As explained earlier, one major hindrance to receiving God’s blessings is when what you request is not His will.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He operated according to the will of His Father. Even though He is God incarnate, He taught His disciples that doing the will of His Father is His ultimate purpose. In John 5:30, He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Even in the face of the impending agony, while praying in Gethsemane, with His sweat dropping like blood instead of water (Matthew 26:30), He still submitted everything to His Father’s will. No wonder He fulfilled His purpose on earth and pleased His Father.
Philippians 2:8–11 says:
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It is important for us to note that because we are created in God’s image and likeness, we also have a will, and as such, God will not force His will on us. However, His power will only follow where His will goes.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples in Matthew 6:9–10, He said:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
In Romans 12:2, it is important to understand that conformity with the world will always make you desire worldly things, and as such, the will of God will be far from your view. When your mind is renewed, you tend to see the way God sees and reason the way He reasons. When this happens, supporting you with His power becomes easy.
God will always back you up with signs and wonders, with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, only according to His will. There is always a confidence you have when you pray according to His will (1 John 5:14).
You want to have maximum effect here on earth? Then follow His will (Hebrews 2:4).
You desire God’s blessings? Then follow His will.
MATURITY
Another hindrance to your accessing the fullness of the blessings of God is maturity.
You cannot remain a babe and expect to be treated as a mature person. Apostle Paul, while writing to the brethren in Galatians 4:1–2, said:
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”
Verse 7 says:
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Hebrews 5:13–14 says:
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
As long as you remain a babe, you will be treated as a servant. There are no two ways about it. You must grow.
A lot of us refuse to deal with the sinful nature within us. We are quick to point out, “This is the way I am,” “That is the way we are in my family,” “I cannot take any rubbish from anybody.”
Please, how far have you gone with this behaviour?
Our character has not only pushed people away from us, including helpers that God has sent to us, but it has also pushed us away from accessing godly help.
According to the dictionary, your character is your distinguishing features, traits, and nature. It is your mental and moral qualities and the distinctive features that belong to you.
Do a self-examination now.
Write down all these characteristics and be truthful to yourself. Would you want to have any type of relationship with that person? Would you willingly commit your family, business, and life to that person? Would your mind be at rest?
Your personality, disposition, temperament, and nature have a great effect on your relationship with God and man.
You must grow up.(I am not talking about age.)
You are told to desire the sincere milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2).
Desire means having a strong feeling of wanting, wishing, or longing for something. You should have a strong urge, craving, or passion towards something that brings happiness, satisfaction, or pleasure.
So, you must:
* long for
* crave
* yearn for
* have an urge for
the Word of God and a relationship with the God of the Word.
Are you satisfied with the level you are now, or do you desire more?
Then deal with all these flaws.
SIN
Another hindrance to God’s blessings is sin.
I do not think we need to overflog this issue. A holy God cannot behold where there is sin.
Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 14:34.
UNBELIEF OR DOUBT
Another hindrance to God’s blessings is unbelief or doubt
When you doubt God’s promises and refuse to operate in faith, you will not experience the fullness of God.
Mark 11:24 says:
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
The believing comes before the receiving.
You have to trust God that what He has said, He will do.
Hebrews 11:1, 6.
You must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. He is not a man; He does not lie and has no reason to deceive you.
WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
Watch the company you keep.
Keeping company with people who have no relationship with God will lead you away from God and will always lead you to a wrong end.
Proverbs 13:20 says:
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
Psalm 1:1–3; Proverbs 1:10–18.
Watch your surroundings too.
Where you are and where you frequent have a way of rubbing off on you. Be conscious of how and where you spend your time.
Your time is the unit of your destiny, so what you give your time to is taking your destiny.
CONSISTENCY AND REVERENCE FOR GOD
When you are dealing with God, you have to be consistent.
You must make sure your attitude towards God and the things of God is top-notch. You must always be in awe of Him and reverence Him always.
The fact that you are a child of God does not mean you should be in deference to, or disregard, Him and His Word.
You cannot be too familiar with God.
Proverbs 9:10 says:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
(Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 14:27; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4; Isaiah 8:13.)
It is important to understand that we are in the world, and there will be challenges that we cannot overcome by our own strength or ability.
God has provided us with diverse graces that we need to overcome and be above always.
It is well.