areas, then we can take dominion over these areas and surrender them to God. We can prophesy to these dead areas in our lives and command them to rise up from the ashes. “Dead bones, rise up!”
For nothing is impossible with God.
… The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Frequently, we don’t know what to ask for. We seem to have lost our direction. We seem to have lost our purpose. Psalm 37:4 NLT teaches us that if we take delight in the Lord, He will tell us what our heart desires. The same scripture also teaches us that He will also give us that heart’s desire. That’s a rather clever double entendre, isn’t it?
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Having given us our heart’s desire, the Lord will order our steps. Step by step, He will lead us into our destiny. Our part in this deal is that we must allow God to lead us forward.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word and the Truth
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word that never fails
The eternal truth that sets me free
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word that endures forever
The eternal truth, the way to eternal life
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word, the promises of our God
The eternal truth, our Righteousness
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word, God’s power to life
The eternal truth, our Victory
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word, our firm foundation
The eternal truth, to build our lives
Learning the wisdom of the old days
Learning the wisdom of the old ways
The eternal word, the wisdom for the new day
The eternal truth, the foundation for a new day
May the grace and peace of Abba Father the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus Christ.
Word Sabre, scribe for Abba Father, LORD GOD, Lord Most High, Lord Jesus Christ.