Consider the Promise, not the Problem

How much attention are you giving to the problem? How much attention are you giving to the promise? 

Do you need for God to move a mountain of impossibility in your life? Are you standing on the promise, or the problem? We serve a big God and He is able to do exceedingly above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. In order to have the promises, you must give your attention to them. You must grab those promises and stand firmly on them, speaking them out of your mouth many times throughout your day. There is a miracle in your mouth. Use it.

Abraham is called “The Father of Faith” because he gave attention to the promise, not the problem. Romans 4:13 says, “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” You cannot be tempted with anything you don’t think about. Temptation cannot be a reality if you take authority over it. Overcoming anything begins in your thought life. You cannot be tempted to steal something unless you think about it. You cannot be tempted to cheat on your spouse if you are not thinking about it. The law impacts your thinking. Many people today have this law based, legalistic thinking. It makes you sin conscious. 1 Corinthians 15:56 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” 

You have to be a good custodian of your thought life. Whatever you give your attention to the most will govern your thoughts. So a man thinks, so is he. What are you thinking? Temptation is pressure applied to the flesh. Change the way you think, change the way you live. You can’t be tempted by it if you are not thinking about it. We must change our thinking. We don’t consider the problem, we consider the promise. Abraham did not consider the problem, he considered God’s promise. Worry is negative meditation. The Bible says you make your way prosperous when you meditate on God’s Word. When you think about the problem, your heart becomes hardened to the promise. Overcoming anything begins in your thought life. If your thoughts are only on God, then all you’re going to be tempted with is to trust God. So are you satisfied with the amount of time you’re spending with God? What are you giving your attention to? The promises of God will become a reality in your life when you’re giving the Word your attention. Abraham didn’t consider or give attention to the circumstances that did not agree with the promise. Are you spending all of your time listening to the doctor, or are you giving your attention to what God says about it?

We authorize a lot of the things that happen in our lives because we consider it, we give it our attention. Abraham did not consider the problem. He considered the promise that he would be the father of many nations. Are you considering the problem over the promise? Are you giving the problem more authority to destroy your life?  You must choose the problem or the promise. You only have two choices. You don’t cast down thoughts with thoughts. You cast down thoughts with words. When the enemy says you are going to die, you respond with, “God will satisfy me with long life.”  When the enemy says, “You are a failure”, you respond out loud, “I am more than a conqueror in Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Your feelings and emotions will try to tempt you to consider the problem. Throw that care to Jesus. Speak out loud the promise.

What happens when you are praying for something and your circumstance looks contrary to what you’re praying for? The #1 fear that Satan tries to put in people is that God’s promise is not going to come to pass. He’ll try to get you into fear through your senses. You cannot allow your five senses to rule your thought life. The things that we can see, feel, and touch are temporary. The things that we cannot see are eternal. Don’t allow your five senses to control your life. Quit living your life looking in the rear view mirror. Your finest hours are ahead of you. Renew your mind with God’s promises. As a man thinks, so is he. Fasting and prayer make you respond better. When your body speaks, you must talk back. You can’t be thinking about what the doctor says all the time. Meditate on what God says about your situation. The enemy gets creative and tries to get it to come back through unbelief. Open up your mouth and speak the promise! Spend time with the promise not that crazy thought. Feed God’s promise, not the problem. You give fear life through meditating on Satan’s lies. Your heart as a Christian can be hardened.

What is a hardened heart? When you lack wisdom, judgment, and understanding. Whatever you give your attention to, you will be most sensitive to. What you are not giving your attention to, your heart becomes hardened to. If you spend more of your time thinking about the problem, your heart will become hardened to the promise. In Mark 8:17-21, Jesus asked the disciples if their hearts had become hardened. We take communion so our hearts won’t become hardened to what Christ has done for us. When we have no remembrance of what Christ has done for us, our hearts become hardened. The disciples were focused on their lack of bread. You know that Jesus can take care of you, so why are you focused on the lack? Has He ever made a way in the past? Consider that. Don’t forget all the times He has already helped you.

What are you considering the most? The problem or the promise? Satan will get creative to try and get unbelief to settle in your heart. Let God be God. Think about what you’ve been thinking about. You have to decide what you’re going to consider. Abraham had to consider the promise and not the age of He and His wife. And because he considered the promise and not the problem, Isaac was born. The way your heart becomes hardened is by what you do not consider. Mark 6:52 says the disciples did not consider the miracle of the loaves. This is a life transforming message because when you get hold of it, Satan loses ground. Every time you think about the problem, SPEAK the promise out loud. Words always trump thoughts. The enemy is trying to keep you away from what Christ has already provided. What you focus your attention on, you will be sensitive to. What you neglect, you will be hardened to. Many of us have paid attention to the world. We have paid more attention to the problem. You must understand how the physical and spiritual realms work in order to have the blessings. When you worry, this is sin, and it’s negative meditation. You’ve got to guard your ear and eye gates.

Do you want to see the provisions of God manifest in your life? Abraham gave attention to the promise. He stayed there by giving glory and praise to God. You’ve got to go the Word and get something to hang your hat on. Get the promise that covers your problem and give your attention to that. When you worry, you are giving attention to the problem. In Genesis 3:4-5, we see that Eve is listening to the serpent. Who are you listening to? You’ve got to be careful who you listen to. You’ve got to be careful what you watch. She was already like God but because she was giving her attention to the wrong thing, she started believing a lie. She was already enough... she was lacking in nothing, but listening to the serpent was responsible for her take down. What are you giving your attention to? What are you watching? What are you hearing?  Mark 4:24 tells us to take heed to what you’re hearing. What are your hearing all the time? Give your attention to the Word. The more you listen, the more you will understand... the more God reveals to you. Only you can examine yourself and determine how this applies to your life everyday. If you want to stop being stressed out and worried, you have to take responsibility to what you are watching and hearing. It will influence if you are considering the problem or the promise. How is it influencing you?

Are you talking more about the problem or the promise? 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us not to hang around problem oriented people. Christians have lost the fight, living from their feelings and emotions and not truth. You don’t have to let the devil whip up on you. You have authority over ALL the power of the enemy. If you want the promise to come to pass, you’ve got to know how to fight Him. Eve was never tempted until it was brought to her attention. What are you giving your attention to? Like Abraham, give your attention to the PROMISE and God's provision will manifest in your life!

God Bless You,

Love, Sherry :-)