Many believers often misconstrue their faith with manipulation. Many of us have come from a background where we were taught to name it and claim it. Whatever you want, go to it and name it, claim it, believe God for it, and it’s as good as yours. There are many of us that practice this concept constantly and we have seen results sometimes and sometimes we haven’t.I know when I was first beginning my walk with Christ I named and claimed many things; from cars to houses, etc… I did a lot of naming and claiming but not a lot of receiving that which I named and claimed. This puzzled my mind for awhile and it came to me that many have unknowingly used manipulation in the place of true faith. We see something we want, usually something material, and we pick a scripture in the Bible to stand on in faith and we inadvertently tell God, “Hey you promised this to me with this scripture, I’m using my faith for it, now you must follow through”. We try and force Gods hand to give us something that we might not be ready to receive in the first place.
Another thing we do; we say “I’m going on a fast this week because I need to see the hand of God move”. So we proceed to go on a fast for whatever we want to see God do in the natural and we’re seeking and expecting God to look upon us and say “Oh, he or she is so faithful, there’re not eating because they want Me to move on their behalf; such good children I have”. My question is; would God not move on your behalf whether you fast or not? God is God no matter what and He will always go to bat for you according to His will if you ask Him. When we fast it has more to do with us internally than it has to do with making God move. I don’t think God is taking pity or pleasure watching you not eat. Fasting is a subduing and dominating practice to break through any areas of weakness that can hinder you from maturing as a Christian, and help you to hear God more clearly.
Many might ask, “Well if you say that’s not the way to receive than what is?” I say just trust in the Word of God, believe that His Word is true, and that it is active and at work in your life. I say talk to God about those things that you might desire, but do it from a stand point of seeking His wisdom concerning it. Don’t tell Him this is what I want, and I want you to give it to me right now. The approach should be more like this…
Father you know that I desire a brand new house with all the amenities. I am seeking your direction concerning it. If it is in your will for me to move into a new home right now, will you show me when, where, and how I should acquire this home? I’m seeking your wisdom concerning this, and I receive that wisdom right now by faith because you said if any one lack wisdom that they should ask and it will be given to them (James 1:5). Thank you Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Then you wait for God to speak to you and give you direction. If you don’t hear anything then that might mean it’s not time yet, and if it’s not time then you do not want to do something outside of the will of God because it won’t work. If He speaks to you and says I want you to call up this realtor and ask for the property on Maple lane, that will be your new house, and you will get a great deal on it. Then you can stand on that Word in faith and believe that the house is yours because God specifically told you it was. It was a rhema Word from God just for you. But you can’t make up your own rhema word and give it to God and expect Him to act on it. Sometimes He might give us those things when we do it that way, but I believe when that happens it is His grace in action because we don’t know any better, but once we know better we’ve got to do better.
We have to remember it is all about His will, His direction, His wisdom, His guidance because He knows better than any of us what we want, and He knows better than any of us how to acquire those things that we want. He says in Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Here the word delight means: to be soft or pliable. That means that we have to be soft and pliable in the Lord not rigid before we will get those things that we desire.
The scriptures also say the just shall LIVE by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). We are not to live by faith in the things we desire, we are to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us(Galatians 2:20). Do I like nice material things, yes of course I do; do I desire some of those things, yes of course I do; am I focusing on those things, no I am not. My focus is and will always be directed toward my Creator and His sacrifice for my life. God knows the things I want, we have talked about it already and He has assured me that they are mine.
Remember before we can receive some of the things we desire there is a path that we have to keep on, a path of righteousness and also maturity. Some of the things we desire we’re not ready to receive yet because we haven’t reached that level of maturity and as we continue to walk down the path God designed for us, things will be added unto us; Why, you ask; because the scripture says “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
I’m not against going out and looking, feeling, touching, driving, whatever material thing you desire. It’s good to have a vision of what you desire, just don’t make it your complete focus, the focus should be on the Creator, not the created. It’s funny also because most of the time when we desire something material, say a new car or house, after awhile we see something that we like better that changes our minds about the initial thing we we’re naming and claiming. So seek God and His wisdom concerning all things. I thank God for His patience.
We pray that this has been a blessing on your lives.
Daryle & Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org
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