Seed Thoughts

January 2007

Many times when we enter a new year, our thoughts wander to the question, “What does this year hold for me?” As I began to ponder this question myself, the words of William Carey began to ring in my ears: “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” When we allow the Lord to rule and reign in our life, we know that our future is bright.

The psalmist David knew well how to place his confidence in God when he penned Psalm 23:1— “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We would do well to take David’s attitude as we enter into 2007. We should boldly proclaim, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall have no lack. This year will be a good year for me. It will be a prosperous year. I will be blessed spiritually as well as naturally. My family will be blessed.”

To partake of God’s promises, we must boldly confess them in our lives. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, much was taught about the confession of God’s promises. Each of us began to declare those promises, and they became a reality in our life. However, because we were accused of being the “name-it-and-claim-it bunch,” we began to slowly back away from our bold confession of God’s Word. It is time that we return to a strong confession of God’s promises.

The enemy has played havoc in the lives of many Christians. Instead of saying what God’s Word says about their situation, many Christians are speaking words of doubt and unbelief. Proverbs 6:2 says, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth.” If you confess “I am tired,” you’ll be tired. If you confess, “I’m going into debt,” you’ll find yourself doing just that.

However, if you’ll start confessing God’s Word—which says in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” —you’ll find that strength will come. I can testify to the fact when my body thinks it cannot go another step, and I begin to confess this scripture, I begin to be renewed in my physical body.

Instead of confessing you have lack, begin to confess Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” I will never forget that many years ago, as I was calculating the family’s monthly budget, I realized we had more disbursements for that month than we had income. Some emergencies had arisen that we were not expecting.

I relayed this information to my husband, who immediately replied, “Honey, the Word says that God will supply all of our needs. Now, we’re going to begin to confess His Word over our finances for this month.” We continually confessed, “I thank you, Lord, that every one of our needs is met this month.”

The enemy started talking to me. He said, “If you don’t pay your tithe this month, the budget will balance.” I got so angry at the devil that I said, “Mr. Devil, just to show you’re wrong, I’m going to write out my tithe check before I make out the bills.” After writing my tithe check, I began to pay the bills. God is my witness that we did not receive any extra income that month. Yet at the end of the month, every bill had been paid, and we still had five dollars left in the bank.

God will perform His Word if you will boldly proclaim it and obey the rules that He has set forth. From that day—which was 40 years ago—to today, my tithe check has always been the first check I write each month. It serves as a constant reminder that if I will honor the Lord first with what belongs to Him, He will supply my needs according to His riches in glory.

If you’re not receiving from God, check up on yourself. My father-in-law used to say, “If I’m not making the connection, I don’t ask what’s wrong with God. I check up on what I’m doing wrong.” Are you placing God first in your life? Are you giving your tithes and offerings to Him? Are you walking in love? Are you failing to forgive those who have wronged you? These are some of the things that will cause you from receiving God’s blessings in your life.