HAVE YOU EVER felt trapped by the challenges you face? In times of hardship, it’s easy to feel hopeless and believe that victory is unattainable.
The Old Testament prophet Micah lived in dark times for Israel and Judah. Their sins were great, and Micah knew that God’s judgment was near.
From Micah’s perspective, the moral and spiritual condition of God’s people might have looked hopeless. Yet in the midst of this situation, Micah wrote these powerful words:
MICAH 7:7–8 (NLT)
7 As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Instead of just accepting a bad situation, Micah lifted his eyes and declared his faith in his God. With God’s help, he would rise above despair and destruction.
We must learn to be like Micah. When adversity comes, we must say, “I will rise and enjoy every provision that God has for me.”
God has an answer for everything we face. We don’t have to remain stuck where we are. We can take hold of His promises and work to change our circumstances.
You can POSSESS everything God PROMISED in His Word.
THE COURAGE TO ACT
In Second Kings chapter 7, we find the story of four men who rose up in the face of an impossible situation.
Samaria was under siege by the king of Aram, and the resulting famine had left the city in a desperate situation. Outside the gates sat four lepers who asked each other, “Why are we sitting here until we die?” (2 Kings 7:3 NKJV).
The men realized that staying where they were meant certain death. Entering the city was not an option because they were leprous—and besides, there was no food there.
So they decided to surrender to the Aramean army, hoping for mercy. If they were killed, they reasoned, they would have died anyway (2 Kings 7:3–4).
But when the lepers rose up to do something about their situation, God took over. As darkness fell, the sickly men started walking toward the enemy’s camp. But to the Arameans, it sounded like a mighty army was approaching. They fled in panic, leaving everything behind.
The lepers found the camp deserted and full of food, silver, gold, and clothing. They went from tent to tent, eating and taking whatever they wanted. Then they went back to Samaria and reported to the gatekeepers what they had found (2 Kings 7:3–16).
Because these men decided to do something about their situation, an entire city was set free.
TAKE ACTION IN YOUR LIFE
Let me ask you this: Why are you sitting in your situation until you die? Refuse to accept sickness, bondage, poverty, or any other form of oppression.
It’s time to grab hold of God’s Word like a bulldog holding on to a bone. It’s time to take hold of God’s promises with unshakeable determination and declare, “Listen, Mr. Devil, you can’t keep me down any longer. I’m going to rise above this!”
God is waiting on you to take the first step. As long as you allow the enemy to hold you back, your situation will remain the same. But if you rise up and lay claim to God’s promises, your circumstances will change.
It’s your move. God has already acted—He sent Jesus to earth to die on the cross and rise again in victory. When Jesus rose, every promise God made became available to those who would believe in Him, rise up, and take advantage of it.
Jesus said in John 10:10 (NKJV) that He came so we could have life and have it “more abundantly.” An abundant life is not living on Barely-Get-Along Street. God’s abundance is living on Glory Avenue and walking in the fullness of everything God has promised.
The choice is yours. Second Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) declares, “ ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Your day of deliverance is here, and this promise is for you. It applies to you today just as much as it did to the Corinthians when the Apostle Paul wrote it to them.
You can possess everything God promised in His Word. Simply get into the Word, believe it, speak it, and live it—and you will experience the fulfillment of its promises.
THE SIMPLICITY OF RECEIVING
It is not hard to receive from God. Too many people make it harder than it is. Jesus did the hard part. He endured the cross, crying out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46 NKJV).
It was a dark moment. It appeared that everything had been lost. The devil and his bunch were cheering. They thought they had won.
But God saw that day differently. When He watched Jesus take His last breath and descend into hell, God saw victory for humanity. He knew that in three days He would raise Jesus from the grave. And through Jesus’ resurrection, God would reunite us with Himself.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to bring deliverance to your life—no matter what you are facing. But you must rise up and grab hold of it. When you do, you will see your circumstances turn around!
Author
Kenneth W. Hagin
Share this Post