New living, New thinking.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” Mark 2:2.

Are you ready for an increase? Are you ready to go to the next level, spiritually, physically and emotionally? Many times, people hear the truth that God has more in store, and something resonates on the inside. Their spirit comes into agreement with God; but often times, their natural mind will try to talk them out of it. Thoughts will come like, “It’s not going to happen to me. I’m not going to have a great year. You saw what the medical report said.” “You’re never going to get married. You’ve been single so long.”

Friend, those are the old wineskins or the old way of thinking that you have to get rid of. This is a new season. What’s happened in the past is over and done. You may have been through some disappointments, you may have tried and failed, or things didn’t work out. That’s okay. God is still in control. It’s time to get a new vision for your life. It’s time to open yourself to a new way of thinking so that you can receive all the blessings God has in store for you. So believe.

Change your lifestyle

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” – Mark 1:35.

Are you facing challenges today or feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances? Perhaps what you see on the outside doesn’t match what God has placed on the inside of you. The key is: don’t sit around in self-pity, depressed or discouraged. Go out and find someplace you can pray and connect with Almighty God. Go to the park and watch the sunset. Look up at the stars and think about His goodness. Take a break from the environment that seems to be holding you back. Find a place that inspires you, a place where you can meditate on His Word and let your faith be elevated. Stay in a good, Bible-based church where people are going to build you up and not tear you down; a place where people are going to challenge you to rise higher and become all that God has created you to be.

I know people who get home from work every night and watch the same depressing TV shows week after week. Don’t let that be you! If you’re going to enlarge your vision, you’ve got to get out of a limited environment. Put yourself in an atmosphere of victory and success and move forward in the good things God has prepared for you.

You Already Have

‘Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’ – Mark 11:24

God’s Word tells us that we can have what we ask for in prayer — by simply believing that we already have it! As you are praying, know that you already have your answer. The Bible also tells us that we already have whatever we are praying for because we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

In one of our camps, a member shared about the back problem she had had for 15 years as a result of a fall from her rooftop. She needed an operation to help stop the shooting pains in her spine. She had also been taking anti-stress pills for five years.

After coming to church, she realized that she had already received her healing through the finished work of Christ. Refusing the operation and even the pills, she would rebuke the pain which kept coming back, saying, “In Jesus, I believe I am healed. I am not trying or going to be healed. I am already healed. I have a brand new backbone for I am in Christ. As Christ is, so am I in this world.” It was not very long before this sister saw the manifestation of her healing.

Sometimes, the symptoms of a sickness or lack may return and you think that you still have not received your blessing. That is the time to release your faith and declare that you already have it. You are not confessing to get it. You are confessing because you already have it in Christ! This means that right now, your healing, prosperity, wellness, family’s well-being and everything your heart desires are in you. So say, “I have everything I need in Christ right now!”

God Measures Greatness by Services, not Status

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant”. – Mark 10:43.

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige & position. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. God measures greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve. This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it.

Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servant hood. Everyone wants to lead, no one wants to be a servant. Even believers want to be “servant-leaders” not servants. Having the heart of a servant is more important. God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain.

God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity.

Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is the Character.

New Way of Thinking

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins” – Mark 2:22.

Are you ready for increase? Are you ready to go to the next level, spiritually, physically, and emotionally? In this passage of scripture, it basically saying that you can’t go to a new level with an old way of thinking. Many people hear the truth that God has more in store and something resonates on the inside. Their spirit comes into agreement with God, but often times, the natural mind will try to talk them out of it. Thoughts will come like, “It’s not going to happen for you. You’re not going to have a great time. You know what the economy is like.” Or, “You’re never going to get well. You saw what the medical report said.” “You’re never going to get married. You’ve been single so long.”

Friend, those are the old wineskins that you have to get rid of. This is a new season. What’s happened in the past is over and done. You may have been through some disappointments, you may have tried and failed, or things didn’t work out. That’s okay. God is still in control. It’s time to get a new vision for your life. It’s time to open yourself to a new way of thinking so that you can receive all the blessings God has in store for you!