Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Bring Me Solutions. I walk by this sign every day when I am at the office. It is on the door next to my office door and I have to say the sign speaks loud to my heart. I am often called upon to be a counsellor in the Christian community. I find it interesting that so many of the problems that people have are over exaggerated because of a constant focusing on the problem rather than focusing on the solution who is Jesus Christ the Lord.
We should magnify the solution rather than magnify the problem. Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I am not dismissing the particular situation and I am not saying the problem does not exist in the afflicted person’s life. I am saying that too much energy and focus is given to the attack, oppression or failure. My wife has a saying, “The person is drowning in a glass of water.”
We should magnify the solution rather than magnify the problem. Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I am not dismissing the particular situation and I am not saying the problem does not exist in the afflicted person’s life. I am saying that too much energy and focus is given to the attack, oppression or failure. My wife has a saying, “The person is drowning in a glass of water.”
On many occasions, I have asked the person I am helping through a particular situation what they think the solution is for their dilemma and most of the time they know exactly what to do. “So, why have you not done it?” I ask. The paralysing affect of focusing on the problem and building it to a mountain size situation seems overwhelming and daunting to overcome. This is normally the answer given to why they have not acted on what they know to be right. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
Will it take some strength of character to want to fight through the situation? Absolutely, and more than we sometimes think we are capable of. However, Christ has overcome the world and this same Jesus lives in us who have accepted Him as Lord. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Accepting our position in Christ, by faith, has given us the ability and mandate to magnify the solution rather than our problems. The shift in our hearts and minds has to be a choice and will of acting out who we are in Christ. The best part of this choice is that God gives us the His grace and power to do it.
Will it take some strength of character to want to fight through the situation? Absolutely, and more than we sometimes think we are capable of. However, Christ has overcome the world and this same Jesus lives in us who have accepted Him as Lord. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Accepting our position in Christ, by faith, has given us the ability and mandate to magnify the solution rather than our problems. The shift in our hearts and minds has to be a choice and will of acting out who we are in Christ. The best part of this choice is that God gives us the His grace and power to do it.
We read in Second Kings the story of the Shunammite woman who with her husband built a room for Elisha so that when Elisha and his servant Gehazi travelled through their area had a place to rest. When Elisha asked Gehazi what they could do the repay the woman’s kindness, Gehazi said she did not have a child. 2 Kings 4:14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
Elisha prophesied over the woman that she would have a son the following year and she does according to the word given her. When the boy was older and helping his father in the field, he complains of a headache and is rushed home to his mother where he dies. 2 Kings 4:20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
Now this woman had a real problem; her son of promise had died and yet when asked how things were with her and her son she answered, “It is well.” 2 Kings 4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. Her focus was on the solution and not the problem. What faith and character this took, but her attitude toward Elisha was – bring me solutions! 2 Kings 4:30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
The result is that Elisha with the Spirit of God brings the boy back to life and the woman has her child of promise restored. 2 Kings 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Elisha prophesied over the woman that she would have a son the following year and she does according to the word given her. When the boy was older and helping his father in the field, he complains of a headache and is rushed home to his mother where he dies. 2 Kings 4:20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
Now this woman had a real problem; her son of promise had died and yet when asked how things were with her and her son she answered, “It is well.” 2 Kings 4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. Her focus was on the solution and not the problem. What faith and character this took, but her attitude toward Elisha was – bring me solutions! 2 Kings 4:30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
The result is that Elisha with the Spirit of God brings the boy back to life and the woman has her child of promise restored. 2 Kings 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
What mountains are we looking at that need speaking to in order to bring a solution to our life today? Speak the solution out in prayer. Thank God for the power of His word that has been put in our hearts so that we can say with confidence what God says about our situation. Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The word of God is the solution in life. Use it and enjoy the blessings.
Thank you
Much needed and appreciated today. I plan to share this! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the blog, it was a good read!