July 21st – Proverbs 21: Preparing For Victory

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” – Proverbs 21:31

This is a very familiar scripture to many. I personally love this scripture because it shows us two things: Our responsibility to PREPARE for victory and God’s ability to produce VICTORY. Many believers don’t understand this concept at all. We’ll look at three different types of believers, two of which DON’T experience victory and the third being the one we want to be like.

MR. SPIRITUAL

Many believers are so “spiritual” that they make no natural provision for victory. Sadly these believers are always experiencing defeat, while claiming the victory that belongs to them, but eludes them! Take the believer that needs a job. MR. SPIRITUAL will pray, stand in faith, declare and proclaim the new job, yet many times will make no natural provision for the new job. When I say natural provision in this context I am talking about doing things like, writing out a resume, looking and applying for positions, going to interviews. Should an “opportunity” some to them, they find themselves prayed up but unprepared. Sometimes prayer alone is not enough! Working in faith and with diligence in agreement with our prayers is vital!

I have met MR. SPIRITUAL and they have told me in beautiful, flowery language about their passion for missions and the prophecies spoken over them to work for the Lord overseas. My question is ALWAYS the same: “Do you have a passport?” If the answer is “No” I know they won’t be going anytime soon. Silly Christian, actions working together WITH faith is where it’s at.

MR NATURAL

This person is ALL hard work and doesn’t give God two seconds to work on their behalf. They work their fingers to the bone to achieve victory, whether it is in finances, ministry or whatever they do. The problem is that they are trying to accomplish a supernatural lifestyle through natural means… BUT IT WON’T WORK!

This has been my tendency in the past. When I needed money I would go out there and get it! I’d get up early, prepare the day, pursue the business, work the business and collapse in bed at the end of the day, exhausted but BROKE! Why?? Because God would never let me prosper in my own strength! It wasn’t until I learned to tether my natural activity to prayer, humility and the supernatural that I started to receive supernatural provision.

MR. BELIEVER

The proper recipe for breakthrough and victory in the life of the believer is faith working together WITH our actions.

“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” – James 2:21,22

Abraham BELIEVED God AND offered his son as a sacrifice. His faith AND actions worked TOGETHER to make him the Father of Faith. The believer that needs a new job will pray AND prepare a resume. The believer that feels calls to missions will pray for God to open a door overseas AND get a passport. The Bible is clear; it’s not unspiritual to do natural activity when it’s connected to our consciousness of a supernatural God. It’s unspiritual to NOT work according to our faith, leaving everything to God.

LIFE LESSON:

Real faith WORKS.