Throughout our lives we will all experience testing concurrent with the blessing of God. What rises to the surface during these tests? Hezekiah's life is an example and picture of how important it is to guard our hearts in all things. History teaches us just as if we were to watch a video replay of an event – showing us what to do and not to do. It does not have to repeat itself if we can learn to respond correctly with humility when God blesses us in extravagant ways.
David is on the cusp of the fulfillment of his destiny; but he doesn't know that yet. First, he will face one of the greatest challenges of his life. The Amalekites have raided and carried away their wives, children and all their possessions. What they couldn't carry away, they burned. David and his men return to find their lives reduced to ashes. Anguish turns to anger and David fears for his very life. He has lost everything and even his men have turned against him.
Most of us find forgiveness a difficult subject. After all, when someone "does you wrong," YOU are the victim of injustice! But forgiveness is a broad subject – there is for-giving other people, forgiving groups, forgiving corporations, and governments who have failed you. Then, there is forgiving yourself. Peter, the fisherman who left all to follow Jesus, swore his allegiance and undying love for the Master. So much so that when Jesus announced at the last supper that "one of you will betray me," Peter boldly declared: "Though they all are offended and stumble and fall away because of you and distrust and desert you, I will never do so." (Matthew 26:33 AMPC)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NASB People who believe erroneously that God is hard on them for their failures will inevitably be hard on the people around them, and most of all, they will end up being really hard on themselves. They cannot forgive themselves for the mistakes they've made in the past and end up punishing themselves, whether they know it or not. It's a vicious cycle of defeat. The more they can't forgive themselves, the more they hurt themselves with all kinds of behaviors and the more they end up bound by various destructive addictions.
As a society, we are bombarded by so many influences that influence how we think, act, and respond. In order to create an environment that is conducive to our spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial growth, it is essential that we gain control over these societal influences. To gain control over our societal influences, we must cultivate the right environment for supernatural breakthroughs and interventions, through prayer, meditation, and biblical affirmations.
As children, if we think we don't matter to the people who matter the most to us, it can set up a stronghold in us of "I don't matter to God," which can make us not trust the Holy Spirit, who lives inside us. I felt that way about my mother. She had an emotional illness, and I never really knew where I stood with her. Because Mom wasn't feeling well, as the oldest I had a lot of responsibilities. I was needed and felt it. Dad regularly told me this, as did my grandparents. I heard it from every place except the one place which really mattered. I didn't it from my mother.
Last week I stood in front of 50 inmates inside a prison in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and shared a message about the prodigal son from Luke's Gospel. The men ranged in age from early 20s to late 70s. When I talked about how much the generous father loved his prodigal son—in spite of his disappointing behavior—the guys began wiping away tears. When I called one of the prisoners to walk toward me from the back of the room so I could demonstrate how the father ran to his son and hugged him, all the men wanted a hug. I didn't take a poll, but I could tell that many of the guys didn't grow up with healthy dads. They were starved for a father's love and affirmation.
How can we have a life without limits? By living to please the Lord. "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10, NIV). We can respect, love, and help others, but we can never allow them to take the place of the Savior in our lives. This is the root of the fear of people—thinking that other people have power over us. The only power they have is what we give them.
You ask, "What about the person who has been prayed for numerous times, knows God wants to heal them, but just doesn't seem to ever receive the full manifestation?" This is a challenging question, but it does have an answer. I would recommend to this person to listen very carefully to what they are actually speaking when they are with people of likeminded faith, what are they speaking when they are with people that have no teaching or understanding of divine healing, and what are they speaking when they are alone. Our Words have power to create or to destroy.
A common enemy to success in an individual's life is fear. Thoughts of fear can cause you to become anxious, overwrought, and stressed out. Fear is perverted faith, or we could say the reverse gear of faith. Faith is a builder – fear is a destroyer. Most people tend to fear the unknown. We find on several occasions when Jesus appeared to the disciples after He arose from the dead, His greeting was: Fear not or be not afraid.
Follow Up
