Conversations with God Pt. 4

Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to go unanswered? Why, despite believing in God's promises, certain areas of your life remain stagnant? The answer might be closer than you think—it's found in the space between your prayer and its manifestation.

The Three Keys to Answered Prayer
The journey from petition to manifestation requires three essential elements working in harmony: controlled confession, controlled thoughts, and controlled actions. Miss even one of these, and your prayers may remain dormant, unfulfilled despite God's willingness to answer. Consider Joshua's commission in the first chapter of his book. God didn't promise to make Joshua's way prosperous—He told Joshua that he would make his own way prosperous. The key? Keep God's word in his mouth, meditate on it day and night, and observe to do everything written in it. Notice the pattern: speak it, think it, live it.

Your Confession Programs Your Spirit
Nothing happens in your life until it's spoken. Mountains appear in our lives for one purpose: to stop our progress. And here's the sobering truth—if you don't speak to that mountain, it will remain as long as you live. The same problems you faced decades ago can still be present today, simply because you've refused to use the weapon of your mouth.
Jesus made this crystal clear in Mark 11:23: "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says."
Read that last part again: You shall have whatsoever you say! This isn't motivational speaking—it's kingdom law. Your confession will either transform you or trump you. Think about your current circumstances. Are they a reflection of God's promises or an echo of your own words? "I don't have any friends." "I don't know how I'm going to make it." "I'm always short this month." You're going to have exactly what you've been saying. The solution? Stop declaring what you don't have and start declaring what you desire. You don't need faith to receive what you already have—you just need to take it. The problem is you haven't taken it because you don't know what's already yours.

Your Thought Life: Where Victory or Defeat Begins
Whatever dominates your thought life will dominate your life. If you think like the world, you'll act like the world. If you think like the culture, you'll live according to its ungodly standards. But if you think like the Word, you'll live like a kingdom citizen. Meditation—focused thinking—is not optional; it's essential. The word "meditate" means continued thought or reflection. It's a devotional act, requiring intentional time set apart to align your thinking with God's thinking. Proverbs 23:7 reveals this truth plainly: "As he thinks in his heart, so is he." The Amplified Bible adds clarity: "your behavior." You cannot separate yourself from your thoughts. Your inner man determines your outward life. What's happening inside you will inevitably manifest outside you. This is why Jesus confronted religious people who looked good on the outside but were corrupt within. It's not what's on the outside that defiles you—it's what's happening in your heart. You can look presentable, quote Scripture, and attend every church service, but if your interior life is raggedy, that's what will eventually be revealed. Consider Peter walking on water in Matthew 14. He had the word from Jesus—"Come." By faith, he defied natural laws and walked on water toward Christ. But then something shifted. Verse 30 says, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid." Peter became distracted. Even though he had the word, his physical environment began to dominate his perspective. He started in the Word, but because he didn't stay focused, he began to sink. Where is your perspective about your situation? The moment your perspective changes is the moment you start sinking. Faith is confidence in Someone who has already done something for you, even though you can't see it yet. Peter lost confidence in the One who said, "I've got you."

The Missing Link: Action
Here's the uncomfortable truth: there's no faith without corresponding action. James 1:22 commands us to "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." When you only hear the word, you're deceiving yourself. The blessing doesn't manifest because you heard—it manifests because you're willing to do something. You already have an empowerment on you and in you, but it's activated by doing. The power is there, dormant, waiting. When will you turn it on? When you start doing the word. This challenges our comfort zones. We want shortcuts, the fastest way to get things done. We live in a generation that bails out when things get difficult. But not in the kingdom. There is no shortcut around this method. It is the doer who gets the word. Want financial increase? Do the word. Want your marriage to work the kingdom way? Do the word—which probably means living a life of forgiveness and learning to forget quickly. Single and waiting for the right person? Do the word by preparing yourself, because God sees your preparation time.

Here's a radical challenge: Do something that proves you believe God. Act like what God said is already yours. This isn't about feelings—it's about faith demonstrated through action. Your flesh will resist, but dare to be radical. Dare to act like you believe what God said.

Your Future Is Being Determined Now
Your future hinges on three things: what's dominating your thoughts, what's coming out of your mouth, and what you're doing with the Word. Change any one of these, and you change your trajectory. God is looking for partners—people who will make a decision to work with Him. And when you partner with God, you step into everything He has for you.
Remember, you're not working for the approval of people. You're working for the King, handling kingdom business. And the King gives out rewards that last for all eternity. What you do for Christ is what ultimately matters. The only thing you'll take from this earth to heaven is what you did for Him.
So the question remains: What is He telling you to do? That's what you should be doing. Time is running out. People are leaving this earth suddenly, unexpectedly. Stay focused on your assignment. Be about the Father's business.
Your reward is waiting.