Many Christians spend countless hours praying for God to change them without apparent answers. I believe this is due to a lack of understanding regarding the basic principles of God’s Kingdom. Change does not come through prayer but instead through the Word of God.
God’s Word is the fundamental key that will unlock change in our lives. We all want to experience more of God’s presence but struggle with understanding how to receive. I believe this is why Christians struggle so much with their relationship with God. They cry out to Him and run from service to service for prayer, but things stay the same.
You need to understand that change does not come from having an “anointed” man or woman of God waive his or her hand over you. It will also not come through an epiphany or sudden encounter with the Holy Spirit. Church history contains examples of people who have had an encounter with the Lord that changed their life. However, you will find that these are the exception and not the rule.
I have found over the years that the vast majority experience the change they seek through a process consisting of many hours spent meditating in the Word of God. Paul refers to this process as the “renewing” of our minds in Romans 12:2.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:12)
I had the privilege of experiencing a great revival that lasted several years. More than a million people came through our church, and thousands were saved. We experienced the presence of God in ways that many never will. Night after night, I experienced the presence of God but started to notice that the things I was struggling with did not seem to go away. We were experiencing a mighty move of God’s Spirit, people were receiving Jesus as their Savior, but the lasting change did not seem to be a part of that for the majority. Over time I’ve come to realize why.
The Lord has shown me that permanent change comes only through concentrated times spent meditating in His Word. Emotions fade and God does not want us to become addicted to emotional experiences incurred while in services where His Spirit is moving. He desires us to grow in His Word and to walk by faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
God could easily manifest Himself to every man, woman, and child. He can give us goosebumps and cause our bodies to shake but does not. God does not though out of a desire for a relationship grounded in faith with His children.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)
Jesus did not assume the form of a man able to stand out from the crowds because of His posture, physique, or oratory abilities. He was an ordinary-looking person who would not have stood out in a group. If I were God assuming the form of a man, I would not have come the way Jesus did. I probably would have come as a muscular man who would make Mr. Universe look pitiful!
There was nothing about the Lord’s physical appearance that would cause a person to stop and say He was the Son of God. It took faith to receive Him as the promised Messiah. God delights in people who will relate to Him by faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us we cannot live in any way that pleases Him without faith.
I have observed over the years that many pray and ask God for things that He has already provided. It is much easier to have a manifestation of the Holy Spirit than to release faith and walk through the journey into the manifestation of the thing we seek from God.
It is much easier to receive healing by having an “anointed” man or woman pray for us than to have to receive it by faith. I acknowledge this, but God is a faith God, and the author of Hebrews tells us the path of faith is the only one that pleases Him. He does release His power through the gifts of the Spirit but only as an act of mercy out of His desire to see us walk free from Satanic bondages.
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