Finisher (Part 3)

Finisher (Part 3)

Peter admonishes us to "cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" in 1 Peter 5:7.  People who have the spirit of a finisher do not sit down in the rubble of negative circumstances and cease advancing in the Lord.  Instead, they cast all of their concerns upon God and continue on in their spiritual battles and their Christian walk.

The Amplified Version reads, "Casting the whole of your care-all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, (and your shame) once and for all-on Him" (1 Peter 5:7).  Then Paul says in Philippians 4:6, 7:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

"Be anxious for nothing" means "don't worry about anything."  Instead of worrying, pray about your problems and let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving.  Worry is a negative force, but praise has positive potency and is the language of faith. 
When you face challenging circumstances or devastating problems, instead of crying "What will I do now?" raise your hands and declare: 

"Father, You said you would finish what You began in me. You said everything is working for good in my life to conform me to Your image.  Now, here's my problem..." 

Then lay it out before Him, praise Him for an answer, and leave it there.  When you do this, it releases the peace of God to guard your heart and mind from worry.  

In 2 Chronicles 20 we find a story that illustrates this principle.  King Jehoshaphat was in quite a dilemma, for he was completely surrounded by the enemy nations of Ammon and Moab.  In the midst of these fearful circumstances, Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord. He didn't worry or fret, but made up his mind to seek God about his problem.  

King Jehoshaphat went to God in prayer and acknowledged that he did not know what to do, but he declared, "Our eyes are upon you."  He also called God's people together to wait on the Lord for an answer.

God's response came through a man named Jahaziel who declared in 2 Chronicles 20:15-17:
"Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat!  Thus says the Lord to you:  `Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.  Tomorrow go down against them...You will not need to fight in this battle.  Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you...Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.’” 


The next day the people advanced on the enemy, not with man-made weapons of warfare, but with the supernatural spiritual weapon of praise.  God caused a cloud of confusion to descend upon the enemy, causing them to turn on each other and battle their own comrades to the death. 

Men and women who have the spirit of a finisher are like Jehoshaphat.  They have their eyes on God instead of the problem.  They do not worry over past, present, or future circumstances, but pray over each situation in faith believing that God will resolve it.  They do not remain captive to their guilt.  They acknowledge it, act against it, address it, abandon their guilt-producing behavior, and ask for an intimate relationship with God.  Then they rise up from the mire of their sinful past to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.