The Agreements We Make

Today, as the Underground, we come together in prayer and fasting. Every great move of God in the Bible and throughout history begins with Extraordinary Prayer and Fasting. From the other side of eternity, we will find that the most influential people were not, perhaps, Presidents or Prime Ministers, but the people who walked with God through passionate prayer.

Strategic Focus: The Agreements We Make

Movement 1: Agreement

Read:

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
-2 Corinthians 6:16 NIV

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
-Colossians 2:8 NIV

Reflect:

One definition of “agree” is “to consent to do something that has been suggested by another person.” We agree with things in our lives every day. Some of these things that we agree with are from God. They are beautiful and life-giving. Some of the things that we agree with and allow to dwell in us, the temple of God, are not from Him. They are from the spiritual forces of this world, and they take us captive.

For me, control is an example of this. I have struggled with control issues most of my life thus far. What I recently real- ized is that I have agreed with control being “my sin” that I struggle with. I’ve owned it. I’ve let it control my story. I’ve agreed with it and permitted it to exist in my life for my whole life. In a sense, I’ve even welcomed it. I’ve spoken about it to groups of people when trying to encourage them in their walk with Christ. I have said these words: “This is the thing I will struggle with for the rest of my life.”

Listen:

What unhealthy agreements have you made with the spiri- tual forces of this world? What have you permitted to exist in your life even though it weighs you down and is truly an idol in your body, God’s temple? Name that idol. If you don’t know what it is, ask God to reveal it to you.

Movement 2: Repentance for unhealthy agreement

Read:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
-1 John 1:9 NIV

Reflect/Pray:

Once we have identified the unhealthy agreements that we have made in our lives, we must repent to God. Effectively, we have chosen to put these things ahead of God and all of the good and beautiful plans that He has for our life. However, as you work through this sin, I encourage you to be aware of toxic shame and not agree with it. Instead, view this as a beautiful reconnection with God. Invite Him to purify you. Open yourself up to the freedom He has waiting for you as you break this unhealthy agreement. Talk to him about this now.

Movement 3: What truth does He have?

Read:

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
-John 14:14 NIV

Reflect/Pray:

These unhealthy agreements that we have identified are lies. The opposite of a lie is the truth. And we know Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He tells us that we can ask for anything in His name and He will do it. So I encourage you to ask Him what truth He has to replace the unhealthy agreements you’ve just broken. Seek Him in the quiet and hear the whisper of His voice as He pours His refreshing truth over you.

Movement 4: Healthy agreement

Read:

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
-Matthew 18:19 NIV

Reflect:

Thank God that on the other side of unhealthy agree- ments, there are healthy agreements! Every moment of every day God is waiting for us to meet with Him and ask Him what healthy agreements He wants to make with us. Another beautiful thing is that He also gives us brothers and sisters who can support us in these healthy agree- ments. It is good for us to have close people with whom we can share our unhealthy agreements and the lies we are believing. They can stand by us as we break these agreements. God may even speak through them to help us identify them and also identify healthy agreements moving forward.

Pray:

Seek God right now and ask Him the person or people with whom He would have you share today’s discoveries. Consider asking them to walk with you as you continue on this journey of breaking unhealthy agreements and agree with you as you make new healthy ones.