Call it the way God calls it

…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; Romans 4:17b

Many times, when we look at ourselves, we do not see what we can become. But when God looks at us, He does see what we can become by His grace. When Jesus first saw Simon, He changed his name to “Peter,” which means “rock.” But did Peter immediately become someone with the characteristics of a rock. Of someone who was solid, stable, and unshakable? No, as we have seen, he continued to act like a reed that bends every which way the wind blows.
 
But you remember when Peter saw Jesus' walking on water, he took a bold step of faith and said, “Lord, if it is really You, allow me to come to You on the water.” Then, as he was walking on the water, he saw the boisterous wind, got scared and when he began to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:28-30).  

At another time, he said, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Then, a few hours later, he denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times (Luke 22:54-62).  

Yet, throughout his reed like behavior, we notice that Jesus kept calling him “rock” until one day, how Jesus saw him began to take root in him. And don’t forget that day, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up to preach and 3,000 people were saved (Acts 2:41). So, we see that Peter had indeed become a rock, a pillar in the early church.  

That was how Jesus transformed Peter. And that is how God wants us to change the people and situations in our lives. Now you may be wondering, But Pastor Don, are you telling me to call my job situation a blessed, successful, and prosperous job even though it is nothing like that in the natural?
 
 Are you telling me to call my marriage a blessed and blissful marriage. It is nothing like that at all. And are you telling me to call my body healthy and whole even though my last doctor visit said just the opposite?  

Friends, God did NOT tell us to call those things which exist as they exist. What is the point of stating the obvious? It is not going to change anything. No, God tells us to call those things which DO NOT exist as though they did, AND THEY WILL. You have God’s Word for it. Begin to practice the Word and watch God work wonders and do what seems to us as impossible. Glory to God.