Day18_Reflection

DAY 18: PRAYER FOCUS

CHOOSING GOD’S WORD

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

James 1:22–25 (ESV)

In his commentary on James 1:22, Dr. Charles Stanley stated “Obeying God’s word is not always easy. Many of his commands require sacrifice and even suffering. This was true for those in the Jewish community who confessed Jesus as their Savior. They had to leave their homes and endure persecution for their testimonies. The Lord understands the difficulty in submitting ourselves to him, but he still calls us to obey him and allow him to handle the consequences. We must apply his principles to our lives, because that is the only way we will find true victory over sin and death – in him”.

Brethren, there is one thing I want you to know as you fast. Your faith will be tested. God will want to know where your heart belongs, whether his side or you are still of the world. When you commit fully to God’s word, he will take you through a wilderness session where you will be tested by the devil. We read in Matthew 4:1 that “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil”. Why will the Holy Spirit do that to Jesus? The Spirit led Jesus there to pray and fast, but while he was there, the devil was also waiting to discourage and entice him. Dr. Stanley will comment by stating, “though God will never tempt us (James 1:13), he will test our faith to see if we will stay on the course that he has set for us to follow”.

You will be tested in many ways, brethren. Your marriage, finances, tithing and giving, relationships, patience, decency, actions, etc. Be ready and stand strong and courageous as Jesus stood firm and resisted the devil in Matthew 4:1-11. Study the word of God daily even after the fast and claim God’s promises for your life. “The word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12), therefore when you read it, believe it, declare over your life, family, marriage, children, your finances, future and anything that concerns you. Act on the word because it is God speaking to you directly, therefore believe Him.

Dr. Stanley will put it this way “Obey God and leave all the consequences to him”. Obedience to God’s word is very important in our Christian journey, therefore I will urge you to choose Obedience at any time even if it will cause you your life (Daniel 3). God gives us a perfect picture in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 the blessings that follows obedience and from verse 15 to 68 he also gives us the curse that follows disobedience. I therefore encourage you to read this and decide for yourself.

Shalom.