Preparing for the Answer – Blessing is Power

Day 4 of 21 Day Daniel Fast –  I walked into my office building and noticed my company’s billboard ad that had a catch phrase saying “Character is Everything”. My meditation today is in regards to how blessings give us power but in order to be blessed and remain blessed we must develop our Character.

As you already know I am fasting on a lot of things and one of those things which I am feeling the effects of withdrawal is Tea. I love my tea. When I was a kid, my grandpa taught me how to brew him tea properly *for his sake mind you* lol. We didn’t have tea bags as we do now because he preferred the use of tea leaves. I would have to first boil water and put it in the ceramic/porcelain tea pot so that the tea pot was warm. After I warmed the pot, I had to empty the water that was in it and put the tea leaves in. I would then pour  freshly boiled water into the pot and stir for a short time and close the lid on the tea pot. I would let the tea stand for at least 3 minutes so that it Steeps. The water had to be very hot mind you and then when I poured it for Him he would sip it in his cup and I would await one of two facial expressions:

1) a face full of joy for a “job well done”; or

 2) the gagging reflex of “I want to spew this tea and make you do it all over again until you get it right child!”.

When I was hasty at making my grandpa tea because “I had better things to do”,  I would do it anyhow because I was too preoccupied with wanting to watch my cartoons or whatever and my grandpa wouldn’t have it until I made the tea right.  If I didn’t do it right the first time, he’d chuck the whole pot full and make me do it all over again with him standing there. Talk about CHASTISEMENT *sheesh*! I laugh about it now when I think back on it since I had to make him tea three times a day…serious training I tell you. I figured after that chastising lesson I would always purpose to make his tea the “right way” so that he wouldn’t nag me anymore. When I did things the right way, he would be pleased and would often reward me at times or just give me a positive affirmation on a job “well done”.

The Lesson Here is: Avoid the drama and wasting of time by learning and being teachable enough to do things right.

You must be wondering “Where I’m going with this tea business?”.  Humor me and keep reading.

My tea story is a reflection of how we treat the things of GOD. When we act like holiness doesn’t require an attitude adjustment and correction then we do things haphazard and the end result is futility and mediocrity which is more of a character and personality likened to lukewarm tea that is worth spitting out. We shouldn’t have a lukewarm attitude if we want to receive blessings and answers from God.

Maturity in character is developed by having a TEACHABLE spirit. We must purpose to correct and adjust our Characters in order for God’s grace to shine on us and prepare us to receive the answers that we seek from HIM. Make the tea the right way — meaning adjust your Character to do what is right so that it is pleasing toward God. You will be rewarded when you do things the “right way” with the right frame of mind with a humble and teachable spirit to form a GODLY Character.

During this 21 Day Daniel Fast we must remember that Daniel did all He was meant to do in order to grab Gods attention and receive his answer from God. He sought His face with patience, care, endurance, perseverance and with a Character that already Feared the Lord. God was pleased with him and the answer came down from Heaven from an angelic host to confirm that God had heard Daniel’s prayers as you read Daniel 10: 10-12. Daniel had the character to receive the answer and be blessed (Daniel 6:3; Daniel 6:28; Daniel 2:48). He was mature enough to handle the fact that the answer came from an unlikely source (an angelic host).

My question to you is are you mature enough to handle the idea that your answer will come from an unlikely source????

1 Kings 17: 8-16

Elijah and the Widow
⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ⁹ “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” ¹¹ And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
¹² So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
¹³ And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’”
¹⁵ So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶ The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

What can you learn about the Elijah and the Widow story?

1. Elijah was God’s chosen Prophet and he obeyed God’s command to go to the location where he was to be fed by a widow. He did as he was Instructed to do (a powerful display of God fearing obedience, humility and faithfulness in Character).

2. The widow was anticipating the arrival of Elijah since she was commanded by God to give him food.

3. It was a time of drought that produced no food so the widow was prepared to make one last meal with her child and die after that.

4. God was providing the answer to the widow’s plight by sending Elijah the Tishbite Prophet to her address – Who was her blessing, her answer from God from an unlikely source.

5. Elijah gave her instructions to make him a cake to eat with all that she had left (flour & oil). She obeyed and listened to instruction (a true display of a teachable & humble character that is GOD fearing) and prepared what she was instructed to do knowing full well she had nothing left to lose since she and her son were going to die anyway.

6. The Lord Blessed her obedience by blessing her with DIVINE Provision. Through Gods servant – Elijah the prophet,  her supply of food and oil did not run out until the rain came. This saved her and her family (Household Salvation).

7. The Lord blessed her Household with the abundance of the OVERFLOW during a time of famine. Our God is a God of More than Enough!

via tdcdecals

When I read this scripture the first thought that came to mind is Do you know where your answer will come from? Do you have any idea who God will send to confirm your answer??? You must prepare your mind and your spirit to accept the idea that the answers that you seek for your breakthroughs can and will come from an unlikely source. Are you ready to handle that TRUTH???? Can you honestly say that you are mature enough to handle and accept your miracle from God knows where????? What have you done to shape your character to receive the blessings of the Lord? This is a question I pose to both YOU and I. Also be mindful of how you treat strangers, they may be holding the blessing or the breakthrough that you seek in your time of need. You have no idea who God will send to your address and by what means. Remember that.

Think about that as you proceed in your meditations during this 21 Day Daniel Fast.

I can’t remember which movie I heard this saying but I remember someone saying “The Truth! The Truth, You Want the TRUTH????! You can’t handle the Truth!!!”.  Don’t be someone who can’t handle the truth….because the TRUTH is what sets you and your family free (John 8:32)!

Scriptures to Meditate

Isaiah 49:10
They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.

Revelations 7:15-17

¹⁵ Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. ¹⁶ They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; ¹⁷ for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.^[a] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

John 8:30-31

³⁰As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Psalm 4:5
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Psalm 37:40
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Jeremiah 17:7
“ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.

Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.