Every Monday and Tuesday night for twenty-one seasons. . .millions of people tune into a television program called The Voice. . .to see who will be accepted, rejected and will ultimately succeed.
However, the Voice that we should be waiting, watching and listening for. . .isn’t a television show. . .but a Voice which ensures our success in the battle ground here on planet earth.
This Voice we listen to makes every person a winner. . .He doesn’t reject anyone who confesses their sins. .and He declares everyone who asks in faith believing. . .a winner in life.
The Voice of the Holy Spirit. . .is one that will direct us through every adversity as we embrace every opportunity using previously untried potential for greater success.
Interestingly enough, there is also a Bible translation entitled “The Voice” that you can find at your favorite Christian bookstore such as christiansoldierbookstore.com
Here are seven questions that will determine your destiny for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.
First, what’s the first thing you do in the morning?
I go to bed at a decent hour most every night…but I wake up during the night way too frequently… I have to start praying and praising the Lord which allows me to fall back asleep…and when I finally wake up…I’m very refreshed.
However, if I begin to think about the day…I become wide awake and that’s it.
The moral of this personal story is simple…beginning your day with prayer and praise will allow you to awaken refreshed, renewed and ready to go.
Proverbs 8:17 says:
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Those who seek me early. . .find Me.
Exodus 16:14 says:
“And when the dew disappeared later in the morning it left thin white flakes that covered the ground like frost.”
God likes to begin meeting needs early in the morning.
Exodus 16:15 in the Amplified Bible says:
“When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”
Wow. . . This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”
Manna. . .God’s bread. . .comes early in the morning.
According to Strong’s Concordance the Hebrew word for morning is H1242 which means:
“morning, break of day, coming of sunrise”
Let’s go further. . .H1224 comes from a Hebrew root word H1239 which means:
“to seek, enquire, consider, look for”
The Hebrew word for morning literally makes this scripture mean “at the break of day seek your nourishment from God.”
If we want spiritual encouragement, nourishment, enlightenment and empowerment then you need to rise up in the morning. If you wait. . .you may be left out.
Exodus 16:19-21 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 21 After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.”
God wants to give each of us fresh spiritual food each morning. . .if we delay. . .it’s gone for the day never to return.
Yesterday’s manna. . .or revelation isn’t enough. . .we need today’s spiritual nourishment.
Some might suggest this comparison is a stretch. . .but let me tell you all truth is parallel.
I don’t know of anyone who has an insatiable hunger for the Word and God’s presence who rises late in the day. . .by choice.
If you want to finish 2021 strong and successful. . .you need to know when to seek your Heavenly Father.
Second, what’s the first thing you should do as you encounter The Voice?
Psalm 5:3 in the New International Version says:
“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
After we lay our requests before Him. . .the scripture says we should “…wait in expectation.”
Psalm 62:5 says:
“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”
The Hebrew word for wait in Strong’s Concordance comes from two root words which means:
“astound in silence.”
Proverbs 23:18 in the New Living Translation says:
“You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.”
The scripture says expectation brings manifestation and His rewards.
Proverbs 24:14 in the Amplified Bible says:
“So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off."
Have you ever been worried about the future?
Is your expectation based on a worst case scenario or on the wisdom from knowing what God’s Word says?
The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 24:14 says:
“Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.”
Child of God, are you getting this? Your expectation secures your future and gives you a hope that immoveable.
Third, what happens when you listen to The Voice?
Exodus 23:22 in the Amplified Bible says:
“But if you will indeed listen to and obey His voice … I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”
Romans 8:31 in the Amplified Bible says:
“What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]”
God is on our side. . .when we listen to and obey His voice.
I’m reminded of a song by the gifted Andre Crouch entitled “God Is On Our Side.”
The lyrics to like this. . .
“GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
WE LIVE IN TROUBLED TIMES
SEEMS LIKE THE SUN WON'T SHINE
WHEN WILL WE REALIZE
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
HE HIDES US IN HIS ARMS
PROTECTING US FROM HARM
IT'S GOOD TO REALIZE
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE
HE GIVES US STRENGTH TO TAKE
ALL THAT THIS WORLD MAY BRING
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE
Having God on our side doesn’t mean we can sit around and do nothing.
Exodus 23:31 in the Amplified Bible says:
“I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the river [Euphrates]; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand and you shall drive them out before you.”
In other words. . .God is saying that’s He’s giving us the opportunity to finish 2021 strong and successful but we’ve got to gain the victory through our actions and reactions.
Fourth, what’s the result of your spending time with The Voice?
When we spend time in His presence. . .the serendipity is that The Voice will make everything He’s promised us in His Word. . .come true.
Jeremiah 1:11 in the Message Bible says:
“God's Message came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "A walking stick—that's all." And God said, "Good eyes! I'm sticking with you. I'll make every word I give you come true."
Child of God, are you getting this? God will make every word He gave you come true.
As you seek to follow His divine direction for the remainder of 2021. . .doing what He directs … you can have the confidence in knowing He will stick with you.
2 Chronicles 15:2 in the Message Bible says:
“God will stick with you as long as you stick with him. If you look for him he will let himself be found; but if you leave him he'll leave you.”
Yes, God will stick with you. . .however, you’ve got to stick with Him. . .you have to wait in expectation and anticipation. But the scripture is clear. . .the Lord offers us several “if you do this, you will get that” principles in His Word.
Genesis 28:13 in the Message Bible says:
“Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
God, the creator of heaven and earth. . .the Master of the universe. . .the Great I Am . . . the everlasting One. . .your Heavenly Father will stick with you until He has done EVERYTHING He has promised you.
Let me explain something here so it’s not misunderstood. If you are a born again child of God … the word of God says He will never leave or forsake you as stated in Hebrews 13:5. The point I’m making is not that the Spirit of God will leave … but this.
There is a difference between the person of God and the principles of God. God’s love for you is eternal… it will never end. But obeying God’s principles is what brings about the abundant life Jesus died to give us in John 10:10.
There are over 2,000 precious promises in the scripture and He is going to stick with you until EVERYTHING He promised you comes to pass.
Joshua 21:45 in the New Living Translation says:
“Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”
As we look at that scripture … we realize that it took Israel quite some time to manifest all those promises … not because God wanted them to wait … but because they had to learn to obey His instructions.
The realization of these scriptures should make you a lot more excited the potential and possibilities awaiting you during the remaining days of 2021.
Talk about many of our unfulfilled promises of the last two years being FULFILLED.
Psalm 37:34 in The Living Bible says:
“Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing, and you will see the wicked destroyed.”
As you wait for your due season to be honored with EVERY blessing.
Did you catch that? According to the scripture you will be honored with EVERY blessing.
As you wait for the manifestation of EVERYTHING He has promised you. . .for EVERY blessing. . .that should make the remainder of this year pretty exciting.
Fifth, what’s one of the major benefits of listening to The Voice?
Psalm 32:8 in the Amplified Bible says:
“I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
It’s important to know that God will instruct YOU and teach YOU in the way YOU should go. He will counsel YOU with His eye upon YOU. Take comfort in those words.
In fact, this is one scripture that I’m continually urging people to personalize.
“I [the Lord] will instruct (your name) and teach (your name) in the way (he/she) should go; I will counsel (your name) with My eye upon (him, her, them).”
Make this scripture a part of your daily confession.
Psalm 32:8 is the key to God’s plan for the provision and direction of our lives for the remainder of this year and beyond
Yes, He will instruct and teach us . . . but we must take steps of faith.
Psalm 37:23 in the Amplified Bible says:
“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].”
The New Living Translation says that He will delight “. . .in every detail of their lives.”
God will make certain that your every step is secure. . .even when you’re not sure about what’s happening.
The key is looking to Him . . . not somebody else . . . but Him. Simply because He is always thinking about you.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible which says:
“I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!”
I want you to write down the last part of Psalm 40:17.
“. . .the Lord is thinking about me right now.”
Personalize it.
“. . .the Lord is thinking about <<Name>> right now.”
Having the confidence. . .the reward. . .the blessing. . .the benefit of knowing that God is thinking about you. . .will help you finish 2021 strong and successful.
Sixth, what will happen as a result of your time with The Voice?
Our success during the remainder of 2021 and beyond will be the result of our desire and ability to obey His voice and renew our mind.
We must choose His Voice over the call of the world and all the “reasonable” ideas they have to offer which often contradict the Word of God.
Romans 12:2 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
Romans 12:2 in the New Living Translation says it this way:
“…Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Ephesians 4:23 in the Amplified Bible says:
“And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].”
How do you get from where you are. . .to where He wants you to be . . . soaring high in His glory, honor and thought processes. Here are three keys.
1. Protect Your Mind.
Purpose in your heart. . .that from this day forward. . .you will not allow negative, ungodly, self-defeating thoughts in your mind.
If the enemy tries to sneak one in your mind. . .flush it immediately. That’s right; send it down the drain into the sewage dump where it belongs.
As a counter measure designate a specific time every morning where you get into His Word and His presence. . .so you can work on your mental renovation.
There is an old saying. . . “what you think about, you speak about and what you speak about, you bring about.”
Proverbs 4:23 in the New Century Version says:
“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.”
2. Guard Your Heart.
Sadly, sometimes the most negative people you encounter are those closest to you. Family members and well-meaning friends can sometimes be so negative that when they walk into a room it feels like someone turned off the lights. These negative folks may love you and mean well in their own way. . .but that’s not enough.
As a counter measure, find at least one new friend who is so positive about life that he or she ought to be your twin.
If you don’t even know of such a person then make the acquaintance of one or more through CDs and MP3 teachings by anointed teachers like me . . . who is so positive that when I take two aspirin they feel better.
This is critical for you to finish 2021 strong and successful.
3. Watch Your Mouth.
Renovating a mind is like renovating a house . . . it just takes time. In the process you will find your mind thinking negative thoughts. That is when you need to tell your mind to KEEP QUIET and your mouth to SHUT UP.
The first part of Proverbs 13:3 in the Amplified Bible says it well:
“He who guards his mouth keeps his life…,”
Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord by speaking the pure and positive out loud to yourself.
As a counter measure, memorize and personalize key scriptures which you can speak when the enemy seeks to download a nasty, negative virus into your mental hard drive.
Remember, it’s not where you’re at . . . it’s where you’re going that matters. And it’s your attitude and what you do with it that will take you to new heights of success and prosperity.
Seventh, what should you do as a result of your time with The Voice?
Deuteronomy12:16 in the Message Bible:
“…You are to celebrate in the Presence of God, your God, all the things you've been able to accomplish.”
One of my favorite quotes is from Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl whose diary became famous after being hidden from the Nazis for two years along with her family. She said:
You’re going to like this next scripture. . .God will not only empower you to accomplish great things but He will do it quickly. Yes, even during the remainder of 2021.
2 Chronicles 29:36 in the New Living Translation:
“And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.”
It’s important for you to realize that your current circumstances, situations and problems are just your preparation for your promotion, specific assignment and future accomplishments.
1 Samuel 10:7 in the Message Bible says:
"When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!”
Hallelujah!!!
You have a very important role to play in finishing 2021 strong and successful.
Romans 1:17 in the New Living Translation very clearly points out that your level of faith will determine your accomplishments.
“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Now that’s what I call the Good News and a great way to start a new week.
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Harold Herring