Shortages, Inflation, and ample reasons to worry may be the story you’re hearing from people all around, but it does NOT have to be your story! In fact, it SHOULD NOT be your story, and I am going to give you the answer for it all!
From God’s point of view, Psalm 23 contains the very picture that God has for your life as His child, and it leaves no room for lack, fear, or turmoil of any kind. God desires for you to live a victorious and successful life as you walk the earth. He is a success God, and His Word is your personal success book. Anything short of success is falling short of His vision for the Body of Christ. Take a look at what God told Joshua, which sparked a walk of victory for the Hebrew people.
Joshua 1:6-8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS and thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS.”
That communicates pretty clearly what God’s will for us is… but there are some steps on our part to bring this reality into fruition, these being keep the Word in your mouth, keep your mind stayed on the Word, and be a DOER of the Word!
So when you’re at the gas pump watching the numbers continue to rise, instead of meditating on that and joining conversations that communicate frustration, remind yourself, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want!” What would it take for you not to want? A new car, no debt, a backslidden child to come back home? KNOW that there is nothing too great or small. If it is near to your heart, it is near to God’s. Throughout your day, boldly and purposefully declare, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”
Last month we talked about the necessity of staying connected to the local church because sandwiched in between the “the Lord being your Shepherd” and “dwelling in the house of the Lord” are all the benefits listed in Psalm 23…green pastures, still waters, restoration of life, feasting at the table, etc. Here lately, I have witnessed several occasions of people who were once closely connected to a strong Word of faith church, drifting into wrong thinking and wrong believing, which resulted in some disheartening and unnecessary hardships. Mark 4:15 contains the reason for this…”And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Notice the word, immediately. In the few recent situations I have been made aware of, it is amazing how quickly the wrong thinking and wrong believing settled in. Drifting to the “way side” is dangerous territory, for Satan knows that is his opportunity to steal the living Word from one’s heart.
Staying connected to a strong local church that preaches the Word and moves with the Spirit is the safest place you can dwell today. Many years ago when Brother Hagin was ministering in my church, I asked him this question, “Dad, what is God’s plan for the last days?” His answer still rings in my heart today, “God’s plan for the last days is to build strong local churches that will preach the Word and move with the Spirit.” I whole-heartedly believe this, and the devil knows it too, which explains his relentless effort to shut the church down and keep believers out of a strong church.
If you’re waiting on a new president, lower inflation, or looser regulations to live a better life, you’re going to be waiting forever. The world isn’t going to get better, it’s going to get worse, but we the church have known this was coming for a long time. These are perilous times, and while the rest of the world continues to crumble, we can continue to prosper. While the rest of the world falls into despair and trouble and lack, we can continue to rise and thrive.
So rise, child of God. Go ahead, take God at His Word, and let your life be a testament to the goodness of God. As you have been blessed, be quick to be a blessing to others. This is a time like no other to lift others up, share the life of Heaven, and extend the opportunity of Psalm 23 to those who are open to receive.