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The
Believer's Edge Over the World
by Taffi Dollar
Billions of people watch the Olympic games. Thousands of athletes from
around the world come to one location to compete for a prize that will set
them above everyone else in their sport. They train for most of their
lives just to qualify for a spot on the team. For those who make it, it's
a dream come true. I get such a thrill watching athletes compete for the
gold medal. It's a proud moment for any country to watch their teams win
and prove themselves to be the best in the world at what they do.
But, unlike those champion athletes, Christian's are not in competition
with the world. In fact, God's plan is that we excel in everything we do.
Across the board, we should be superior to the world.
When I decided to create a new record label, I had vague ideas of how to
run it successfully. Since I have no background in the music industry, I
sought advice from experts in the field. I also consulted with my husband,
Creflo, because I wanted his thoughts on it as well. His advice, however,
went against what the experts told me to do. He said to me, "Taffi,
you need to really seek the wisdom of God more than the worldly knowledge
of how things should be done."
To be honest, that was not the answer I was looking for. I thought I
should be attending every music seminar and convention I could squeeze
into my schedule. I struggled internally because I had a God-given mandate
to start a record label, but I lacked the practical background I felt I
needed to accomplish the task. But, as time went on, I began to seriously
consider what Creflo said. And after much prayer, I finally understood
what he meant.
You see, his advice helped to produce fruit in my life as I renewed my
mind in order to obtain God's heart on the matter at hand. During that
time of consecration, I realized that a seminar on this or a conference on
that could never teach me all I needed to know to make the company a
success. But by choosing to seek God's direction and wisdom, I am
guaranteed an edge, or advantage over the world, because God knows all
things (1 John 3:20). And who better to run a company than the God Who
chose to create it?
It's important to understand that because of God's blessing, or
empowerment to prosper, you and I have the advantage or the upper hand
over the world. Let me make this clear. We don't simply have an advantage;
instead, we have the advantage.
The word advantage means "any state, circumstance, opportunity or
means, especially favorable, for success or prosperity." In other
words, we have the special favor of God for success. And it's only by
studying the Word, obeying God's commands and being faithful to Him that
we tap into this power, enabling us to succeed in all we put our hands to.
You Can Do All Things
See, my struggle came as a result of trying to do God's will in my own
strength. I had a hard time "letting go and letting God" because
I forgot to go back to what Creflo calls "the first page," or
the basics of the Christian life - seeking God for wisdom and allowing Him
to direct my path in all things.
It's important to remember that although we cannot do anything
successfully in our own strength, we can prosper as we "...do all
things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). God loves to use
people to fulfill His plans and purposes on the earth. He's not going to
leave you out of the loop. If you think you're incapable of fulfilling
God's will for your life, you're absolutely right - you can't, at least
not in your own strength. Instead, you must learn to submit to Him and His
direction. It's not always easy, but the end results are worth it.
When an angel told Gideon that he would deliver the Israelites from their
enemies, he replied, "...how can I delivered Israel? My clan is the
poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (Judges
6:15, AMP). Gideon became afraid because he judged himself based on his
own strength and ability. He felt unprepared and inadequate to lead
millions of people to victory. That's funny, considering that God called
Gideon a "mighty man of valour" (v. 12).
But that's exactly what happens when you judge yourself and your abilities
based on what you can see with your eyes. You'll come up short of God's
thoughts of you every time. And if you continue this way, eventually
you'll burn out.
Gideon forgot that as a descendant of Abraham, he possessed the blessing,
the power to prosper, within him. It wasn't until he realized he had God's
power backing him up that Gideon accepted the call on his life (v. 16).
The advantage over the enemy was there the whole time; but it wasn't until
Gideon renewed his thinking that he could begin operating in it. And when
he did, the much larger opposing army was simply no match for Gideon and
his relatively small army of men.
The Battle Is Not Yours
Oftentimes fear and dread will come to attack you as you attempt to
fulfill the call of God on your life. People will try to convince you that
you'll never succeed, that you don't have enough education or experience,
or that you're too old to start something new. They may be sincere in
their intentions, but they can be sincerely wrong.
Honey, whatever your assignment, God gave you the vision. Others may not
understand the blessing inside of you that gives you the special favor to
succeed in every area of life. But when they start noticing you rise to
the top, they'll stop talking and start following your example!
The blessing of God can't be purchased with money. It doesn't come with an
Ivy League education. And it doesn't matter where you live or work. I
mean, bless God, when I fully understood that I had God's special favor to
succeed, I pursued the vision He gave me to begin the record label with
confidence. And it wasn't long before the phone started ringing off the
hook with distribution deals.
Destined to Win
When David agreed to take on Goliath, everyone else thought he would lose
- in fact, they were sure of it! But this young man, who had killed a lion
and a bear, was not afraid. He was confident that the power to prosper was
in him. He told Goliath, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a
javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts..." (1
Sam. 17:45, AMP).
You see, the key to winning your battles is allowing the Lord to fight
them for you. You must be still and see the salvation of the Lord (Ex.
14:13). If there are giants in your life today, you can defeat them
through the Anointed One Who always causes us to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14).
Tap into the blessing and make your way prosperous by speaking Word-based
confessions over your life daily. Say what it is you want to see, and
begin the climb upward. If you're not saying anything, you're not creating
anything.
The anointing empowers you to win. Although it is not visible, the effects
of the anointing are crystal clear. It causes you to go from ordinary to
extraordinary. John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came to give us the
abundant, God-kind of life. That means a life full of success, prosperity,
provision, wisdom and wealth instead of poverty, confusion, sickness and
failure.
Because of what the Lord has done in our lives, my husband and I are
living our dreams. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross did away with the need to
struggle and gave us an advantage over the world. He came so we could go
from glory to glory, not from trial to trial. That, Child of God, is part
of the abundant life.
You were created to shine like a star in the universe (Dan. 12:3). Your
life should reflect the goodness of God and point people to Him. You have
a mission that is uniquely yours to carry out on His behalf. I can't do
what God called you to do because I've got a mission, too. Purpose in your
heart to stop doing things the world's way.
Set the example-be a trendsetter, don't follow the trend! Renew your mind
with the Word of God and lay hold of the blessing that gives you the edge
over the world and causes you to rise above your circumstances (Rom.
12:2). Whatever God has to say about it is what you must believe and
confess.
Child of God, let Him be Lord in your life today by submitting to His
will. He knows what lies ahead and He knows how to get you from where you
are to where you should be. If you walk in obedience to His will, you
can't lose. You have God's favor to succeed and the edge over the entire
world. |
