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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/1050995
Take a look around. The people who are receiving are those who are thankful. They have cultivated a lifestyle of thanksgiving. If you want the capacity to receive more, you must have the capacity to appreciate more. No Comparison The enemy continually tries to influence Christians to be ungrateful. One of his biggest strategies to keep people from receiving is to get them to compare themselves with others. Comparison is the nature of the flesh and the nature of the world’s system. But look at what the Bible has to say about that: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Comparing yourself to others goes hand in hand with unthankfulness. When you compare what you have to what someone else has, or what they’re doing to what you’re accomplishing, without realizing it you open the door to deception, confusion and darkness. The objective of the enemy is to make you jump to one of two wrong conclusions. One, he wants you to think you’re inferior so you will begin to feel sorry for yourself and ignore all the good things God has done in your life. Or two, he wants you to think you’re superior to the person or thing to which you’re comparing yourself, leading you into pride. Don’t fall for the comparison trap. Instead, be wise—be thankful. Acknowledge the Good Things in You Philemon 1:6 says, “thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” If you haven’t been doing this, start acknowledging the good things that are in you today. When it became my responsibility to minister in the Healing School where Dr. Kenneth Hagin had been the regular speaker, I felt somewhat inadequate because he operated in a powerful healing anointing. One day I prayed, “Lord, I know You wouldn’t give me the job without equipping me. You’re faithful. But I just don’t have the anointing on my life to the degree that Brother Hagin does.” The Lord spoke to my spirit and said, 'You are anointed. All of My children receive an anointing when they’re filled with the Spirit. Since many of them have done nothing with that anointing, why would they need more? Be faithful with what you have in you and on you right now. Talk about it. Confess that you’re anointed. Minister to the fullest of your ability. And as you’re faithful with what you have, I’ll give you more.' So I did. From that moment, I quit asking Him for anointing. Instead I quoted Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me....” Sometimes I said over and over again, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He’s anointed me.” It didn’t happen overnight, but He turned up the anointing. Over a period of years the anointing steadily became stronger, to the point that sometimes it was so strong, I couldn’t stand. It doesn’t happen by comparing, whining and crying. You’ve got to hold up your thimbleful of revelation and say, “Lord, I thank You for giving this to me. You counted me faithful to receive it. And I’m thankful.” Give thanks for it. Utilize it to the best of your understanding, doing everything you know to do with it. As you do, the Lord will give you more. * * * * article continues on p. 19 * * * * Watch Keith on bvovn.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 18 : BVOV