ARE YOU READY FOR WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING FOR?
By Nicola McFadden
March 30, 2017
Beloved... Deep calls out to Deep!
Beloved... We have been praying for breakthroughs in our barrenness and impossibilities, but are we truly ready though we have been praying for it?
Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was barren, past the age of childbearing; yet they were praying for a son. God's response to their prayers seemed to be delayed....but was not denied.
Beloved... You see for a while Sarah and Abraham; they had a son in mind. But God, He had a NATION in mind!
Often our prayers are limited, as our Character has not yet caught up with our Calling, so God's response to our prayers seemed to be delayed but not denied. It's during the WAITING season and REFINING process that He is working on our character to mature in the image of Christ and align us in the position to possess our possession!
Beloved... I encourage you to wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Because at the appointed time, the Lord acted. He makes all things beautiful in the right moment. The vision is to take place at later date or future state. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed nor denied, as no word from God will ever fail.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."
What an Amazingly Awesome Heavenly Father. Selah [pause, and calmly think of this]!
Whereas, the couple lacked an offspring and prayed for the blessing of a son in their marriage; God's promise to Abraham was the three folded Covenant Promise:
1. The Promise of the Land: "The land that I will show you."
2. The Promise of the Nation: "I will make you a great nation."
3. The Promise of Generation Spiritual Blessing: "All the families of the earth shall be blessed."
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”
It surprised me that even when Sarah received the promised of a son, in response to her prayers; she lacked the faith to believe though she had been praying for one. Sarah doubted and laughed out loud (LOL!) based on her natural human limitation... She failed to stand on the Sovereignty and infinite supernatural Power of God.
Beloved... But, how many times have we acted like Sarah? Oh boy... too many!
LET'S EXAMINE TWO DIFFERENT RESPONSE TO GOD'S PROMISE
For this illustration, let's use the testimony of Mary, Mother of Jesus (— Luke 1:27-38) vs. Sarah, Mother of Issac (— Genesis 18: 10-13). During this exercise, be totally honest and remember the many times, you acted like Sarah, and the few times, you responded like Mary.
The Case of Sarah
Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” — Genesis 18: 10-13
The Case of Mary
The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.
When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favoured by the Lord! The Lord is with you.”
She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.
The angel told her, 'Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.'
Mary asked the angel, 'How can this be? I’m a virgin.'
The angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. But nothing is impossible for God.'
Mary answered, 'I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.'
Then the angel left her. — Luke 1:27-38
The Comparison
It is interesting, as we look at the two accounts and testimonies of Sarah vs. Mary, and compare their responses; especially, to think that both women received the same confirmation that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
Beloved, do you realise how we respond in FAITH when our Characters are aligned with our Calling?
Let's look at the comparison of each of these Daughters of the King, and their responses to the promise of God:
- Sarah was praying for a son... but Mary was surprised with the promise of a son!
- Sarah was a married and matured woman... but Mary was a teenager and engaged, but not yet married!
- Sarah was sexually active and therefore could conceive had she not been barren... but Mary, she was a virgin!
- Sarah was praying for a son and should be focused on God's confirmation of a miracle to her prayers... but Mary was in the middle of planning wedding, her life was interrupted!
- Sarah doubted and laughed... but Mary, she believed and received... and so be it unto me!
- Both Sarah and Mary received the miracle of a son, in fulfilment of God's divine plan, purpose, prophecy, and covenant promise Confirmation! God's Word cannot fail, return void nor unfulfilled.
Beloved... Let's take this illustration even a bit further for a personal and practical life application, hmm, "WHAT IF WE HAD MARY'S ANOINTING?"
I began to think of the many prayer requests and murmuring; we would have put down - Crying out to God for the pain of the process and totally missed His Purpose...
"Lord, I am humiliated, I'm so ashamed, I'm a such a loser, People are mocking and gossiping about me... A Virgin, pregnant - yeah right!
I gained so much weight, and now I'm too fat, The wedding might be off, No one will believe me, He won't love me the same, What will people say/think, This makes no sense, I am too young for all these responsibilities, My life is ruin...
I was so happy but now this... I'm depressed, What good could come out of this...
O Lord, this is just too much for one person to bear... O God, how could you have done this to me.... "
During our perceived devastation, disappointment, and depression we may even listen to unwise and ungodly counsel - "Have you considered abortion?"
The ultimate plan of the enemy is to kill, steal, and destroy our destiny - Overwhelming our minds with negative thoughts and fears - Making us so disoriented, we even consider aborting our God-given Purpose. But in the name of Jesus, we tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
We have to vigilant in prayers to fight, grow in faith, develop our Character, boldly seek God's help and wisdom to pursue our God-Given Purpose; even when we don't understand the process.
Recall, King Herod, under the influence of Satan, strategized to destroy Baby Jesus shortly after He was born. Herod lied claiming he wanted to worship the newly-born King but his goal was to destroy Jesus. Herod feared to lose his throne; Satan wanted to kill Jesus and stop God's plan for Salvation... perfect ungodly partnership - right! But God Almighty said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Lord, we repent for murmuring and complaining about the pain of process; Instead of focusing on your Purpose in the Process. Who is to say that we have not come to the Kingdom even for such a time as this? Abba Father, help us to mature in our FAITH and develop our Character to respond like Mary, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." Father, help us to be truly ready to receive the answers to our prayers, step up our availability and willingness to the Calling over our lives, in Jesus name.
We can testify that we serve a GOOD God and a FAITHFUL Father, because although at the time, Sarah, she lacked the faith to believe and receive the promise; God did it anyway. God did it to fulfill His covenant promise to Abraham. He did it for His namesake because if we are faithless, He remains faithful — for He cannot deny Himself. So at the appointed time, God acted!
Beloved... I decree and declare that every covenant promises shall be fulfilled in your life so that the very purpose for which you were created by God shall be manifested, for the Glory of God. That even if you lack the faith to believe, at the appropriate time God's will shall be done in your life, for His namesake... You shall be transformed Inside|Out, conceive the seed and give birth to your Calling for the Glory of God, in Jesus name.
“So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.”
Jesus said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials, troubles, tribulations and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
So as we journey through life in this world, we will go and grow through the trials, troubles, and tribulations; like little children, we cry out to Our Heavenly Father, "Lord, help us!"
Beloved... But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
It is super easy for Our Sovereign God to fix it, stop it, start it, heal it, bless it, solve it, restore it, explain it, provide it, fight it, defeat it, defend it, prosper it, free it, break it... [you name it!] ... But God, He is more interested in the development our Character in alignment with our Calling, the salvation of our souls, and the saving of nations. He desires for us to grow in FAITH. For without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. God desires for us to experience a DEEPER and more intimate relationship, revelation, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ... For us to become the masterpiece as He created us and to fulfill the plan of us achieving God's Will of an abundant life on earth... and securing an eternal life in Heaven.
Father, we repent of seeking broken cisterns when you have in store for us, the fountain of living water. Lord, forgive us! Often, we are so focused on the gifts to meet our lack and to smother our pain; that through our desperation for the fix quickly, we disregard God, accept the deception of the enemy and settle for less than we deserve - broken cisterns! Sadly, we miss the very Purpose of the Process, God ever-presence in our midst; The unconditional Love of Our Father, He is the Creator, Giver of life, all good and perfect gifts - the fountain of fresh flowing living water!
Father, forgive us!
Holy Spirit, please help us to grow, like Jesus, in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. We were created in the image and likeness of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. May our Characters and Conduct; as well as our Attributes and Actions mature to become more like Christ Jesus.
Father, you work all things together for our good and your Glory, so that we grow to reflect Christ... His Grace... Purification... Holiness... Sanctification... Redemption.... Preparation... Lovingkindness... Obedience... Resurrection Power for the Greatness, Goodness, and Glory of God. As we are purified by Fire, Christ manifested love, light, favour, faith, mercy, worship, honour, royalty, prosperity, and power are being reflected in and through us. May others see the God that we worship in us. May we reflect the change and transformation that we testify to others about, regarding Christ's love.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love, He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will. ”
Beloved... I pray that in all you do, the Lord will empower you to arise to fulfill your Calling and the God-given purpose for which you were created. God's Word says "Before you were formed you in the womb God knew you before you were born God set you apart; God appointed you as a prophet to the nations. The Lord saw you before you were born. Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."
Beloved, let's seek the God's grace and mercy to transform us into the Character and Conduct of Christ.
Lord, when you bless us, (as I am confident that you will, I know that because it's Our Father's delight to bless His children, abundantly); Lord, please help to bless others. Father, break our hearts with the things that break yours!
Lord, let our Attributes and Activities reflect the righteousness and holiness of Christ. Let us become Channels of your Blessings and Servant Leaders of your Kingdom. Help us to show Christ's love and grace in the blessing of nations. Help us to give of ourselves and to serve others. Help us to feed the hungry and to help the poor, old, sick, broken, weak, and lame. Help us to boldly share the good news of the gospel, to win souls and transform lives for the Kingdom and Glory of God, in Jesus name. AMEN!
Shalom!!
#UPowerUp