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As we enter a new year, I want to remind you that the way we exit the OLD is the way we will enter the NEW. With this in mind, I want to encourage you to spend time rethinking your view and your approach to life. 

In Matthew 17, the disciples tried to minister to a young boy, but they were not successful. Jesus was able to deliver the boy because of His connection with God and His accurate view of life. The disciples came to Jesus privately and asked Him why they couldn't cast the demon out of the boy. I think this is something that we struggle with today, the problem of "why?". Why does God allow bad things to happen? 

Everyone has questions, but God has the answers. When we ask "why?" we need to retrace our steps and rethink our view and our approach. God said to Cain in Genesis 4, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" There is a right way and there is a wrong way of thinking and approaching life. Instead of following the script for life that we have written for ourselves, we should rethink and change our view and approach to life by making adjustments to include God's involvement. 

Today I want you to know that we can experience a better 2016 by "Rethinking Our Position" so we can be on the right path in this life.

Your pastor and life coach,
 
Randy Morrison
    
Remember: Spiritual Success begins on Sunday Morning!   

  1. Is our thinking overwhelmed with unrealistic expectations?
  2. Is our thinking stuck on the assumption of "wanting it our way?"
  3. Is our thinking flexible to receive counsel when we are wrong?
  4. Is our thinking getting us what we want out of life?
  5. Are we willing to adjust our thinking to do what is asked of us?
REMEMBER: If we feel like we are stuck continually on the same road, we need to rethink our view and our thinking to get on the right road. If we keep going down the same road without reaching our destination, we need to stop and get some advice. Otherwise, we will keep going down the wrong path.


In 2 Kings 5, we see Naaman, "...a mighty man of valor..." He looked like he had it all together, BUT, he was a leper. Naaman was projecting an image that he wanted other people to see, but in private he had issues. Naaman had a servant in his house who saw him suffering behind the scenes and she offered him a solution to his problem. Instead of asking "why?" we should ask what we can do to find the answers to our problems. Naaman acted on his servant's advice and went to the man of God for healing. He arrived at the house of Elisha with his entourage, and his own script as to how his healing would occur. 
 
THE ROLE OF THE DYNAMICS OF OUR LIVES
Naaman arrived for his healing with the activities of his life as his credentials. He missed out on his healing because life didn't unfold according to his script. This scene did not line up with what he thought it ought to be, so he left with his anger and his leprosy.

GOD DID NOT ONLY WANT TO HEAL NAAMAN OF LEPROSY; 
HE ALSO WANTED TO HEAL HIM OF HIS PRIDE.
 
Proverbs 29:23 "A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor." (AMP) The definition of pride is "excessive self-esteem". Pride is the difference between what you are and what you think you are.


1. His view of himself. 
Naaman had an 'entitlement mentality.' He thought he deserved an audience with Elisha based on his position, his pride of his achievements, and his ego.


IT IS NOT OUR POSITION THAT GIVES US ACCESS TO THE THINGS OF GOD. 
IT IS OUR HUMILITY.
 
2. Naaman had to rethink why he was there. 
He was not there to portray his wealth and his social status. He was there for healing of his leprosy. His attitude of entitlement stood between him and his healing. Elisha sent a messenger with instructions for Naaman to follow to see if he would obey those instructions.
 
BEFORE GOD BLESSES US, HE GIVES US AN INSTRUCTION TO OBEY. 
NAAMAN DISAGREED WITH GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS 
AND REMAINED STUCK IN HIS CONDITION.
 
3.  Naaman had to be flexible and accept advice to rethink his view. 
He said, "I thought..." Our thoughts about life will not allow us to do things God's way when we don't embrace His process. In reality, we learn through process. This includes being faithful with the instructions we receive from God. If we are not faithful with little things, we will never reach any heights in life.
 
4. Naaman had to accept the process that was given to him. 
God will only bless us where He assigns us. Naaman had to go to the Jordan River and dip seven times. He rethought his position, obeyed the instructions, and he was cleansed of his leprosy.

REMEMBER: Nothing happened to Naaman during the first, second, third, or fourth dip. However, every time he went down in acts of obedience, he got closer to his healing. The seventh time he went down one way, and come up another way.

I believe you and I will rise up in a new way in 2016 if we keep walking in obedience to God's plan. This will not occur unless we rethink our view, our approach, and our position in life. 


 

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