08 Oct IHOP (International House of Prayer) That’s Not on the Menu – Isaiah 43:26 Part 2
Last week we began discussing “Two Principles to a Powerful Prayer Life”:
Principle #1: Don’t pray the problem (Heb. 4:15-16).
This week, let’s continue…
Problem thinking can become mental strongholds. The Bible tells us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (the Greek word here means “fortifications”). Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:4-5).
“Strongholds” in context are simply mindsets or ways of thinking. In other words, every time you are presented with a certain set of circumstances, you respond in a certain way. This is not simply a “weakness”. If it is a “weakness”…everyone has a “weakness” and you’ll begin to accept it. Remember this, what you don’t confront, you cannot change.
In other words, every time a certain set of circumstances occur you immediately start drinking, fearing, worrying, falling apart or blowing up (this list can of course be more extensive). Practically speaking, every time your wife does this…you blow up. Every time you have financial troubles…you panic.
Have you ever seen tire tracks in hard, dried mud? If your car happened to fall into that groove, it will actually “track” on this line. This is much what a mental stronghold is like. God did not give you your imagination to torment you! God did not give you your imagination to see your child on drugs or in a car wreck! God did not give you your imagination to see yourself dying of cancer! He gave you your imagination to “see” solutions! Remember this, your memory is for re-play…your imagination is for pre-play! God wants us to take His Word and wear new “grooves” of success in the dirt road of our mind (see III John 2).
Unfortunately, we carry our problem thinking and our negative strongholds and turn them into “panic prayers”. Don’t pray the problem! God is more than aware of our problem (see Hebrews 4:15), however He is waiting to be “touched” with the solution…His Word (see Jer. 1:12 & Heb. 4:16).
The Bible tells us, “All the promises of God in Him are yes and in Him Amen unto the glory of God by us” (II Cor. 1:20). In other words, God’s Word is God’s “yes”. If He has promised it, you don’t have to inquire about it. If I invite you over to my house for dinner for liver and onions, and you call me every half hour just to inquire if it is truly my will to have you over for dinner…after awhile I’m probably going to become a bit irritated with you! It’s obvious that you don’t trust my word and integrity. You see, you can quit asking as my word is my will!
The Word of God tells us, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will (or Word) He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have desired of Him” (I John 5:14-15). In other words, find His Word and you’ll find His ears!
If you want confidence in prayer, don’t pray the problem…pray His Word! After all, “God, can’t you see I’m in trouble here!” is not on the menu.
Next week we’ll continue our series and I’ll show you how to win with the Word!