adminDr B. Manjoro : Dunamis
It’s less than four months to go before year end and you could have been telling yourself that it’s over, 2016 is gone!’ Friend, hold on. Many “good things” in life, many visions, many dreams, many goals, projects and even good people die and falter because of giving up. Giving up is one of the most devastating weapons used by the devil to destroy lives, families and even organisations. Marriages can crumble, certificates cancelled, plans folded back into the bag, hands numbed, breath and hope seized when giving up takes control.
Babies are abandoned, pregnancies aborted, because of giving up. My beloved if you were about to throw in the towel; if you were about to lift your hands in surrender to a circumstance of life; if you were about to abandon your spouse, children and leave home; if you were about to abandon parents heading for nowhere; or even if you were about to take your very life, hold on.
I have a good word for you, this article is for you. It’s not over until it’s over. You are where you are on your way to where you are supposed to be. There is dynamic power locked up in persistence. Read on as you discover the key how you can possess the promises of God.
One day Jesus was walking “ . . . and, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, “I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Then she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, “it is not meant to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.” And she said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matthew 15:21-28.
This is a remarkable story from the Bible about a woman whose daughter was tormented by an evil spirit. Do you also have a tormenting situation in your life? Living in a haunted house, in which you can’t sleep in the night with strange noises from the roof?
In a hotspot financially with no longer anyone to stand with or get support from? Enduring your marriage instead of enjoying it and just living for the sake of living? Lost in life and can’t figure out direction? Persistence refuses to give up.
When things get tough, the tough get going. The Canaanite woman turned to the Lord for it is Him who had His answer. Wondering what to do with your circumstance? The first thing to go for your miracle is to turn to the Lord for help and not man. Turn to the Lord!
After turning to the Lord and surprisingly getting totally no response the woman wondered what she would do next, but decided to keep calling and pressing till her answer comes. They call to him and quickly expect some sort of dramatic response, yet on this circumstance Jesus “answered her not a word.” In simpler terms He ignored her! Friend in life; learn to ignore being ignored. That’s an attitude of persistence. This lady had learnt it and refused to be refused. When you pray and nothing happens don’t just walk away and complain — hold on and press on.
Another reason why many desire the promises of God and pray, but later quickly give up is because they come to God with Plan B. Hallelujah! True faith has no Plan B apart from God’s Word and promises, it’s God and God alone. Some pray with a back-up plan of trying out other things, like charms, goblins and many life-wrecking practices which are temporary and have jeopardised lives of many, leaving them worse than they were before.
Beloved; stand on the Word of God. Do not give up. There is a God in Heaven who works miracles and fights for those who trust in Him. Drop Plan-B mentality when you enter God’s presence and you want to embrace the promises of God, of healing, peace, provision, divine protection and all, no wonder the woman kept calling, she had Jesus as her answer and Jesus alone! True faith, trusts God and God alone.
Finally when Jesus answered the lady, it wasn’t a “good answer” or what she wanted to hear. He said to her “I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. In other words I do help people, but not you, you are not in that category. O Hallelujah. This was a test. True faith is always tested. If she had option B, the lady would have packed her things and go for it.
The person she thought would help was somewhat “rough” to her. Friend it’s not all we call “rough” that is rough. Your miracle often-times will not come in a silver platter. You have to fight. A saying of old says “Pane uchi pane nyuchi” (Where there is honey there are bees) Honey is sweet, but bees bite.
In business, finances, marriage, academics or spiritual life bees can bite, but will you leave the honey? O Hallelujah! Drop that bitterness and go for your honey in that situation, stay loyal to your vows; drop that suicidal spirit, there is honey ahead!
Drop the resignation letter because of the minor misunderstanding at work and get your full worth! You might have been bitten, but ignore the bees! Faith ignores insults and goes for the promises of God.
Upon further crying for help to Him, Jesus said something worse than the first statement. Hear what He says, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.” The lady was strong! She wavered not. After being ignored, after being discriminated and this time nearly called a “dog” she still would not falter.
She knew what she wanted and answered “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” This was it! She had passed her test. Where you about to throw in the towel? Don’t. Your miracle is looming. Hold on, with persistence and faith like this woman.
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