Favour in Famine
The world is resounding a song of an economic crisis. The song they are
singing is , “This is one of the most tumultuous times on record in the global
financial markets.”
The financial indicators have indicated major instability, cutbacks,
retrenchment and shortfalls. The world’s economists who are the experts in the
social science http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_science , of economics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics , sound more like prophets of doom at
present. Their pessimistic outlook has cast a shadow over 2009. Everywhere you
look, the land is crying out for aid and relief.
Amidst the turmoil, the kingdom of God is either caught up by the recession or
found to be rising above it. We as the church believe that though we live in the
world, we are not off the world. In other words as God’s people we are not
confined to the economy of the land but we live under the economy of heaven
where there is no recession, no cutbacks and no shortfalls. As citizens of
heaven, heavens reserves and resources govern us.
We do our part on earth by living under heavens standards and God will do his
part by opening up the heavens and sending relief, aid, substance and abundance.
He keeps us living above the tide of the world’s pressures. In Jeremiah 31:14
God’s word teaches us that we as his people shall be satisfied with his
goodness. The goodness of God exceeds our wildest imagination and greatest
expectation.
How do we know for certain that God will flourish us in times of famine? In
Genesis 26 we read the following account of Isaac: "Now there was a famine in
the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to
Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar."
The famine of the land was a set-up for God to show his magnitude and glory in
Isaac’s life. Isaac was not taken away from the famine. Instead he flourished
within it. God used this opportunity of economic distress as a platform to
elevate his children. God’s promise to Isaac was not to run away from the famine
but to remain steadfast and immovable and leave the rest up to him.
"The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land
where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while ..."
Obedience to the voice of God is imperative. When we listen accurately, we do
not run around aimlessly and without vision. God’s word will preserve us and
propel us to acquire the best. We will rise above the setbacks of the economy as
a higher authority governs us.
God’s promise to Isaac was that: "...I will be with you and will bless you. For
to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the
oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your
offspring all nations on earth will be blessed ..."
God’s covenant of promise will not change and it stands firm for every
generation. If under the law, Isaac lived in such a magnitude of blessing,
imagine how much more we who are children under grace will live. We are a
positioned people in times of world distress to be a beacon of hope. We are the
relief the land is looking for and we have the answers. Jesus is the answer in
our lives so lets rise above the world’s circumstances to lift Jesus higher that
all men will be drawn unto him. Isaac had God’s Favour, which devoured the
famine and rendered it to nought. Isaac obeyed God’s instruction and stayed in
Gerar .In that year he reaped a hundredfold. He gained more and more until he
became very wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants,
so that the Philistines envied him. They even asked him to leave as he was
mightier than them.
Wow, how awesome is our God. He reigns supreme and positions us to soar above
all limitations. We are designed to live in the full measure of Christ. It is so
important for us to remain positioned as God ordained and to live in the direct
will of God. He places us to be blessed but also to be a blessing. God searches
from among us Isaacs and Rebekahs to pour out his favour and splendour over us.
We are a preserved people of power.
Favour in times of famine is our heritage as daughters of God. Blessings over
our lives are contagious and the anointing will be imparted to all those around
us. All nations will be blessed through us.
Lets cover our land with much prayer and stand in the gap as beacons for
Christ.
A few thoughts for you:
Trust God to work out every situation. Pray at the altar until the winds are
loosed to bring heavens change.
Pray for your place of employment that increase will come from the north, south,
east and west. It does not matter which part of the chain you are in. If the
business flourishes so will you.
Ask of God for divine wisdom to run your own businesses and give to God
faithfully what is due to him.
God is the author and finisher of you and all that belongs to you
Stay focused and positioned. Don’t give in to doubt and despair. Be rooted in
his promises and believe it to come to pass.
Cast your bread upon the waters and wait and after many days, it shall surely
find you.
Strive to Shine in 2009 and be the best in your generation.
Hazel Moodley