There are so many reasons this season is hard for you, but one of the main teachings in this season has to do with the restructure of how you see blessings and grace. When you tell me you have a hard time being grateful and hearing from God, it’s a sign your mind needs a renewal, or what the bible calls, repentance. God is ready to renew your mind to Kingdom concepts that currently leave you deaf. One of these new ideas is, no matter how much or how little you have on earth, in the Kingdom we are all on equal ground. Our worth has been supplied to us from the Kingdom, not earned. On the earth, your blessings seemed to be earned through hard work and human efforts. In the Kingdom, your blessings are believed for and received, through faith and obedience to pursue Him. (Proverbs 10:22) The goal of a Christian life is to strive for a life on earth as in the Kingdom, to prepare you for eternity, placing you on unshakeable ground. When you explore the concept of receiving instead of earning, you are talking about the gift of grace.
Grace is not only the gospel of Jesus Christ; it is Jesus Christ. Grace overcomes sin. Wrong believing and staying in agreement with lies from the enemy, leads to death through sin. How? The lie is the seed of satan. If it’s thought more on than the truth, it becomes a false truth that roots itself as a stronghold. This root produces fruit of the flesh that manifests anxiety, fear, worry, anger, bitterness, pride, addiction, lust, greed, or even prolonged sadness (Galatians 5:19-26). Paul says this fruit can’t receive what the Kingdom has to offer. You cannot inherit the Kingdom. You are not being punished, it’s just that your car is full of diesel when it needs premium unleaded.
The way back to the Kingdom is to come out of agreement with the thoughts that lead you into the flesh. Whether it’s what we would consider a blessing or not, God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Your open door to the Kingdom depends on the extent that you believe, understand, and are grateful for what Jesus did for you on the cross. Look at Romans 5:18
This is where we must explore what we believe about receiving. What were you taught about receiving? Does it make you weak? Does it make you dependent? If you’re not dependent on God, you will become dependent on something or someone. And this is called idolatry. A heart dependent on God is a soft, Kingdom receiving, spiritually sensitive heart. Much can be done with a heart in complete submission. But we have to have eyes to see what God is doing, not what we want seen done.
Grace is primarily received for the empowerment to overcome, not to make excuses for sin. Repentance is acknowledging sin, bringing it to the Father and through the redeeming blood of Jesus, asking it to be forgiven and taken from us. THEN and only then can we renew our mind. (Romans 6:1-7) Grace is hard to grasp, mostly for people that are extremely successful in their flesh. It’s hard to step away from the pride that is produced in high achievement and tangible success. It is a powerful drug. It’s hard to remember after so much hard work that God is the only giver of good things. That is humbling. When we pour our worth into projects, the enemy can lie to us by saying “You earned that, you are worthy”, or those are “your” projects alone. But in the Kingdom of God, you do not earn, you receive. God shares in our failures and successes. It’s always a team effort. God doesn’t fail, per say. But God knows the limitations, the big picture. God sees earth for earth and Kingdom for Kingdom. He is truth. He understands why things fail. It’s essential to keep God close so that we may avoid these pitfalls and hear His guidance. The farther away from God we are, the more likely we tend to dive into anxiety, shame and regret. “If I had only, or I should have said this” become constant inner judgements that lead to extreme fear and self-condemnation.
I believe the reason you have not found joy after all these years, whether feast or famine, is because your heart calls out for the Kingdom. It’s a deep and sometimes painful longing that the earth doesn’t understand. So much so that technology, pharmacology, science and consumerism continue to imprison people in their search. There is nothing wrong with using these things to aid in our journey, but keep in mind that all those pursuits require money, time and more of your consideration than you might be giving to God. What happens when you run out of money? What happens when you run out of time? Surely, God isn’t to blame. Are you angry with Him? Do you believe you are being punished? Do you believe He’s angry with you? Are you emotionally flogging yourself because grace is not an option for you? Do you think that God doesn’t know you or care about your circumstances? That’s not what His word says. (Psalms 139:17-18, 2 Thes. 3:3, 1 Peter 5:7, Jeremiah 31:3)
I know you are looking for “what do I do to make this pain and anxiety go away? “I know you feel that you have tried everything under the sun. My answer is always going to be the same. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Try again and try again and then try again. But not in your own strength, the strength of Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Trust Jesus, in everything you see going on around you. Humble yourself, worship in gratitude, continue to ask for your needs to be met, read about God every day. Watch a podcast, go to a spirit-filled church, attend spiritual and psychological counseling. Volunteer at a shelter, do something outside of your comfort zone. Wait for the development of the fruit of the SPIRIT! Wait on God! No more flesh…. yours is dying. And God wouldn’t have it any other way.
