Whenever praying and confessing isn’t yielding results, it is wise to look at other factors, which is what you’re doing.

Financial success and prosperity are promised in God’s Word, but like any other promise, there are conditions we must meet as well. Obedience is key to every promise. Without it, there is no guarantee of results. So, ask yourself the following:

With the pressures and pain that can come in this earthly life, we can sometimes think it might be better to leave this world and go home to be with the Lord. Paul shares his feelings in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” He goes on to say, however, “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.” (verses 22-24).

God will permit only what we permit. He has given us the right to choose—life or death, blessing or cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19). When God created man He created him in the image and likeness of God. Adam walked and talked with God and knew Him. God never required him to be sick to know Him. Adam never experienced sickness until he changed gods. Adam was the one who made the decision to disobey. He was not forced—he made the decision on his own.

Kenneth Copeland has taught that there was a time in history when the whole Body of Christ was under a unique attack of the enemy. During that time, many believers received the anointing of God to endure martyrdom (dying for Jesus). He believes the anointing was there to experience this without pain.

Certainly the wording of certain scriptures, especially in the King James Version, has caused some to wonder if God is the One who inflicts sickness on us. For example, Deuteronomy 28:61 has been translated, “Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.”

It’s human nature to blame someone for troubles—it started in the Garden of Eden!

Sadly, for the most part, many Christians have been falsely accusing God of being the cause of their troubles. The No. 1 deception sown in the Church today is that our problems, our trials and our temptations are sent by God to teach us lessons.

This is a test. If you remember anything from this answer, remember: This is only a test.

The good news? You can pass with flying colors!

You may feel like a victim right now, and that’s just what the devil wants you to think. On the contrary! You have the power. This is an opportunity for promotion. How you handle this situation will determine where God will take you next.

The worldly response is to either lash back or cry in your pillow. But you’re a child of the Most High God! And you’ve been given all authority. So, here’s what you do instead.

The answer to this question is simple, and it is found in 1 John 4:8: “God is love.” All aspects of God’s nature begin with that single characteristic—God is a God of love and compassion, and His intentions for mankind have always been for good (Genesis 1-2).

Why then, does the world continue to have death, wars and heartache? Because of mankind’s choice to reject God’s good plan (Genesis 3). Death and destruction are not God’s plan. They are simply the result of men and women using their God-given right of choice to choose death instead of life.

The world has a lot of people convinced that they cannot die without slipping into some sort of physical decline and enduring sickness or disease. But that isn’t God’s best!

Here’s the truth:

God didn’t put any expiration date on His healing promises, so you do not have to die sick. So, if you don’t die sick, how will you die?

Gloria Copeland puts it simply, saying, “You’ll just leave. You’ll finish your course, and the Lord will just take your spirit up with Him.”

No matter what you’re facing in your marriage right now, know this—God wants to heal your marriage. It’s His will for you and for your spouse. If you can have faith in Him, you can see a dramatic turnaround in your relationship.

The simple answer is no. While Romans 8:28 tells us that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to his purpose for them,” we also know this:

• It is not God’s will for you to be sick.
• It is not God’s will for you to be in lack.
• It is not God’s will for you to be depressed.
• It is not God’s will for you to suffer tragedy of any kind.

So, why do these things happen? Two reasons.

You are forgiven! It’s so important to realize that. Whatever you have done, God forgave you the moment you asked Him and received His forgiveness. At the same time, it is important to understand that forgiveness doesn’t keep undesirable circumstances from coming into our lives as a result of our disobedience. 

As Christians, we know Jesus has already defeated Satan for us (Colossians 2:15), but Satan is still going to use certain strategies to try to trick us into believing otherwise. His strategies are intended to keep us defeated and to take everything that is rightfully ours.

We have a responsibility to stand our ground against the devil’s schemes. That is why God told us to “resist the devil” (James 4:7) and use “the weapons of our warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV). It’s why He gave us “authority over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).