Hang In There! 7-27–25

Welcome to the word for the week. You can always tell you are on the verge of something great based on the struggles that are in front of you. The last mile of the race is the most difficult. The last rep in the gym is the hardest. The last question on the test is the one that has you second guessing. There is something about being so close and yet so far away in life. This week we are going to talk about something that prayerfully will serve as a wake up call so let’s get right to the point. There is no way the enemy is going to just sit back and let you be blessed. He is not going to stand on the sidelines and cheer you on as you get closer to the finish line. The whole point this week is that the level of opportunity is usual evident by the level of opposition. If you want to see how great your opportunity is all you have to do is look at how great the opposition is. There is one thing to keep in mind and that is you will need to be able to recognize the opposition.

We are closer to crossing the finish line of 2025 day by day. If you were to read this same line three months from now it would be even more true then. There are some points about the things that were mentioned to start this word off. Every last point involves not quitting. Every last point involves finishing what you started. Every last attack happens when you are close to finishing but you still cannot see the end just yet. In other words, you are close to something you cannot see and yet you are about to give up on it because you do not think it matters. The promises of God are yea and amen. That means there is nothing that can stop them and what He says is exactly what it shall be. Now we can talk about another part of this and that involves the enemy trying to use you against you. He does this by making you question what you would never question, doubting what you ordinarily trust, and becoming weary over what is supposed to strengthen you. You will know you are at this point when you want to give up on something that you need. Brace yourself for this next part. The first thing the enemy tries to do is to separate you from what you need. Rather that is the word, prayer, people, or church you will find yourself straying away from what you actually need.

When God was ready for Ahab to go He asked what should happen. Various things were said but one said a lying spirit in the mouth of his prophets would work. That is the same thing happening to people today. A lying spirit is simply the spirit that will tell you what you want to hear. There is one thing for sure that I have learned about God on this journey. He always tells you what you need to hear. If your will lines up with His then you will hear what you call good news. If your will does not line up with His you will hear what you call bad news. It honestly depends on where you are and what you want to hear. How do you guard against that? You make sure your prayers are the same that Jesus prayed in the garden which is nevertheless not my will be done but Thy will be done. In other words, it cannot matter what you want, what you think, or how much you think you cannot take it anymore. Get your will lined up with God’s will, let this mind that was in Christ Jesus also be in you, and God will not give you more than you can bear.

Every prize is not always advertised in advance. Sometimes, the only ones who will know what the prizes are will be the ones who actually participated. Jesus told His disciples that He speaks to them in parables because the mystery of the kingdom is not for everyone else but just them. In other words, some of the best things God has for us are not always advertised. You want proof? How many things has God done on your behalf that were never written? How many miracles have you experienced that were not even in the bible? How many times has He kept you in ways that go far beyond what you read? He will keep you in perfect peace but you had no idea just how much peace that meant until you were at your lowest. He will supply your needs but you had no idea just how much that meant until He worked out the impossible on your behalf. I need to leave you with this last food for thought. The next time you think about walking away from something do you really know what you are walking away from? Do you really know what is on the other side of this test? Do you have any idea of the magnitude of the glory after this? Hang in there!

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon