The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today (8 page)

I received a letter from a lady who had been in an automobile accident and broken her neck. She lived in constant pain and had had several surgeries. For months her husband had stayed home to take care of her. She felt bad that he had missed so much work, and finally convinced him she was well enough to stay home alone. One day she was in so much pain and so deep in depression that she decided she was going to end her life. She couldn’t walk on her own, so she was going to crawl over to the corner where the gun rack was. Her husband was an avid hunter and had several firearms. But when she got out of her chair, she lost her balance, knocked over the end table, fell flat on her back, and couldn’t move. The remote control for the television hit the floor, and the batteries tumbled out. When it hit, it changed the channel on the television from what she was watching to a channel where I was speaking. Her first thought was,
Oh, great! I’m lying here dying. Now I’ve got to listen to this TV preacher to add to my misery.

That day I was talking about how God can turn any situation around, how He can take your darkest hour and turn it into your brightest hour. She began to feel a peace that she had never felt before. She said, “I was lying there. I couldn’t move, couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt tears of joy running down my cheeks.” Her husband came home a few hours later and found her sound asleep there on the floor. Startled and alarmed, he woke her up saying, “Honey, are you okay? It looks like you’ve had an accident.”

She smiled and said, “It was no accident.”

That day was a turning point in her life. Hope began to fill her heart. A dream came back to life. Today, she is not only free from pain but she can walk; she’s healthy, whole, and stronger than ever before.

When it looked impossible, when all the odds were against her, when it seemed permanent, the Creator of the universe, the One who has you in the palm of His hand, said, “Wait a minute! She’s My child. She’s My daughter. She has a special advantage. She is not going to be a permanent slave to anything. She is coming into her seventh year.”

Maybe like her, you’ve lived with that sickness, that chronic pain, long enough. You’ve put up with that depression, that dark cloud following you around long enough. You’ve struggled with the addiction long enough. God is saying, “This is your time. Today is your moment. Get ready for release. Get ready for a breakthrough. Get ready for healing. Get ready for increase. Get ready for your seventh year.”

How do you get ready? Start talking as if it’s going to happen. Start acting as if it’s going to happen. Start thinking as if it’s going to happen.

“Well, Joel, my arthritis has really been acting up. My diabetes is getting the best of me. My financial difficulties are really weighing me down.” Don’t take ownership of those things. It’s not your diabetes. It doesn’t belong to you. It’s not your arthritis. That’s not a part of who you are. It may be there temporarily, but that’s not where it’s staying. Don’t give it a permanent address. In your mind, don’t let it move in and take up residency. You need to hang one of those signs out that says,
NO VACANCY HERE.

The Apostle Paul put it this way: “These light afflictions are for a moment.” In your mind, it may be big, but by faith you need to see it as being light and temporary. This is what Moses did. The Israelites had been in slavery for many years. It looked permanent, as though it would never change. Moses had a son, whom he named Gershom. Names had a lot more significance back in those days than they do today.
Gershom
means “I am an alien in a strange land.” When Moses named his son, he was making a declaration of faith. He was saying, “We’re in slavery, but slavery is not our norm. This is not our permanent address. We are foreigners in this land.” Every time he said, “Good morning, Gershom,” he was reminding himself, “This lack, this trouble, this slavery, is not our normal state.”

When you’re in tough times, and it looks as though you’re never going to break out, you have to do as Moses did. Tell yourself, “I won’t be staying here long. I am a foreigner. I don’t have citizenship here.” You could say, “I am not a citizen of depression. I’m not a citizen of lack. I’m not a citizen of cancer. This disease is alien to me. It’s not my norm. It may be where I am, but it is not who I am. I am blessed. I am healthy. I am strong. I am victorious.” Anything to the contrary you need to see as foreign, as temporary. It is not your permanent address.

In the Scripture, King Hezekiah was very sick. The prophet Isaiah came to visit him at the palace and said, “I have a word from the Lord for you.”

I can imagine Hezekiah perked up and replied, “Yes, what is it?”

Isaiah said, “The word is, ‘Set your house in order. You will surely die.’”

Not the word he was looking for! I’m sure Hezekiah thought,
Is there another prophet out there?
His situation looked permanent, as though his days were over. The prophet who spoke for God had just announced that Hezekiah’s life was coming to an end. Hezekiah could have accepted this and thought,
This is my lot in life
. But he had a boldness. He chose to believe even when things looked impossible. The Scripture says, “He turned his face to the wall and started praying.”

“God, I’m asking You to give me more years. God, I’m not finished. I’ve served You. My family has honored You. God, let me live longer.” Before Isaiah could leave the palace grounds, God spoke to him and said, “Go back and tell Hezekiah that I’m going to give him fifteen more years.” Here’s what I want you to see. Hezekiah’s faith is what brought about his seventh year. Your faith is what causes God to move.

“Well, Joel, I’m sixty-five years old, and I’ve never had a seventh year.” Are you releasing your faith? Are you thanking God that it’s turning around? Are you declaring, “Where I am is not where I’m staying? This sickness is temporary. I’m coming out of debt. There are new levels in my future. I am free.” When you have this attitude of faith, speaking victory over your life, that’s when the Creator
of the universe will show up and do amazing things. Your faith can bring about your seventh year.

What’s interesting is that when Hezekiah got the news that his life would be extended, he didn’t feel any better. He didn’t look any different. The only thing that had changed was God had said that his life would be extended. Here’s the key: Hezekiah didn’t wait for his health to turn around before he gave God praise. He didn’t wait until he felt better to start talking as though he were going to live and thinking as though he were well. It’s easy to think,
When I see it, I’ll believe it
. But faith says, “You have to believe it, and then you’ll see it.”

Like Isaiah, I’ve announced to you that you’re coming into your seventh year. Now you can look at the circumstances, study the financial report, see how you feel, and think,
It doesn’t look any different. I don’t see a sign of anything changing. As soon as it starts to improve, I’ll give God praise.

Your praise is what activates God’s favor. When you have the boldness of Hezekiah and say, “God, I don’t see how I could get well. The medical report doesn’t look good. I don’t see how I could meet the right person, how I’ll ever afford my own home, but God, I believe You have already made a way. I believe I’m stepping into a new season of favor. I believe I’m entering into my seventh year, that every limitation has been broken. So Lord, I just want to thank You for Your goodness in my life.”

When you talk as though it’s going to happen, act as though it’s going to happen, and praise as though it’s going to happen, that’s when God says to the angels, “Turn around and go back and tell them they’re coming into their seventh year. I’m going to do what they’re asking. I’m going to change what looked permanent.”

But a lot of times instead of taking our praise to God, we’re
taking our problems to Him. “God, I’ve had this addiction for twenty-seven years. I don’t think I’ll ever break it. God, these children are getting on my nerves. You’d better keep me sane. I’m working two jobs and still don’t have enough. God, I don’t understand it.” It’s easy to turn prayer into a complaining session, but remember, God already knows your needs. You don’t have to tell God everything that’s wrong, what you don’t like, and how long it’s been that way. It’s much better to take your praise to God rather than your problems. Your financial situation may not look good, but turn it around. “Lord, I want to thank You that You are supplying all of my needs. Thank You that You are the Lord my Provider.” You may not feel well, but instead of complaining, say, “Lord, thank You that I’m getting healthier, stronger, better every day.” Your son or daughter isn’t doing right. “Lord, thank You that my children will fulfill their destinies.” Praise gets God’s attention, not complaining.

When Saul of Tarsus was blinded by that great light on the road to Damascus, God spoke to Ananias to go pray for him. Saul had been killing believers and putting them in prison. Ananias said in Acts 9, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man, and all the harm that he has done.” Notice this passage: “I’ve heard that he is killing people. I’ve heard that he is dangerous. I’ve heard that he doesn’t like believers.” If you’re always telling God what you’ve heard, you’re going to miss out on God’s blessings. You’ll get discouraged. Doubt will fill your mind. “God, the financial report says I’m never going to get ahead. God, my children are running with the wrong crowd.” Here’s a key: Don’t tell God what you’ve heard. God says you’re the head and not the tail. Now, don’t tell Him all the reasons why you’re
not. God says you will live and not die. “But God, the medical report says otherwise.” No; quit telling God what you’ve heard. That’s not doing you or Him any good. It’s really simple. Don’t take your problems to God; take your praise to God. “Lord, I want to thank You that with long life You will satisfy me. And even though my condition looks permanent, Lord, I want to thank You that I’m coming into my seventh year, a year of release, a year of healing, a year of breakthroughs, a year of abundance.”

Isaiah said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to announce freedom to the captives.” He was saying in effect, “Things may look permanent, but I’m announcing your freedom. I’m announcing you’re coming out of debt. I’m announcing that sickness is not going to defeat you. I’m announcing new levels are in your future.” Then he took it one step further. He said, “I’m declaring the Year of God’s Favor.” Notice this principle. He announced it, then he declared it.

What if we were to do the same thing? “I’m announcing today we’re coming out of debt, struggle, and always being behind. I’m declaring we’re coming into increase, overflow, and abundance. I’m declaring we will lend and not borrow. We will be able to give to every good work. I’m declaring we’re blessed, prosperous, and generous.” Over our families we’d say, “I’m announcing that our children will not run with the wrong crowd, make poor choices, or get into trouble. I’m declaring, ‘As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.’ I’m declaring, ‘The seed of the righteous will be mighty in the land.’” Or how about this? “I’m announcing, ‘We will not live negative, depressed, worried, anxious, or stressed-out lives.’ I’m declaring, ‘We are happy, content, confident, secure, full of joy, and loving our lives.’” You have to announce it and declare it by faith.

Nothing you’re saying may be true at the time. This is what faith is all about. Too often we’re announcing and declaring the wrong things. “I’ve been single so long. I’ll never meet the right person. Prices are so high. I don’t see how I’m ever going to make it.” That’s announcing defeat and declaring mediocrity. You have to change what’s coming out of your mouth. Start announcing freedom from anything that is holding you back. Freedom from loneliness. Freedom from depression. Freedom from addictions. Freedom from constantly struggling.

Dare to do as Hezekiah did and start boldly declaring, “I am free. I am healthy. I am blessed. I am victorious. God’s favor is coming—breakthroughs, healing, and promotion are on the way.” You may have struggled in an area for a long time, but let me declare this over you: “It is not permanent. You are coming into your seventh year. This is a new day. The tide of the battle has turned. Every chain has been loosed. Every stronghold has been shattered. Every limitation has been broken. You are breaking free into a new level. I believe and declare God is releasing you into increase. He is releasing you into opportunity, into favor; releasing you into healing, into breakthroughs. He is releasing you into the fullness of your destiny.”

I
grew up watching Archie Manning play football. He was a tremendous NFL quarterback and incredibly talented. Now two of his sons, Peyton and Eli, are both great quarterbacks as well. How could that be? Out of the millions of young men who play football, how can these two stand out? It’s not a coincidence. It’s in their blood. They have their father’s DNA.

When God created you in His image, He put a part of Himself in you. You could say that you have the DNA of Almighty God. You are destined to do great things, destined to leave your mark on this generation. Your Heavenly Father spoke worlds into existence. He flung stars into space. He painted every sunrise. He designed every flower. He made man out of dust and breathed life into him. Now, here’s the key: He is not just the Creator of the universe. He is not just the all-powerful God. He is your Heavenly Father. You have His DNA. Imagine what you can do.

But too many times we don’t realize who we are. We focus on
our weaknesses, what we don’t have, the mistakes we’ve made, and the family we come from. We end up settling for mediocrity when we were created for greatness. If you’re going to break out of average, you need to remind yourself, “I have the DNA of the Most High God. Greatness is in my genes. I come from a bloodline of champions.”

When you realize who you are, you won’t go around intimidated and insecure, thinking,
I’m lacking. I’m not that talented. I come from the wrong family.
No; you come from the right family. Your Father created it all. When you know who you are, it changes your thinking from,
I’m unlucky. I never get any good breaks
, to
I have the favor of God. Blessings are chasing me down
. From saying, “This obstacle is too big. I’ll never overcome it,” to declaring, “I can do all things through Christ. If God be for me, who dare be against me?” From looking at your test score and concluding,
I’m an average student. All I can make are C’s,
to
I’m an A student. I have the mind of Christ
. From looking in the mirror and thinking,
I don’t have a good personality. I’m not that attractive
, to saying, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am one of a kind.” When you know who you are, you’ll start thinking like a winner, talking like a winner, and carrying yourself like you are a winner.