“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.” Jack Canfield
“Don’t Get Derailed”
1 Peter 5:8-11New International Version (NIV)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Derail (Definition)
To cause to fail or become deflected from a purpose; to reduce or delay the chances for success or development of, to come or bring to a sudden halt
Forward Thinkers a perfect example of derailment is a train going down the track from one location to another and the engineer loses focus and the train goes off the tracks.
Forward Thinkers the devil desires to derail you off your journey therefore you must stay alert.
Before we continue our journey in the book of Genesis let’s establish some principles to keep us on track.
Stay Alert- Forward Thinkers stay woke, focus, and pay attention to road
Stay Sober- Forward Thinkers don’t be under the influence (drugs, alcohol, emotions, fear, and drama)
Resist the Devil- Forward Thinkers know you have the power and authority over the devil
Stand Firm in the Faith- Forward Thinkers get enough word in you to stand strong at all times
Forward Thinkers now let’s jump back on our journey:
Genesis 16 New International Version (NIV)
16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
Genesis 16:1 Sarai, Abram’s wife
Forward Thinkers years after God promised Abram he would be the Father of many Nations his wife Sarai still has not given him a son. Sarai situation is getting the best of her. Forward Thinkers we must not allow our current situations to overcome us. No matter how long we are stuck in a negative, unproductive, uncomfortable situation we must not allow it to get the best of us.
Forward Thinkers no matter how big your situation is you must always believe your God is bigger.
Genesis 16:2 Sarai Becomes Impatience
Forward Thinkers Sarai even blames God saying the Lord has kept me from having children and then she tells her husband go sleep with her slave.
Forward Thinkers when we become impatience we begin to make poor decisions. We can never forget our decisions determine our destiny.
Abram makes another poor decision as he agrees with her. Abram chooses to please her over pleasing God and he makes the critical mistake of taking the road of least resistance because he didn’t want to deal with Sarai attitude. Forward Thinkers remember you can either deal with the issues of life now or the issues of life will deal with you later.
Genesis 16:3-4 Sarai takes her slave Hagar to Abram and he sleeps with her and she quickly becomes pregnant.
Sarai wanted to impress people so bad she makes a horrible decision. Forward Thinkers be careful what you ask for sometimes God allows you to have it to show you the consequences of being impatient with his plans for your life.
Forward Thinkers getting married or making a major purchase for the wrong reasons will derail you.
Genesis 16: 4-6 Sarai now jealous of Hagar and starts to mistreat her.
Jealousy is a sure sign you are focusing more on someone else’s journey than you’re focusing on your own journey.
Forward Thinkers again Abram comes up short on Man(ing) Up and he copes out by telling Sarai do whatever she wants to do to her.
Abram and Sarai are now derailed from their journey and Hagar is on the run from her painful situation. Forward Thinkers please never cause someone else pain because you don’t like your current position in life.
Genesis 16:7 Angel of the Lord finds Hagar
Forward Thinkers good news God will send Angels to find you in your time of need.
Forward Thinkers God says don’t run from your enemies because he’s going to prosper you in their presence.
Forward Thinkers God says I will increase you in a season others are trying to decrease you.
Genesis 16:13 Hagar declares you are the God who sees me in the midst of my troubles and in verse 11 it says the Lord knows all about her misery. Forward Thinkers I’m declaring today God is sending angels to provide, protect, and prosper you on your journey.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. Pastor Deckard is also the Co-Founder of the No More Bloodshed Movement. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net