Brethren, we are gradually forward in the month of a New Beginning. You need to ask yourself, is a new beginning possible for me? If the answer is yes, the next question is in which area of life do I need a new beginning?
For some, it could be motherhood, for others, it could be a change in status as a married person, or a higher status in your office or even promotion in spiritual life. You may decide to be known as a soul winner etc.
Once that is answered, then you begin to work out how to attain your goal for which oftentimes, both physical and spiritual efforts are needed.
The Holy Bible teaches us in James 2 vs. 17-20 ( KJV): Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?".
Apostle James simply tells us that you cannot say, I believe in God and do nothing.
Miracles hardly manifest in the lives of those who have faith but take no action of faith.
The Bible has already told us in the passage above that it is not enough to declare that you have faith, you must act with faith to get a miracle.
Praying is one of the things we do to show that we have faith. When we pray, it is because we believe that there is a Supreme Being, An invisible God that can do visible things. It is a demonstration of the fact that we know that on many issues, we are unable to help ourselves. So, we need spiritual help.
The Bible has also taught us that people with faith receive answers to prayers.
Our Lord Jesus said in Mark 11 vs. 24: "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them".
That is a demonstration of faith.
Action is when we take physical steps. The Holy Bible is filled with examples of people that took action and got amazing results.
May the Spirit of God guide you to take the right steps in Jesus name.
We are told in James 2 vs. 21- 24: " Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only".
That was Apostle James reminding us of the essence of putting our faith into action.
You may say, God directed him to do that. That is true but if he had refused to obey, would he
( Abraham) become a Father of Nations?
Let's look at Hannah. Here was a woman who had gotten tired of provocation from her rival. The Bible did not tell us when her husband, Elkanah decided to marry his second wife, Peninnah.
We can assume that he must have decided to marry Peninnah because he had concluded that Hannah was barren and indeed she was.
1st Samuel 1 vs. 4-6 attests to this. " And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut her womb".
From Bible records, Hannah was the first wife. Elkanah's faith was not grounded enough for him to realize that when God shuts, the same God in his mercy can open again.
He learnt no lessons from Isaac and Rebecca's life.
Genesis 25 vs. 21 ( Amplified version) puts it this way: " Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was unable to conceive children; and the LORD granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived twins".
Can you see the difference? One man decided to run to another woman, the other man decided to cry to God to make his marriage fruitful.
Are you going through a similar situation in your marriage? Turn to God.
Hannah did. She must have been praying all along but one day, she decided to pour her heart to the LORD. She wanted her heart to be free from the pain of childlessness.
What did she do? She added something to her prayer. A vow.
1st Samuel 1 vs. 10& 11 (KJV): " And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head".
First, she reminded God that he created her and should mercifully take care of her needs. That's probably her thinking when she said, " remember me".
She then went a step further by saying what she would do when God gives her the child.
At the time she made this vow, she didn't even know if the LORD would give her more children. She just wanted her own child to serve the LORD.
The Bible has no record that any of the children of Elkanah and Peninnah served in the house of the LORD.
They simply went to Shiloh prayed, enjoyed the annual festival, and returned to their home but Hannah wanted her own child to do something different.
In no time, the LORD granted her heart's desire when she conceived. The LORD that closed her womb opened it with the birth of a male child as she requested.
1st Samuel vs. 20: Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD".
She told the world how she got her son but kept to herself, the vow because that was a matter between her and her God.
Beloved sister, match your faith with action and see God in action.
The wombs of Hannah and Rebecca that the LORD closed and opened when they prayed produced great children.
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You too can pray and take an action as simple of buying baby clothes, and pray with it continuously pleading with the merciful God to give you your child or children that would wear the clothes.
As a man, do not leave the action of prayer to your wife only. The stigma of barrenness is on both of you. People may not speak for you to hear but they would mock you when you turn your back.
Brethren, many couples are in spiritual bondage because some people want the man or both of them spending their money to other people's children and never have theirs.
Such attacks usually are from household members or people close to the couple.
Brethren, you need not fear. Instead, cooperate with your wife and the merciful God would reveal to you what you have to do.
Your prayer as a man may just be what God wants from you.
In many cases, the merciful God would show up when you least expected.
God has not given up on you and the LORD would not give up on you if you don't give up on God.
May I ask, if you give up on God, to whom do you turn? Satan? Or do you just live your life and do nothing? That in itself is some form of action that opens up for the devil to feed on your life.
When that happens, there would not be a new beginning.
That would not be your portion in Jesus name.
Never give up on the Immortal and Invisible God.
The LORD is able to do visible things in your life that would give you a new beginning in Jesus name.
Shalom!
