Friday, September 25, 2015

Preparing for Your Yes

Laura had believed God for an addition to her house. It was going to be the answer to their problems when it came to needing more room and storage. 

Every aspect of the plan was vivid in her mind and Laura knew exactly what the finished product would look like.  She believed in this dream so much that she posted the layout in her yard as to where the new foundation was going to be.   

At first her husband didn’t say anything and let Laura have fun plotting out where each window and door would be, the size of the rooms and even the colors for the addition. After all, what could it hurt … dreaming doesn’t cost anything. 

It wasn’t long before Laura’s husband got tired of moving markers to mow the lawn. He complained to her how it was a nuisance and never got in on her vision for the addition.  

In discouragement, Laura got stuck on his “no” answer and pulled out all the stakes, She gave up on her dream and never got the addition she wanted. 

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Dreams Need God’s Favor 

I’m what some would call a visionary, meaning I can see something before it even becomes a reality.  I think that most parents, teachers or leaders have that quality and it’s a gift from the Lord. 

When I think about how I want a project to go, I prepare and lay out all the things I’ll need.  For example on the home front, there really isn’t too much of a waiting time, and I don’t hear a “no” from God when it comes to picking what veggies or flowers I want to grow. The vision is already set in my mind, so in the natural I go about doing the things I need to do to make it come to pass.  

Dreams and life vision on the other hand are a whole different ball game, and that is where I need a supernatural touch of favor in order for things to come together.  In my heart and head I may have a huge vision of something I’d like to achieve or have, but all my plotting won’t make it happen.  It will come to pass in God’s timing and only if my dream is big enough for His plan. 

Part of the reason why God doesn’t say yes to our requests is that we aren’t thinking big enough or we fail to allow the Lord to be a part of the dream. 

No one can take what God sets as yours. 

Did you realize that God thinks about you and the dreams He has for your life?  He has already set in order everything you need for that vision to become a reality by putting people and things in place ahead of time.  

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17 NKJV) 

He has said yes to the good things that are the desires of your heart, but most refuse to believe God’s promises when their prayers don’t get answered according to their will.   

“Yes” is in the future of every believer, but before God grants that go ahead sign, we have to go through the closed doors of no’s or wait.  Like so many I was discouraged when looking for a teaching job and it seemed like I’d never get one. 

To keep my foot in the door I made myself available for anything in my field.  After several years of substitute teaching God finally said yes and I got a position I absolutely loved.  The schools where I subbed got my name out to the proper people.   

The day came when I heard those glorious words, “Yes, you’re hired!”  During the interview I told the principal that he couldn’t give the job to anyone else if that position was set for me by God.”  I still can’t believe I said that, but it’s true for anyone who believes in the power of prayer. 

Was it the third grade post I wanted so desperately?  No it wasn’t, but a high school position where I was able to flourish and grow as an instructor.

I had put limits on what I was going to teach, but God didn’t.  He has allowed me to teach levels from pre-school handicapped to college including religion. 

From that first teaching job God opened doors of favor for me throughout the entire state, where I received many teaching honors and awards locally and state wide.  My credentials and positions took me into writing curriculum and behavior modification programs for the district, county and state.  I never imagined the bigger things God had planned, but I’m thankful for those closed doors in the beginning years. 

There are times when we will have to trust God that the answer no was the best one, and that yes is on the way for a better position. 

Lights of Hope 

It’s early fall here in America and the weather is going to be changing soon. As some of you know late September is when we put our garden/yard to “bed”, and hang our outdoor Christmas lights in preparation for the winter holidays.  Even though we don’t turn them on until after Thanksgiving you may still think it’s a bit premature.   

Putting up Christmas lights in autumn is a way of keeping our faith and hoping for our plans to come to fruition.  We’re acting as if the door is already opened and God has granted our desires. 

I know what we have planned and believed for in the future (plus I don’t want to put lights up in the freezing cold).  Getting the lights done frees up time for walking out other plans, bigger plans where God opens the door changing some of the no’s we’ve experienced. 

What if you knew that you had to wait for 30 days for something before it arrived, would you give up on waiting after a week or two?  If you really believed that something was coming your way, the waiting period would become steps to eliminating one day at a time.  We do this at Christmas time or any other holiday as we anticipate the coming festivity. 

Why can’t we do the same when we receive a “not now” or “no” while waiting on God to say yes?  Knowing that yes is only a few no’s away, we would be encouraged.  The problem is that we get so beaten down by the multiple no’s in a row, that we lose heart and give up on our dream or vision. 

Keep Believing  

How can we know that God will one day grant the desires of our heart? 
His word tells us that to those that believe Him, the promises of God are yes and Amen.  Every time you see that word, Amen it means “so be it” or “it is done.” If you truly believe, you know in your heart that the petition is granted. (see 2 Corinthians 1:20) 

“But I prayed and believed God to heal my mother, but she still died… I believed that the job was mine … You don’t know how long I’ve waited for my house, but nothing is happening… Will I ever get a husband?”  These requests may be a few of the things you have prayed and your prayers didn’t go as you expected. 

Have you been overlooked on your job and someone less experienced got the higher position?  When you looked at that new home was it out of your price bracket?  How many years have you actually been waiting for a child of your own anyway?  This may be a “no” period in your life, but you don’t have to get stuck there.  Believe that “yes” from God is in your future and don’t get discouraged but encouraged, because it’s closer than you think. 

Instead of getting emotionally down by the delay for the promotion, waiting on a spouse, hoping to get a house or a loan to go through, we need to be reminded that with each no, it brings us nearer to our yes from the Lord. 

Why didn’t things work out the way you wanted? I don’t know, but I do know that God has promised that there will be a good end, so don’t quit on your belief now because you may be one “no” away from God granting a “yes.” 

I’ve Heard Yes Today 

Every morning before I get out of bed I thank God that I can move my limbs, I thank Him for my bed, air conditioning, a new day and so much more.  Why do I do that?  I am very aware that so many cannot move about freely, others have no cooling in their home, some have no bed at all.   

The main thing I am so grateful for is that I was granted another day. Simply waking up is a big yes from God that He isn’t finished with my journey here on earth. Starting my day in thanksgiving reminds me that the Lord heard my prayer from the night before and said, “Yes.”  This means that there are more yes’ in my future, so I need to be ready for when they are granted. 

Getting stuck on No 

I once read that 90% of first time businesses fail, but 90% of second time businesses succeed.  However 80% never try again, because they were so discouraged they let the “no” defeat them. In actuality that really means only 10% went on to live their dream, because they didn’t settle on “no.” 

Have you given up and thrown in the towel, because you have had so many no’s to your dreams?  What if you gave up right before God was about to say yes, wouldn’t that really make you feel awful? Well, it’s time Christians realize that no isn’t the final answer, and that with every passing denial it brings us closer to our yes’. 

Understanding that yes is coming, our outlook on life should be much different and our attitude brighter.  For example, if you’re a writer you would keep submitting manuscripts waiting for all those rejection slips, knowing that “this one is the last no, the next one will be a yes!” 

Think Yea not Nay 

Perhaps you’ve been waiting for that loved one to come to Christ, keep believing and don’t give up now … yes is a prayer away. How do we know this? We know this to be true because God is faithful. 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for
He who made the promise is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NKJV) 

That house you wanted just sold, but don’t fret, it’s not the one. God is going to give you that yes soon and it will be the right house for you. 

Stop thinking or saying, “I’m never going to get married!” Don’t settle on that man or woman who is looking mighty fine in your eyes about now, because they are not the one God has set aside for you.  Your yes man/woman is waiting in the wings, so don’t commit to someone else thinking you’ve missed your chance at marital bliss. You haven’t. 

It will take only one “yes” word of favor from God and your life will change forever, but you have to believe it will happen.  Your actions dictate whether or not you really do believe God will do what He promised. 

Stay focused and persistent.  God hasn’t forgotten your dreams, as a matter of fact, His dreams are bigger for you than you can imagine.  You may want to settle for something smaller, when God is thinking a greater thing for you that will take you to levels you never dreamt. 

Try one more time. Don’t let setbacks, closed doors or time passed convince you that it won’t happen.  Stay in faith no matter what it looks like. Never forget yes is the promise from God.  Talk like it is so, think “Amen” like it is done and believe before it happens.  

God already has the right person for you, the right job and home for you. Don’t let family, friends or naysayers talk you out of your dream.  Separate yourself from that negative thinking or it will destroy your dream from ever coming to pass.  These are strongholds from the devil.  You have to believe that God has removed the strongholds and the path is being cleared for you to move forward on the desires of your heart. 

When things don’t work out and you keep getting a no to your dreams, believe there is a yes on the way. Stay in faith and believe instead of doubting it will ever happen.  All you need is one yes from God and your life will change.

It’s time we get this in our spirit …

When I began college one of the things that stuck in my mind was failure.  I’ve never been lavished with positive compliments from friends or family, and an aunt of my husband’s didn’t like that I wanted to be a teacher. She thought it was a lowly job and that I should do something else.  

For the most part I’ve heard no’s from practically everyone saying, “You can’t do that” or “You’ll never be able to have this or that.”  I say this in humility, it didn’t stop me and I pressed forward graduating from two colleges in 2½ years (which should have taken six).  

Despite the odds and negative input, I kept going achieving more degrees, diplomas and certificates knowing that one day I would become what God destined me to be.  That journey isn’t over and I’m still facing closed doors.  The difference this time is that I know there are more doors yet to be opened, because I’m still waiting on some yes’ that are promised to us here on earth. 

Set the Yes Tab in Your Brain 

For those who have come through the years of waiting, hearing not now or later, God has seen that you have stayed in faith and your yes is about to happen. Favor is about to explode in your life.  I declare it will happen and you will say,  

“This is the Lord’s doing; it marvelous in our eyes.”
(Psalm 118:23 NKJV) 

Health and finances are going to be restored, new levels of favor will be opened to you and you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  

“I would have lost heart (hope), unless I had believed that I would
see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
(that’s here on earth folks).” (Psalm 27:13 NKJV) 

God delights in keeping His word and longs for us to believe His promises are for us now and forever. 

It will take God’s favor to make this dream come true. He will put people, things or whatever it takes in your path to help you succeed, but you have to believe Him.  God’s favor will surround you like a shield so this “dream” is accomplished. 

“Everything is possible for one who believes!” (Mark 9:23 NIV)

This Week’s Challenge:
Preparing for Our Yes 

The greatest thing we can do for God is to believe Him.  When we do that, it pleases Him to grant us the yes we long for in fulfilling the desires of our heart. 

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV) 

If we really believe something is going to happen we prepare for it.  What are you doing to prepare for when God says “Yes” to your dream? By faith through prayer and action, start doing things as if you already have your yes. 

Ladies, you want that gorgeous husband; get yourself ready to meet that hunk of a guy by becoming physically fit and organized like a wife. 

Men, do the same, but more of it. (Just a friendly tip fellows on the other “fish” out there. We really do notice.) 

Do you want to move into a better location?  Have you started packing or began fixing up the place where you are for the next people?  Fresh paint and yard sales are a good place to start.  So tell the kids to go through their stuff now.   

What about that job you need?  Suit or outfit pressed and ready to go? Is your paperwork all in order for your new boss?  Get going. 

Waiting for that sickness to leave?  Believe you’re healed. Sick people don’t stay in bed and do nothing.  Can’t get up yet?   Try doing what you couldn’t do before … something to show God you haven’t quit or given in to defeat.  Give Him something that will give passage to your yes. 

You won’t receive if you don’t believe! Do something by faith that shows you are moving forward and aren’t stuck on no. 

Maybe you’re discouraged by all the people around you who don’t see how you can ever accomplish your dreams. Don’t listen to them or let them talk you out of it.  They are trying to put limitations on what God can do through you.  Just because they can’t see or believe for it doesn’t mean you can’t. 

Our beginning story told of a woman that gave up on her dream by believing her husband’s “no” over God’s “yes” when it came to giving her the desires of her heart.  Don’t let that be you.  Take the limits off, God is in control.  Get excited, get ready … when Jesus says yes, nobody can say no! 

If that desire is still in your heart after so many years, it’s because God put it there. If God started it, He will fulfill it. It’s His promise!  

Be encouraged, if the Lord promised it, there will always be hope. Keep honoring God by believing. Your faith will give you the Lord’s favor and you will hear Him say, “Yes!” 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”  (Romans 15:13 AMP)



  Until next time, prepare for God's "yes" favor! 

“Believe I will say yes when I see your faith.”
Jesus Christ 

Note: The words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives.
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

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