Created To Overcome Problems
God created us to overcome problems. Life is filled with challenges – moments that test our strength, faith, and resolve. But what if I told you that you were not created to be defeated by your problems, but to rise above them? This conviction is rooted in the words of Jesus, who not only acknowledged the reality of trouble in our lives but also promised victory and peace through Him. Jesus assures us that while difficulties are inevitable, we are not left powerless or alone. Instead, we are equipped by God’s design and through His presence to rise above adversity and become overcomers in a world filled with trials. This article uncovers how, by design, we are all equipped to transform struggles into strengths and adversity into victory. Get ready to rediscover the overcomer within you. Be blessed as you read! I want to explain what I mean by “overcoming problems or difficulties.” If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t have any difficulties or problems, so this isn’t for me,” I urge you to reconsider. Even if you feel like you have everything in life and you have no obstacles to overcome, this message still applies to you. Jesus warned us that in this godless world, we will inevitably face difficulties. But take heart! He has conquered the world. So, how do you overcome life’s challenges? How do you live as an overcomer? Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He also said in John 14:27 that: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This scripture encourages us to trust in Jesus and not let fear or worry control us, regardless of the circumstances or difficulties we face. As Jesus says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” He assures us that we can find peace by recognising that He is guiding our future. We can experience peace, knowing that He is taking care of us every day of our lives here on Earth. If we truly meditate on this and understand that we are never alone, we can find peace even in the midst of problems. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” It doesn’t matter what you’re going through; Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is right there with you in your struggles. I want you to know that He will never let you down. A great example of this can be found in the story of Peter walking on water. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on water. But the moment he focused on his circumstances, he began to sink. However, Jesus didn’t let him go under; He reached down and lifted him up. This is the message that Jesus has for us: don’t worry about your problems or the challenges you face every day. You are not alone; He is with you. And if Jesus is with you, who can be against you? The Bible puts it this way: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” He also says, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.” God wants us to be overcomers; in fact, He created us to be just that. It began with Adam and Eve, who were told to have dominion. To overcome means to subdue, conquer, and prevail – to achieve victory. That’s essentially the same as having dominion. Jesus said in John 14:16 and 26 that: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” ” God’s word is powerful, and you can use it to change any difficulty or obstacle you face. “ In other words, you can face challenges knowing you’re not isolated and don’t have to rely solely on your own strength. The Holy Spirit, your helper, is present with you and within you. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The good news is this: He who is in you is greater than any challenge you’re facing, so you can overcome any situation. This strength comes from understanding. I want to encourage you to hold tightly to God’s promises (2 Peter 1:3–4) with all your heart, and keep declaring them over your life. God’s word is powerful, and you can use it to change any difficulty or obstacle you face. Jesus demonstrated this throughout his life and ministry on this earth. He stilled the wave. Jesus calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating the power of his words. He was asleep in a boat with his disciples when a powerful storm erupted. The boat was tossed about, waves crashed over it, and it seemed as though it would sink. Terrified, the disciples woke Jesus, who was sleeping in the stern, and begged for help. Jesus then rebuked the wind and the sea, commanding, “Peace! Be still!” resulting in an immediate calm. The wind stopped, and the sea became completely calm. Amazed, the disciples wondered who Jesus really was, since even the wind and waves obeyed him. This shows the power of God’s word over nature and emphasises the need for faith when facing difficulties. Jesus taught in Mark 11:23 that we can do the same; we can address our problems and conquer them.
How To Receive Greater Blessings
Receiving greater blessings is a longing shared by many, yet Jesus reveals a surprising pathway to these blessings in His words to Thomas after the resurrection: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This statement shifts our focus from relying on visible proof to embracing a deeper trust in God’s promises. Rather than seeking tangible signs or demanding personal evidence, Jesus teaches that true blessing comes to those who exercise faith – believing in Him through the testimony of Scripture and the witness of others. So, how do we unlock this kind of faith? How do we position ourselves for the greater blessings Jesus spoke of? Get ready to be encouraged, challenged, and inspired to believe God in a new way in this article. Be blessed as you read! Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Here is a clearer version of the text:Let me provide some context for this scripture. After Jesus resurrected from the dead, He appeared to his disciples. The doors were locked, yet Jesus suddenly appeared in the room and said, look at my hands and my side, and the disciples believed him. 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side (John 20:29). The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. However, in verse 24, it states, 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” He told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus emphasised that a greater blessing is bestowed upon those who believe without seeing. When I first read this, I prayed, “Lord, I want those greater blessings. I want to walk in fullness and possess complete power.” Jesus explained to Thomas that there is a greater blessing than the one he received, as Thomas’s faith was based on sensory knowledge. This type of faith, rooted in what can be seen, tasted, heard, smelt, or felt, is limited and will not bring forth the blessings of God. The Word of God is more certain than anything else, and if your faith relies solely on your physical senses, then you are far behind those who base their faith on what God’s Word says. The Lord teaches that there is a greater blessing for those who believe His word without needing physical proof or evidence. He acknowledges that some believe because they have seen, but He emphasises that those who believe without seeing are truly blessed. As it is written, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Thomas expressed his need to see and touch the Saviour before he could believe in the Resurrection. However, Jesus pointed out that those who trust in Him without requiring visual evidence of His work and power are especially blessed. My friend, trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what He sees. This is the essence of faith: even when we don’t see God at work, we have confidence in Him, anyway. We must actively obey Him and trust in His love for us before we can receive His blessings. It is evident that some people receive more blessings than others. The greatest faith is the faith that says, “Speak the word only.” Let’s examine Matthew chapter 8 and compare this with the faith that Jesus declared to be the greatest he had ever encountered. In Matthew 8:5, it states, 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Here’s an instance where Jesus mentioned that he had never seen such great faith. When he spoke to Thomas in John chapter 20, he said, “Thomas, there are people who are more blessed than you because they believed without seeing.” What was lacking in Thomas’s faith that caused Jesus to consider it less than great? In contrast, in the eighth chapter of Matthew, we find the greatest faith recorded in the Word of God. The difference lies in the foundation of their faith. Thomas based his belief on what he could see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. In contrast, the centurion recognised the authority in Jesus’s word. He acknowledged his own authority, saying, “I have people under me; all I have to do is say the word, and
Created to overcome problems
A SermonDelivered on Wednesday Evening, June 25th 2025, byEvangelist PAUL ACQUAH,Live on MZ Radio London, London UK. God created us to overcome problems. Life is filled with challenges – moments that test our strength, faith, and resolve. But what if I told you that you were not created to be defeated by your problems, but to rise above them? This conviction is rooted in the words of Jesus, who not only acknowledged the reality of trouble in our lives but also promised victory and peace through Him. Jesus assures us that while difficulties are inevitable, we are not left powerless or alone. Instead, we are equipped by God’s design and through His presence to rise above adversity and become overcomers in a world filled with trials. In today’s message titled “Created to overcome problems,” Evangelist Paul Acquah uncovers how, by design, we are all equipped to transform struggles into strengths and adversity into victory. Get ready to rediscover the overcomer within you. Be blessed as you listen! I want to clarify what we mean by ” overcoming problems or difficulties” because if you’re hearing me and you’re saying, “well, I don’t have any difficulties or I don’t have any problems, so this message is not for me for sure”. No, it’s for you. You may think “well, I have everything in life, I have no problems to overcome, I have what it takes to live without problems, this message is not for me. No, it’s for you. Jesus warned us ahead of time that in this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” So how do you overcome your problems in life? How do you live as an overcomer? That’s what I want to talk about in this message. Now listen to what Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He also said in John 14:27 that: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. This is a call to trust in Jesus and not be overcome by fear or anxiety no matter what situation you’re in or what comes against you. Going back to John 16 33 where he says these words I’ve spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. He’s just reassuring us that you can have peace if you understand that he’s taking care of your future. you can have peace if you know that he’s taking care of you every day of your life here on planet earth. If we begin to really meditate and get a revelation of the fact that we’re never alone, then we can have peace in the midst ofproblems. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” It doesn’t make any difference what you’re going through. Jesus, by the Holy Spirit is right there going through it with you. I want you to know he’ll never let you down. Best example that anyone ever gives when we’re talking about this subject is when Peter was walking on the water. As long ashis eyes were on Jesus, he was walking on the water but the minute he got his eyes on the circumstances he began to sink but Jesus didn’t let him sink. He reached down and picked him up. This is what Jesus is saying to us that don’t worry about your problems. Don’t worry about every day that you live in this life because you’re not going to do it by yourself, I’m going to be with you and if I’m with you, who can be against you. The Bible says it this way: If God be for us then who or what would dare be against us. He says be of good cheer I have overcome the world. God wants us to be an overcomer. This is why he created us to be overcomers. He started with Adam and Eve, telling them to have dominion. To be an overcomer means to subdue, to conquer, to prevail, to get the victory. That’s almost the same as dominion. Jesus said in John 14:16 and 26 that: “ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever. But the [g]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”. In other words, you can deal with the problems that come because you are not alone and you’re not having to do it in your own power because you have a helper, the Holy Spirit. The helper is with you and in you. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Here’s the good news— He who is in you is greater than the problem coming against you. Therefore, we can overcome them! That ability comes through knowledge. I want to encourage you to hold onto God’s promises (2 Pet. 1:3–4) with all your heart and keep speaking to them over your life. God’s word is powerful, and you can use it to change any difficulty or obstacle you face. Jesus demonstrated this throughout his life and ministry on this earth. He stilled the wave. Jesus calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating the power of his words. He was sleeping in a boat with his disciples, and a fierce storm arose, causing the boat to be tossed and waves to break over it and threatening to sink the vessel. The disciples were terrified, and in fear for their lives, woke Jesus, who was sleeping in the stern of the boat, and cried out for help. Jesus commanded the wind and waves to be still. He rebuked the wind and the
Our choices determine the direction of our lives
A SermonDelivered on Wednesday Evening, May 14th 2025, byEvangelist PAUL ACQUAH,Live on MZ Radio London, London UK. Imagine standing at a crossroads, with countless paths stretching out before you. Each one leads to a different destination – some promising, some uncertain, some filled with challenges and others with hope. Now, what if I told you that the direction your life takes, the very path you walk, is not determined by chance or circumstance, but by the choices you make at each intersection? Every day, we are faced with decisions – some small, some life-altering. And while we may not always realise it in the moment, each choice acts as a steering wheel, guiding us toward our future. Maybe you’re wrestling with a decision, or perhaps you’re looking back at choices that have shaped your journey so far. Wherever you find yourself, know this: God has given us the incredible gift and responsibility of choice. In today’s message titled “Choices Determine Direction,” Evangelist Paul Acquah explores how the decisions you make today can transform your tomorrow. Be blessed as you listen! What we choose to believe or disbelieve determines the way our lives are going. There’s an interesting study in the Bible. In mark chapter 6, Jesus went to his own hometown to minister to the people with whom he had grown up. They knew him to be the carpenter’s son, they knew his history, they knew his family, they knew all about Jesus. The Bible said in Mark 6 verse 5 that he could do no mighty works there except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them, and he marvelled because of their unbelief. He wanted to do mighty works, he wanted to help them, he wanted to do great works in this community, but he couldn’t because of their unbelief. I was thinking about this, and I thought if unbelief can stop the power of God, it certainly can stop the lies of Satan. We need to realise that what we’re choosing to believe or disbelieve is setting the course of our lives. If we are saturated in the news and soaking in the negative and saturating in the fear and watching things that are not good for us, then we will choose to believe the lies of the enemy and live in assumption and in ‘what if’ scenarios. We will be assuming that’s going to happen to me, I’ll probably lose my job, or everything is going wrong and how are we going to survive. If you’re choosing to believe the negative, then you’re cooperating with it and inviting it to take part in your life. But you can choose to disbelieve and choose to believe the word of God which is the touch stone of truth. But the only way you can disbelieve in terms of this negative world in which we live is being well founded and well-grounded in the word of God and in a relationship with God the father. I can’t put into words how important to me, my fellowship with the father is, and if you’ve been believing in the negative report, it’s not too late to change your direction. There are lots of negative reports around us. They’re now saying that alcoholism isn’t your fault, and that you have a gene that makes you genetically disposed to be an alcoholic. I’ve heard that there are genes that make you genetically disposed to be overweight. There are genes that make you depressed and discouraged. So, we have an excuse for everything but that is not true. That’s a negative report. You can take people who came out of the same family, have the same gene pool, are raised in an alcoholic family, raised in an abusive family, both sexually abused or whatever, and they’ll go different directions because we’ve got a choice. You can take identical people in an identical environment, and they’ll have different lifestyles because we’ve got a choice. You are not an animal that is just a product of your environment. You can choose to be a victim or a victor. You can choose to be a winner or a loser. If that wasn’t true, then the Lord would be unjust to hold you accountable for your actions if you were made to be like so. You may have had things happen to you, but you chose to accept it, or you chose to do nothing about it. Satan cannot oppress you or do anything to you without your consent and cooperation. Never think that somehow or another you’re just occupying space and that you aren’t worth anything. I don’t care what anybody tells you. You have a choice to accept thator you can reject it. There are people brought up under identical situations and they just choose to say that’s not true, I reject it and they go the other direction and they are people that prosper. We have people today that say that because of the colour of your skin, or your level of education, or because of where you come from, you just think that you can’t succeed. So, you go around and use that as an excuse for everything and yet there are people in the same situation that you are, that have totally succeeded and have overcome all barriers, or hinderances and all problems. You can’t use the colour of your skin, your lack of education,whether you’re a male or a female as barriers, or obstacles to your success. You need to stop blaming other people and to recognise that if you’re in unbelief, if you aren’t prospering in some area, it’s because you chose it. You might have been pressured to choose it, you may have had problems that other people didn’t have but ultimately you chose to remain in that situation. I was taught to believe differently from what I believe and yet I chose to change and it took a lot of effort. The devil can’t stop you from prospering. Maybe you are saying, I believe that there’s a recession going on, I can’t operate in prosperity because there’s a recession going on. After all I’m only human, there’s nothing that I can do about it. You need to understand that the Bible says in Philippians4:19 that God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. God said he’d Supply our need according to his riches and Glory, not according to the current economic status, not according to the British pound, not according to the US dollar.Sometimes people fear how their needs will be supplied, because of recession, layoffs, or small-town economies. It doesn’t matter what goes on in the world, our needs will be supplied “according to his riches in glory.” God
Choose to believe his word
A SermonDelivered on Wednesday Evening, April 23rd 2025, byEvangelist PAUL ACQUAH,Live on MZ Radio London, London UK. In a world of endless opinions and shifting truths, one choice remains eternally significant – the truth of God’s Word. As Christians, we are called not just to read the Bible, but to believe it, trust in its promises, and live by its truths. Choosing to believe God’s Word is more than a one-time decision; it’s a daily commitment to stand on His promises even when circumstances challenge our faith. This choice is foundational to our spiritual growth, our relationship with God, and our ability to navigate life with hope, peace, and purpose. When we believe God’s Word, we open our hearts to transformation and align our lives with the unshakable truth of who God is and what He has said. Join us as we discover how this single decision can transform your perspective, renew your mind, and guide you through life’s most challenging moments in today’s sermon titled “Choose to believe God’s Word.” Be blessed as you listen! When Jesus was on the planet earth, He knew that He would die and rise from the dead. He told His disciples this on many occasions. He specifically mentioned rising on the third day. So Jesus predicted his death and resurrection multiple times in the Gospels. He said He would die and rise again. For example it says in Mathew 17:22-23 that, Now while they were [g]staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful. Now, after Jesus has risen from the dead, he appeared unto his disciples but Thomas, one of his 12 disciples wasn’t present,and they told Thomas that we’ve seen the Lord and he spoke to us. They had all the doors, and the windows locked and Jesus just showed up inside the room. He just appeared and they talked to him. They told Thomas about this but let’s see how Thomas responded to this amazing news. Look at this in John 20 and verses 24 and 25 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” My friend, you may think oh I want to believe, I’m trying to believe but it’s hard to believe. Let me tell you that no, you chose to not believe. Thomas chose not to believe, you can choose not to believe. I’m telling you what the word of God says and if you choose not to believe that and if you say I just don’t believe that you can live that way. Deuteronomy 30: 19 says, This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. That means this applies in heaven or in earth, over all of the earth, over any place in the universe. This is a pronouncement. I call Heaven and Earth to record against you this day that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life that you and your seed may live. God gave you the choice. Nobody can force you to do anything, nobody can force you to fail. Thomas said I will not believe. It was his choice and if you’re struggling with unbelief, it’s because you are walking by sight and not by faith. Thomas refused to believe what he couldn’t see or feel. Yes, our five senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch)were given to us by God and are necessary to help us function in this life. But if we do not renew our minds to acknowledge the limits of the five senses, they will keep us from believing.Thomas said until I see Christ physically, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. ”Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 without faith it’s impossible to please God . Faith pleases God and God will meet you where you are. Faith can perceive things that the senses cannot. Faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). Thomas made a deliberate decision not to believe. Unbelief is always a decision Thomas said I will not believe and some of you think oh I don’t want to be this way. I’m trying to believe. You chose to be the way that you are, you were taught to think a certain way and you have embraced it and you will not let go of it. you’re holding on to your own thinking, you’ve got the thing that will change your thinking, the word of God will transform your thinking, the word of God is given to make you brand new. Thomas said I will not believe and some of us feel like, well, it’s not my will to not believe. Yes, it is, you chose to believe what you believe. Nobody made you believe anything. you may have been taught to believe one thing. If you’re struggling with unbelief, it’s because you have accepted other people’s opinion. You have bought into the mindset of this world. You have hardened your heart to God by neglecting the things of God and you have chosen to be where you are. Many people don’t like that, we like to blame other people and say you don’t understand, it’s my upbringing that made me this way, you don’t understand I was abused when I was a child and that’s what made my heart hard. we have all ofthese excuses and we like to blame other people. Even Adam did it when God said what have you done? he said it’s that woman that you gave me. he passed the buck to Eve and then he tried to blame it on God. When Thomas said I will not believe, that was a choice of his will. He chose to believe that Jesus could not be raised from the dead. He saw Jesus crucified, he saw what happened
Understand And Respond When God Speaks
If it’s God who is speaking, we trust that by His very nature, God is worthy of our undivided attention. So, when we listen, we’re to respond accordingly because God may be saying something to you through His word or through someone else that will change your life. It’s so important to obey God’s voice when He speaks. Don’t allow anything to distract you from seeking God first and hearing His voice in everything you do. He wants you to respond when he speaks. Therefore, making Him the priority of your life, bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. The word of God is so incredibly powerful and transformative. The word of God doesn’t exist so we can argue with it. It’s not up for negotiation or broad interpretation. It’s exactly what it says. It’s a touchstone of truth. It’s our strength and it is crucial for our well-being. If it’s optional for you, it can never be transformational. It’s time to replace opinions about the word with obedience to the word. The word of God resides in a place of authority, not subjectivity. It’s unchanging. Likewise, God is our stable, strong foundation that does not waver and isn’t malleable to the opinions and whims of popular culture. If we are to eliminate uncertainty and fear in our families, relationships, careers, finances, health, etc. – we must trust the Lord and hold on to His word and respond to His word accordingly. Your life will never be the same if you make the word of God a priority. God is going to touch your life today, not because of who you are, but because of who He is and His promises. There’re so many things happening around us in the world today. It’s so easy to get caught up in the world and see all the different things that are going on. There’s a constant barrage of how unsteady and unsafe, and constantly moving our world is, and yet God promises that we will not fall if we build our lives on His word (Mat. 7:24-27). He is our rock, the thing that never moves; the structure that we can count on and find ourselves attached to. He is your protection, and that’s why you don’t have to worry. Don’t fear no matter what comes against you. We have every reason to trust Him no matter what our daily circumstances may look like to our human eyes, and no matter what we may face in our personal lives. I pray that we would be awakened to the knowledge and truth of the goodness of God in all situations, and respond in accordance to His word. How will you respond to the Lord today? You can trust Him with your uncertain circumstances. You can trust Him with your present problems and future plans. Trust and obey, He is enough for you. I would like to encourage you to keep your eyes fixed and focused on your relationship with God. That’s the main reason why Jesus came and died for us so that we can be brought back into fellowship and relationship with the Lord. He’s given us His word, so we have a firm foundation to stand on, and as we truly base our lives upon the word of God, we’re going to be successful. No matter what we do, no matter what the world or our circumstances dictate, it doesn’t make a difference, the truth of God’s word surpasses everything. So, it’s important for us to stay focused on His word. Make God’s kingdom and His word your top priority. God thinks differently from us. He sees things we don’t see. He knows things we can’t even begin to imagine. That doesn’t mean we can’t change the way we think to match how He thinks, because the Bible says that we can do so. We have the mind of Christ. For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) Having the mind of Christ means that we agree with God and His ways. We can know His thoughts. In Psalms 103 verse 7, the Bible actually says that the children of Israel knew the acts of God, but Moses knew His ways. What we see is that God revealed His ways and character to Moses. You and I are called to know the ways of God and to understand the way He thinks. So, it’s not just a matter of outlooking and saying how does God think. It’s participating in that action. And so, the question that I’m going to pose to you is what is your response? How are you going to respond to what God is about to tell you? God has declared so many wonderful things in our lives, but have we responded well? In Genesis chapter fifteen the word of the Lord came to Abram before he became Abraham. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” What an amazing statement to hear from the Lord. But let’s look at Abram’s response. This is what Abram said, 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” What’s incredible to me about that is that God just appeared to Abram in a vision. He said I am your exceeding great reward; you’re going to inherit me. And he responded, but I have no child. Oftentimes, that’s what happens to us as we start looking at our circumstances. We look at who we are, what we have, and what we don’t have rather than what God has declared to us. I want to challenge each and every single one of us that our lives are bigger than our current situation. 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house