In the first part of this series, we established that this is
one of the most frequently asked questions among people of faith. Why does it
seem as if after doing all you know to do, or all that you have learnt on
faith, some things still just refuse to work out? Like I said in the first
part, this is not an attempt to possibly answer all your faith questions, but
to give some insights that may be helpful in your quest to find answers to
those deep questions of your heart. Again, like I mentioned in the first part,
the steps outlined in this series are adapted from the book - What to do when
faith seems weak and victory lost by Kenneth E. Hagin. We have looked at the first
two steps in our last piece, and now we will proceed to look at a few more
steps.
Step 3. Be sure you are
not living in sin – practicing wrong doing.
It is amazing that sometimes people are living in known sin,
and they still expect that their faith will continue to produce results. Things
don’t work like that in the kingdom of God. It is one thing to make a mistake
or to miss the mark and then to quickly repent and get into good fellowship
with the Lord, but it is another thing to continue to live a life that you know
is sinful and not pleasing to God. Sin is a great hindrance to faith and
prayers, so if you are able to get it right, then you are one step closer to
getting your faith and your prayers to work for you. As a believer, one key
area to closely watch when you are not making your connection in prayers is
unforgiveness. There are many who are saved, but are living in unforgiveness,
and this will always limit their prayers and exercise of faith. As a believer,
you must not only think of sin in terms of physical sins but also spiritual sins
and if you are quick to judge yourself when you miss the mark then you will not
be judged as the scripture says. But if you perpetually live in sin then you
will be judged. 1 Cor. 11:31
It is important to also know that the devil is a great
deceiver and he will try to deceive you if you let him. He will suggest things
to your mind and make you feel inadequate for thinking those thoughts. But we
always say you cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep
them from building a nest in your hair. So when those ungodly thoughts come,
you dispel them with the word. Note also that when you miss the mark and you
repent, then you should not allow any sense of guilt or condemnation on
yourself because that will also be a great hindrance to your faith. And learn
to forgive yourself for missing the mark, don’t go on to punish yourself and so
miss out on grace.
Step 4. Be sure no
doubt or unbelief is permitted in your life concerning the promise of God
I can authoritatively tell you that as long as Satan can hold
you in that realm of doubt or unbelief concerning what God has promised you,
then he can continue to see that you are unable to access the Blessing. Kenneth
E. Hagin said “Many of the things we believe for and pray about, which the
promises of God cover, have to come to pass in the world when Satan is god. He will
do everything in the world to keep it from coming.” In reality this does not
mean that Satan can stop God from answering your prayers, but he can keep you
from being able to access the answers by keeping you in the place of unbelief. God
will not promise you something in His word and then at the same time try to
keep you from accessing the promise. If you have found something in the word
concerning you and you pray about it, then have no doubt that God has answered
even if it takes a while before the actual physical manifestation. Be sure to
always have a good report even when things aren’t looking great, keep up the
good fight of faith and always answer with a good report. Kenneth E. Hagin said
“Thinking faith thoughts and speaking faith words will lead the heart out of
defeat and into victory.”
Step 5. Sincerely desire
the benefit you have asked of God.
Many believers don’t really desire some of the things they
request from God, and it becomes obvious in their language when the thing doesn’t
turn out great. Well, that is the reason it didn’t turn out great in the first
place, they did not sincerely desire it. When you desire something, you have a
certain desirability level for that thing, and there is also a resistance level
to getting that thing. Now, if your desirability level does not exceed the
resistance level, then getting that thing may simply be a mirage. In the popular
faith verse of Mk. 11:24, the scripture says therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, so you see, there
must be a desire in your heart. I have often observed that there are even times
you can desire a thing so much that before you even pray about it, you already
have the answer, that shows how strong and valid our desires are to God. One place
to be careful about when it comes to desiring the benefit, is where another person’s
will or desires are involved. In such instances, you will have to get them to
the place of agreement, else you may not be able to get any result.
Shalom!
N.B
For questions on this subject and other subjects, kindly use the Prayer request/Testimony pane. You can also send me an email or reach me by Phone on +2348081249992
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