Written by
Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Naaman commenced
preparation to abundant divine health when the information his wife’s maid gave
about the prophet in Israel got to him. Though some of the preparations were
not necessary, they took him to Israel where he eventually went to see the
prophet. Though Elisha did not come out to see Naaman immediately, he gave
Naaman instructions to go wash in the Jordan seven times through a servant.
Naaman initially despised the instruction which in reality was the major
preparation to divine health for him. This is because as soon as Naaman dipped
in the Jordan seven times, adequate preparation; the Bible records that Naaman
was made whole.
Blind Bartimaeus
had heard about Jesus but the notice to meet with Jesus was short, in point of
fact, very short. Yet, Bartimaeus quickly prepared for a divine turn around
encounter with Jesus by harnessing the resources at his disposal to reach
Jesus. He used his voice, significantly in a very loud manner. Jesus heard him
and stopped to ask Bartimaeus what he wanted. Again, Bartimaeus was mentally
and spiritually prepared. He requested to receive his sight which Jesus gladly
gave him. Beloved, Bartimaeus was physically, spiritually and mentally prepared
for abundant health and received it. Physically, he exerted himself crying out
loudly to be heard above the din of the multitudes around Jesus talking and
walking and even some people tried to shut him up, he cried louder.
Spiritually, he referred to Jesus Christ as Lord; that is to say that he
acknowledged the Lordship of Jesus Christ over his life. Mentally, he was more
than prepared. His priority was to receive his sight and that was the only
request he made in response to Jesus’ question. Beloved, Bartimaeus worked
within the resources at his disposal even at very short notice. He did not make
excuses despite the challenges which stared him in the face. For instance, he
did not know Jesus physically and he could not see therefore he had no idea
what Jesus looked like. He could also not tell exactly where Jesus stood and
even if he could, how was he to walk up to Jesus unguided with the crowd around
Jesus. Yet, Bartimaeus strategized effectively even at very short notice and
received divine abundance. He could see, see to learn a trade or get an
education to earn an income and stop begging. Please read Luke Chapter 18
verses 35 to 43.
Isaac was asked
to remain in Gerar at a time of famine. Apparently, Isaac was contemplating a
move to Egypt but God instructed him to remain in Gerar. Isaac obeyed God and
planted in Gerar; that is to say that he invested his resources, money, labor,
time and what have you in the fields; seeds for planting, time invested in
weeding the fields; possibly irrigating the land since wells were dug and
contended for. The outcome of Isaac’s obedience and diligent work were
progressive bountiful harvests which made him a very prosperous man. Please
read Genesis Chapter 26 verses 1 to 33. Isaac’s preparation for abundance was
first and foremost his obedience to God. He remained in Gerar. Secondly, he
invested time and other resources in Gerar. He was not idle. He planted
precious seed in the land and reaped bountiful harvests. Thirdly, Isaac was did
not contend with anyone over resources in Gerar. Rather, he left the wells that
the herdsmen of Gerar contended over to them and went about digging new ones.
Fortunately, God rewarded his labor with two new wells, Rehoboth and Sheba.
The widow of
Zarephath is an interesting case study in preparing for abundance. Prophet
Elijah requested water to drink in addition to a morsel of bread from her. She
replied that she had no bread but there was a handful of flour and a little oil
with which she planned to prepare bread for herself and her son. Significantly,
it was supposedly the last flour and oil in the house at a period of great
famine. So the widow of Zarephath concluded that it would be their last meal
after which they would die. But Elijah changed that mindset of hers of eat the
last bit and die to a mindset of flourishing divine abundance by prophesying
that the supposedly last flour and oil would be inexhaustible until the famine
ended. The widow obeyed Elijah, prepared the bread, served Elijah first and the
Bible records that the bin of flour was not used up and the jar of oil did not
run dry according to the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. It is instructive
to note that Elijah did not speak by his spirit; he spoke by the Spirit of God.
Your preparation
may be to plant sacrificial seeds as the widow of Zarephath did. Those seeds
borne out of willing and prompt obedience to God were the ingredients for
divine multiplication and compounding that birthed overflowing abundance.
Significantly seeds differ and can be planted at any time. The seeds God
requests of me may differ greatly from yours just as planting seasons also
differ. However, what is significant is that the seeds are planted willingly,
lovingly, and promptly. Also, it is important to plant by the leading of the
Lord and not the practiced skillful coercing of merchants of the gospel who are actually
seeking stomach infrastructure and not the kingdom of God.
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