RETAINING BLESSINGS

"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites."

Joshua 1:2

I was one of those people when God says He is about to give I was ready to receive lol yaaaa that was me, all hype for that blessing and not paying attention to the full instruction. God got me at 'I am going to give you'. But if you read that sentence again he actually did not say I am going to give you but I am about to give them and the about to give came with a clause. The clause was to obey the instruction that was said in the same sentence. Let us take a look again. You and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River. I have missed so many blessings because I got so excited about the blessing and disregarded the instruction. In order to receive the blessing the instruction has to be followed. When you purchase something from IKEA, regardless if you have purchased one like it before they give you the item with instructions on how to set it up. Regardless of how your mom, your aunt, your uncle, sister whoever no matter they did it God has special instructions for each package. Buy 10 or the same item and each has its instructions. There are prayers prayed for homes, cars, jobs and freedom from debt but there has to be a specific instruction for you to follow. Some may seem incomprehensible because we have figured out how we want God to deliver the instruction or blessing. To be free from debt we want God to send this amount of money so we can pay it off. He knows you ain't gonna pay it off because you have not learnt how to manage money. He did not send the spouse because you may abuse His child because of your upbringing. It is not that He is not answering. He may not be answering the way we want. In order to retain the blessing God has promised He has to teach you some things. Moses was teaching all throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and even in Deuteronomy. Could you imagine saying the same thing over and over again to people who because of abuse still look back at the old condition and see it as good when God has something so much better. Psychologically it is known as Stockholm syndrome these abused Israelites were victims that identified and attached and bonded, positively to mistreatment. And for many of us this can be the case not by intent but the brain and even direction of the enemies trick and tactics to allow people to remain for years believing that better is not for them, that the way life is will remain, That God blesses certain people, that because of a sin God will not bless you. All of it is lies that enemies use to deceive kingdom kids. Remember all of this is just to keep God's children from missing an instruction or instructions that were given. We can look at earthly examples of people who have been used but I believe that His word will never come back void-it will not return empty. God said to Joshua it's time to move you and these people can no longer stay in this position. There is another miracle I must use so your faith can rise, so these Israelites can remember 'I am the I am'. God kept reminding Joshua to be strong and courageous because there are going to be obstacles, there will be hindrances that w you will face, there are going to be things that may discourage you. When you believe God said but it doesn't look easy, reflect on Joshua getting to the Red Sea that is 2,200m deep that also had a length of a 4-6 hour walk. It sounds humanly impossible even scientists, critics and scholars are baffled but this. God spoke, Joshua heard and made steps in obedience and understanding to what he heard. He gathered the leaders, managers and consultants to let them know what needed to be done. The vision was given to the leader and the employees had to follow the direction of the leader. The people of a country had to follow the direction of their PM or president. Obeying can sometimes look crazy, it may seem impossible and people will side-eye you but if you love God and believe His word you know ALL things work together for our good. Ever noticed if one word in its different tenses can change a sentence. Like saying God did rather than saying God will- one is in the past and the other speaks of what God will do and that is the future tense. As we speak of Joshua and Moses their stories are that from the past but when we are believing in these manifestations in our lives we pray for it then speak as if it has been done. But I do not want to get too far ahead of myself because we still quite get the instruction. We may have been busy doing something when the instruction came and thought it was just a voice in our head, that it was no big deal, it was just advice and nothing to take seriously. That is what is referred to as rationalization or double-mind to over think, rethink, be indecisive or over analyze. Saying that God said may sound so loud, or precise but very often it is that small voice within you, that thing that people claim as something is the Holy Spirit who Jesus said He would send when He leaves this earth to help us. The Holy Spirit is that voice that corrects, instructs and guides us daily. The voice of God is heard through who we call the Holy Spirit who is our helper and guide like SIRI or GPS. An instruction can also come through someone. You can be listening to a message, prayer, someone is having a regular conversation and there was something that really stood out to you, sometimes it can be God speaking through them to you. You can in that moment or later ask the Holy Spirit for help 'what does that mean?' I can go on and on about stories of how I heard an instruction or a word that came through someone BUT because I got so caught up in the conversation I actually forgot what the thing was but I knew there was something that stood out to me or even having a dream and not remembering it. These are ways instructions are given but it is overlooked. Joshua 1:8 says to meditate on God's word and His promises, while meditating on a scripture ask God to reveal the dream or remind you of what was said that you missed. Sometimes we are not seeing results because we may not realize we are missing them. In conclusion, time and time again God's word came forth as truth, yes there will be attacks. Against marriages, finances, kids, jobs, businesses and many other things but we must know the patterns or what is also called seasons. The Bible says there is a time and season for everything under the sun, a time to live and a time to die, a time to mourn and a time to rejoice. Over the course of the last two years I have heard about so many people that has lost a loved one and even in my family we have lost members in some cases it is a direct attack of the enemy to distract and disappoint you so you will no longer trust God and His word then there are times when it is that season for the person to move on to Glory. Dying in Christ is a celebration, to be with Christ to worship and celebrate. There was a point when my mom, grandmother and even my daughter was not well at the same time and I really felt like it would be the end of one or two of them but I knew the promise God gave me and I stood on His word, they were all too young, I listened to the sadness and despair in their voices and recognized the voice and it was that of the enemy to take the people that are close to me, to cause discouragement and disappointment then I spoke directly to who it was the liar, the thief, the enemy-you have no power or authority over this home, over my family and over their bodies. I played worship music to awaken their spirit that was already weak and spoke to the dry bones like Ezekiel that they would rise up and they did. Today I can continue to do the work of the Lord. On the other hand, there were those members of my family that went on some did not go to be with the Lord, I mourned and cried with my family but stood on the word of God and His promises for my life. When an instruction comes there WILL be trials and tests. It is not the time for you to back down but stand tall and strong. You are a Child of the Most High God, the King, The Almighty!

#reatiningblessings #retaininggifts #howdiscouragingthoughtscomeasanattack #followinginstructions